Football fan recovers from serious skull operation

Posted: September 23, 2014

Posted in: Accidents and Sickness Abroad Criminal Injury and Assault Head and Brain Injuries Sporting Injuries 

A 19-year-old football fan is waiting to see if he has a valid compensation claim after he suffered serious head injuries during a violent attack at a Tigers’ Europa League game in Belgium. Sam Holgate underwent a five-hour operation to have metal plates inserted into his skull after he had a brick thrown at his head last month.  He raised his case with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Association (CICA) to see if anything could be done.

The accident happened on the 21st of August after the Tigers’ were defeated at Sporting Lokeren in Belgium.  Mr Holgate said that police had told the Hull City fans to stay inside the stadium, until they ushered them out past a pub, where the fans were bombarded by “a hail of bricks and bottles”.  

“I have had to stay off work”

Having gone to hospital immediately after the incident, it was discovered that Mr Holgate had a seriously fractured skull. He was taken back to the UK, where he underwent a five-hour operation at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Mr Holgate, a Hull docks engineer, now has six metal plates in his head, which will remain there for the rest of his life. He said: “I have quite an active job, so I have had to stay off work and won’t return until at least September 29.”  He said that the Lokeren police should learn a lesson from what happened following the football match.

Mr Holgate has been informed by the CICA that he will have to apply for a similar injury compensation scheme in Belgium, as they can only help when the injury was a result of terrorism.

If you have suffered an injury abroad, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us. 

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