Teen "lucky to be alive" after Riverside assault (From Western Telegraph)

Teen "lucky to be alive" after assault at Haverfordwest's Riverside

9:00am Saturday 21st July 2012 in News

The mother of a 15-yearold boy “lucky to be alive” after being badly attacked in Haverfordwest is urging witnesses to come forward – no matter how scared they are.

Sarah Tarrant was shocked to receive a phone call from Withybush Hospital on June 28th after her son Rhys was rushed to A&E by friends following a vicious beating by a gang of eight to ten boys following an end-ofexams disco.

Rhys was attacked at about 11pm, starting on Picton Place and continuing down the steps and to the area behind Poundland, and police appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Rhys said: “They stamped on me, were kicking me.

Every time I tried to get up they were hitting me back down. I was leaning on the railings trying to get myself up when I felt something hit the back of my head and a passed out for a bit. Friends said I had a bottle broken on the back of my head.”

Rhys’ left eye was so swollen he could not see out of it for three days. He also had swollen and cut lips, a swollen jaw and was covered in scratches and bruises on his body, including the imprint of a boot on his torso.

He had to have a week off school and the keen sportsman is unable to take part in his usual running and football activities because of the pain.

Sarah added: “He was very, very lucky to get away with no serious injuries. He’s so lucky a number of youths came forward to help, I’m so grateful for them helping Rhys – I dread to think when these lads would have stopped, he’s lucky to be alive.

“I really don’t want anyone else’s family to go through this traumatic experience – they really need to be stopped.”

A police spokesman said a male was arrested on Friday and released on bail pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information should contact Haverfordwest police station on 101