Young man suffered a serious brain injury when struck in back of head by a total stranger

Young man suffered a serious brain injury after being struck in the back of the head by a total stranger.

Jamie McKechnie was the victim of the unprovoked 'one-punch' attack on a night out with his friends in London which left him in a coma for nine weeks and was given a 30 per cent chance of survival.

However, with the support of his family and girlfriend Ellen Murphy, Jamie learned to speak, walk and, as a BMX enthusiast, cycle again.

Ellen is a singer, under the name of Only Girl, and has expressed her emotions through music with her song Mountain which has just been released.

You can watch the music video below which chronicles Jamie's journey since the attack in 2011 to show the consequences of senseless criminal acts can have on someone's life.

The video also shows archive footage of Jamie in rehab and how she was by his side throughout his recovery.

Eventually, two days before Christmas in 2011, Jamie spoke for the first time, to the surprise of the neurologists who previously thought he might never wake up.

The touching video shows a particularly special moment where Jamie walks down the aisle, unaided for the first time, to meet and marry Ellen in 2014.

Although Jamie will never fully recover from his catastrophic injury, he has come so far through rehabilitation and Ellen hopes by releasing this song and accompanying video she can give strength to people in a similar situation.

Amber Mitchell, senior personal injury solicitor at Potter Rees Dolan, said

Despite single punch attacks like this on Jamie receiving periodical publicity, they continue to occur with alarming regularity and as, in Jamie’s case, the consequences for the victim can be life-changing and devastating.

Often attackers get away without ever being caught or, as with this case, receiving a very light sentence in comparison to the lifetime sentence which Jamie and his family and other victims in his position are enduring.

At the current time I have two clients, whom I am assisting to pursue compensation claims via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, who sustained severe brain damage after receiving a single punch to the head and seeing the impact the attacks have had on them and their families is very difficult.

A greater awareness of the dangers that ‘just’ one punch together with harsher sentences for these offenders could help prevent someone else’s life from being destroyed in this way.

Amber Mitchell is a personal injury solicitor here at Potter Rees Dolan. Should you have any queries about personal injury issues or indeed any other aspect of this article and wish to speak to Amber or any other member of the team please contact us on 0161 237 5888 or email Amber directly.