Sydney Man, 88, Suffers Fractured Pelvis After Being Beaten By Stranger

An 88-year-old man was bashed in Oyster Bay on Friday. The incident took place in Sydney’s south when the elderly man went to check a vehicle parked outside his property.

Eric Johnson [image] was sitting in his balcony while sipping a glass of milk. A male driver parked a car outside Johnson’s house and was wandering down the street. Johnson saw two young girls along in the car.

Johnson was concerned that the girls might have been left unattended. He went to inspect the car, and the driver returned. Johnson was brutally beaten by the driver who, without warning, bruised the elderly man’s face and inflicted cuts. Johnson also suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis.

"He's from a different era to us, so the idea of a car stopping out the front, possibly someone in distress, naturally he would have wanted to help," Sydney Morning Herald quoted Johnson’s grandson Dale Ross, "He's the type of person who would ... ask if they wanted to use the phone, wait inside in the warmth if it was cold." According to the grandson, Johnson was an "active, strong and fearless" man earlier but has become weak over time.

Ross said that Johnson had started using walking sticks or walking frames. He said that it was frustrating to think that his grandfather was not safe even near his own house. He asked the attacker to come forward and tell his side of the story.

Neighbours found the news of Johnson having beaten so badly as distressing. An anonymous resident said that the incident was “unexpected” and “disturbing.” According to another neighbour, Johnson is well known in the community as he has been living in there for the last six decades.

Police and paramedics arrived soon to take Johnson to Sutherland Hospital. The Cronulla Sharks fan remained there over the weekend. According to Cronulla Sharks chief executive Lyall Gorman, the club wished him to be “back on his feet” at the earliest.

Gorman said that the club had invited Johnson and his family to the next home game. The elderly man is also welcome to meet some of the boys after full time. He said that it was the least the club could do to put a smile on Johnson’s face.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au