West Ham fan recalls brain injury recovery after attack

David Summerfield was ready to celebrate the return of the Premier League and travelled from Bracknell to London to see West Ham play their home game back in October 2018.

After spending the day cheering on his team, Mr Summerfield returned to Waterloo station with his friend when he was punched unprovoked with a single blow and fell to the floor.

His head hit the ground so hard that it caused his heart to stop.

David Summerfield was attacked after a West Ham game (Image: PA)

A heroic junior doctor happened to be passing the station at the time and leapt to the rescue as he started CPR before paramedics arrived.

This crucial intervention helped at the time until London’s Air Ambulance’s advanced trauma team arrived within eight minutes from being called.

The London Air Ambulance service says that Mr Summerfield suffered a traumatic brain injury and needed the immediate help from their staff.

Three years on, he said: “I’m just overwhelmed by the amount of effort that went in to saving my life.

“They are incredible. I can’t believe that I’ve been saved from the trauma I received.”

While in their care, he was quickly induced into a coma to protect his brain from further injury.

After, he was taken by an ambulance to The Royal London Hospital less than an hour after the first 999 call.

Following the attack, Mr Summerfield returned home with his wife and two kids.

The effects of his brain injury continue, but thanks to the quick reactions from emergency services he lives to tell the tale.