A cyclist violently beat an elderly man who was walking in a forest in Puurs-Sint-Amands following an altercation. The cyclist was arrested after he tried to file a complaint against the victim’s daughter for posting his photo on Facebook
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Cyclist puts 72-year-old man in hospital after exchange of words in Lippelo forest
Lisa Bradshaw
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Last weekend, a cyclist violently beat a 72-year-old man in the Lippelo forest in Puurs-Sint-Amands following an exchange of words. The victim is in hospital with 15 fractures in his face.
The man and his wife were walking in the forest in Antwerp province when two mountain bikers came up fast behind them. According to the pair, they had to jump out of the way to avoid getting hit, and the man yelled at the cyclists.
One of the cyclists dismounted and began to beat the man. The man is now hospitalised and can still not see out of one eye. His wife was severely traumatised by the incident and is being followed up by victim’s assistance.
Suspect angry at online photo
The suspect presented himself as a police station in Puurs-Sint-Amands a few days later – not to turn himself in but to file a complaint against the daughter of the victim, who had placed a photo of him riding away after the incident on Facebook. The wife of the victim had taken the photo, and the family hoped to identify the suspect by sharing the photo of his back.
The police decided to arrest the 36-year-old instead. He has been released under the condition that he not contact the victim or his family and follow an anger management programme. His hearing for the crime will follow.
According to Stef Willems of Flanders’ road safety agency Vias, violent incidents by cyclists is rare. “Situations diffuse quickly, but if it does happen it’s mostly young men who cross that line,” he says.