Talented soccer star, 25, is left in a critical condition after cowardly one-punch attack – but his distraught parents can’t fly into Perth from the UK to be by his side
- Danny Hodgson, 25, in a critical condition in coma after unprovoked attack
- British expat was on way home from soccer game when attacked at train station
- His UK-based parents are desperate to get to Perth to be by their son’s bedside
A promising soccer star is fighting for life in an induced coma with his shattered parents stranded on the other side of the world.
British expat Danny Hodgson, 25, was on his way home from an end of season game when he was knocked to the ground from behind in an unprovoked attack at a Perth train station on Saturday night.
He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with severe head injuries, where he underwent emergency surgery for bleeding to the brain and a brain fracture.
The personal trainer, originally from Cumbria in England’s north-west, has since suffered severe brain haemorrhaging, which required more surgery and remains in an induced coma.
His distraught parents in the UK are desperate to be by their son’s bedside but struggling to find a flight to Perth due to Australia’s closed international borders.
Danny Hodgson (pictured with his partner Jessica) was knocked to the ground in an cowardly and unprovoked attack
Mr Hodgson’s mum Nicola turned to Facebook to issue a desperate public plea for help to find a way in getting to Perth.
‘The main sticking point now is trying to find an airline that can fly us to Perth, we have been in touch with all the airlines and have hit a brick wall and its looking like we are going to struggle to get a flight anytime soon,’ Ms Hodgson wrote.
‘We have tried every airline possible to see if there are any available flights from anywhere in the UK to Perth but have hit a dead end but keep phoning and trying to see if there’s anything available daily.
‘We are desperate to be with Danny by his bedside that’s why we are reaching out.’
She has been told her son could remain in an induced coma for weeks or even months.
She and her husband have already been granted a three month tourist via and exemption to fly without the need to quarantine.
The promising soccer star (pictured) is fighting for life in an induced coma
Danny’s family (pictured) back in the UK are desperate to be by his hospital bedside in Perth
The Facebook post was inundated with more than 6,000 shares and hundreds of comments within five hours.
Several tagged Western Australian premier Mark McGowan in the post to alert him of the family’s desperate situation.
‘Please help this family. An innocent victim and family hurt by someone here in WA. They should not suffer our border restrictions in getting to their son,’ one woman wrote.
Mr Hodgson is a talented striker who represented Great Britain at international level before moving to Australia at age 18 to progress his football career.
‘Danny is full of life and has a heart of gold, he is the most kind, gentle and positive person I know who has a passion for life and football,’ his mum added.
He plays for ECU Joondalup in Western Australia’s National Premier League, where he won a premiership and the Golden Boot award as the leading goal scorer last season.
‘We are extremely saddened to report that our senior player Danny Hodgson is hospitalised with a bleed on the brain and a skull fracture after being attacked in the city on Saturday night,’ the club posted on Wednesday morning.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted WA Health for comment.
The British expat (pictured) moved to Australia seven years ago to progress his football career