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Brian Thring, a 55-year-old handyman, is paralyzed from the neck down following a brutal 14-second attack at his home in Rockhampton. He was allegedly ambushed by neighbor Billy-Lee James Engel while working with power tools. Thring requires surgery and faces a long recovery, while his attacker was charged with grievous bodily harm and refused bail by a magistrate.
Police allege it took just 14 seconds for a brutal attack to leave the handyman paralysed from the neck down.handyman is paralysed from the neck down and may never walk again after an alleged brutal bashing at his Rockhampton home.
Brian Thring, 55, says he needs help to do everything - drink water, eat food, go to the bathroom, even wipe tears from his eyes. Know the news with the 7NEWS app:“To try and lift a finger is like running a marathon,” he said from his bed at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, two weeks after the alleged attack.
The boilermaker and handyman says he was working on a trailer with power tools when he was allegedly ambushed by neighbour Billy-Lee James Engel. Credit: 7NEWSPolice say it was 14 seconds of brutality before the alleged attacker casually walked away. He was flown to Brisbane where three vertebrae were removed and replaced with a cage to allow his spine to decompress.
“It’s going to be a very slim chance of even doing anything normal ever again,” he said. His 33-year-old alleged attacker was charged with grievous bodily harm and appeared in a Rockhampton court on Thursday. His 33-year-old alleged attacker was refused bail. Already serving a suspended sentence for drug convictions, the father of three was refused bail by a magistrate.
“It’s a relief for my brother. It doesn’t help him, but it’ll give us peace,” Thring’s sister Ally Ellis said. Thring now faces a painful recovery and months in hospital away from family, with questions swirling about how he’ll live, make money or keep up mortgage repayments.
“I’ve got to try and be strong and get through it. ”
Personal Injury Assault Rockhampton Legal Proceedings Medical Emergency