Stabbing victim learning to speak and cycle again after life-changing attack
A young man who technically died after being stabbed four times in the chest during a brutal and unprovoked attack has spoken about how the injuries have changed his life.
The attack, which happened on a night out with friends in Birmingham, has left 23-year-old Chris Flood unable to work, walk or speak properly.
He is just another victim of the casual violence used by young people in the West Midlands.
His attackers were both teenagers – one just 15 years old – and he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Mr Flood, from near Shrewsbury in Shropshire, was attacked in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham in October last year by two youngsters trying to steal his friend’s car.
He, along with a group of other friends, had been visiting some old schoolmates who were studying at Birmingham University.
Earlier this month a 15-year-old boy was sentenced to 18 years in custody after admitting attempted murder and six attempted robberies.
His 17-year-old accomplice was given a 50-month sentence after admitting the robbery charges.
Mr Flood spent more than two months in hospital and was in a medically induced state of unconsciousness for two-and-a-half weeks after the incident.
The attack in Heeley Road, during the early hours of October 7 last year, with severe long-term disabilities.
His mother Yvonne said it was not yet known whether he would make a full recovery.
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He is slowly regaining his ability to speak, but managed to say that the thing he missed most about his injuries was not being able to drive his car.
At the time of the attack he had just begun work as an apprentice plumber, and said he was really enjoying it.
Mrs Flood added: “He had found the job with a neighbour and had just started college, where he was studying heating engineering, and he loved it.”
She added: “He was also a very keen BMX rider.”
Mr Flood was a passenger in a car with a group of friends driving from one student house to another when they became aware they were being followed by two youths in another car.
The friends were about to enter a house via a side alleyway when the youths approached them demanding their car keys.
Mrs Flood said her son is now receiving physiotherapy and speech therapy to aid his recovery.
“Chris’s friend was trying to get into the house when they threatened him,” said Mrs Flood.
“He didn’t have the car keys, so he gave them the house key, and Chris was in the middle.”
She said her son was now receiving physiotherapy and speech therapy to aid with his recovery.
“People have said they are amazed at how quickly he has recovered, but it feels very slow,” she said.
