MAN'S SIGHT IS SAVED AFTER ATTACK IN TOWN

From the Echo, first published Tuesday 14th Oct 2003.

SURGEONS have fought to save the sight of a man whose right eye was cut after his glasses were smashed in an unprovoked attack.

Civil engineering buyer Keiron Ranking, 30, from Parkstone has been left with permanent damage to his eyesight and faces further surgery following the incident in which his eyeball was sliced by the smashed glass.

He has vowed never again to set foot in Bournemouth town centre on a Saturday night.

Keiron, girlfriend Jo Keating, and two friends were standing at the taxi rank opposite the Moon in the Square in Bournemouth Square at about 1am on Sunday.

Jo said: "We had been to a party and were trying to get a cab home. Keiron was on his mobile to United Taxis and we noticed three lads `mouthing off' at a girl. One of them turned and was rude to me.

"Keiron, still on his mobile, asked him what he'd said to me and one of the other blokes hit him. There was no provocation from Keiron.

"His glasses smashed and we could see his eye was cut although it was only when we got to hospital we realised just how serious his injury was.

Culprits

"We are hoping the culprits were caught on CCTV and are appealing for witnesses. We want to catch the person who did this."

When his glasses disintegrated from the force of the punch, the lens punctured his eyeball slicing through layers of the eye which doctors at the Royal Bournemouth had to stitch back together.

He also sustained a facial gash above the eye needing stitches as well as a fractured cheekbone.

Although doctors believe they have saved his sight they have warned Keiron it will still be damaged and will need a further operation.

"This is going to affect our lives for a long time," said Jo. "In an instant everything changes."

Police have confirmed the attack on Keiron was completely unprovoked and are keen to speak to a woman who gave him first aid at the scene. She's believed to be a qualified nurse.

The young man in his early 20s who allegedly swung the punch was thin, 5ft 11in, wearing a black shirt and had spiky hair. His colleague, about the same age and build, was shorter and was wearing a white shirt with distinctive black flecks.

Anyone with information should contact Bournemouth police on 01202 222500 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

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