Urgent fundraiser launched for dad-of-three left with 'bleed on the brain' after North End road rage attack

Andy Bromfield, 43, was left with a bleed on the brain after being kicked in the head during a violent altercation in Stubbington Avenue, Copnor, on Wednesday.

The telecommunications engineer has been unable to work while he recovers and his family now faces weeks of financial uncertainty without ‘breadwinner’ Andy’s salary coming in.

Worried friends have since launched a GoFundMe page, which drummed up almost £1,800 in the space of 24 hours for the Copnor dad – known as ‘Brom’ by his pals.

Colleague and mate, Mike Hart, 33, has known Mr Bromfield for more than a decade and set up the campaign.

He said: ‘Brom is the sort of guy who would go out of his way to help anyone. He is a one-in-a-million. Everyone needs a “Brom” in their lives. Now Brom needs everyone in his.

‘We’ve always had each other’s backs and I just feel awful about not being there for him.

‘We don’t know how long he will be out of work for. It could be four weeks, it could be eight. So I just want to make sure his family doesn’t have to worry about finances while he recovers.’

Mr Bromfield, who has also worked as a bouncer with Mr Hart, was driving with his wife and youngest son when the alleged fight erupted.

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A video of the incident was shared on social media and has since gone viral.

It showed an argument between Mr Bromfield and another man before the pair came to blows and Mr Bromfield was knocked to the ground, unconscious.

As previously reported, neighbours living in Stubbington Avenue rushed to his side to provide first aid, with a former paramedic and a midwife among the Good Samaritans.

The 43-year-old was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital where he was treated for a fractured skull and gash to his head.

Mr Hart said: ‘This was within four inches of being fatal – I could have been writing his obituary if his head had hit the curb.

‘It could have been life-threatening and life-changing.

‘It could have ruined two people’s lives forever.

‘Thankfully it isn’t. But all of this could have been so easily avoided.’

Mr Hart said his pal’s family had been ‘overwhelmed’ by the generosity of the city to support the injured dad, who is a keen charity fundraiser and supporter of Portsmouth-based Friends Fighting Cancer.

To donate, see https://www.gofundme.com/f/prey-for-brom

- Police have arrested a 30-year-old man from Havant on suspicion of assault. He has been released under investigation. Witnesses to the incident should call 101 quoting 44200306979.

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