Father fights for life after being attacked when he 'stood up to youths bullying his son'

8 April 2021, 08:21 | Updated: 8 April 2021, 17:57

Alan Willson, 46, pictured with wife Annie, is fighting for his life in hospital
Alan Willson, 46, pictured with wife Annie, is fighting for his life in hospital. Picture: JustGiving

By Asher McShane

A father has been left fighting for life after he was attacked by a group of teenagers when he stepped in to stop them bullying his son in a park.

Alan Willson, 46, was attacked in a park in Worthing, West Sussex after he heard his son was being hurled to the ground, it is reported.

He was attacked when he stepped in to help his son, 11, and suffered multiple injuries. He is now in a coma in Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton where he is fighting for his life.

His wife Annie, 49, wrote online: “So this is what you have done to my husband — hitting him and keep hitting him until he was down and unconscious.“He is fighting for his life after brain surgery for multiple bleeds on the brain.

“He is the most kind and gentle man in the world. My 11-year-old son you have also given mental trauma.

"A father coming to rescue his son because you started physically hurting him and throwing him on the ground.”

The attack took place at 7.30pm on Easter Sunday at Longcroft Park in Worthing, West Sussex.

Five youths have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent. They were later released on bail with strict conditions.

Detective Inspector Simon Dunn said: “The assault and the build up to it occurred in a public park in daylight, so it was likely that other people would have witnessed the assault or the suspects running from the scene."I am keen to hear from anyone who has information but is yet to come forward.”

Over £14,000 has been raised so far after a fund was set up to support Alan and his family.

Alan's daughter Becky, 25, posted: "Words can not describe out grateful I am of how much has been given to help my mum and family out at this time. I'm so so shocked this will help my mum out so much while my dad is in hospital thank you so so much every one XXX"

To donate to the fund visit this link

Members of the public can contact police online or by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously online or by calling 0800 555 111.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Know your limits this summer, Brits have been warned

‘Know your limits’: Brits heading to the Euros this summer warned against drinking ‘too much German beer’

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

Sam Bankman-Fried has been jailed for 25 years for a $8bn crypto fraud

'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried jailed for 25 years for stealing billions of dollars from his customers

Michael Gove has been urged to 'get on with' passing the rental reforms

Ministers accused of making 'major concessions to landlords' after renters reforms 'watered down'

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hour revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

Supermarket opening times for Easter 2024: Trading hours revealed for Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi

It is believed the litter picking tool was mistaken for a firearm, Northumbria Police said

Schools locked down by police after litter picker mistaken for firearm

Lewes prison

Medical incident declared at Lewes prison after several inmates hospitalised with food poisoning

Sandro Tonali

Newcastle United star charged with breaching FA gambling rules 50 times

The protesters staged a bike collision to gain entrance into the department

Pro-Palestine protestors chant 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' as they occupy British Ministry