On Monday, January 8, assistant chef Joe Claridge (37) was rushed to hospital after an accident at star restaurant The Jane. The man was hit twice by chef Nick Bril early after a heavy New Year’s party. Despite a positive breath test – he had a blood alcohol level of 1.67 – he still got behind the wheel of his Land Rover.
Since that accident, Joe Claridge has been kept in an artificial coma by doctors at the Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) in Edegem. During all that time, his mother and his aunt, who live in France, never left his hospital bed for a second.
Victim Joe Claridge — © David Ferguson
On Wednesday, 51 days after the accident, the man woke up from his coma. Our editors heard this from a good source. The encouraging news is that, according to our information, Joe Claridge is fit and has not suffered brain damage. “He knows nothing more about the accident itself,” says Karel Mul, lawyer for the family.
However, the physical damage to Joe is and remains enormous. “The only part of Joe’s body that was not hit in the accident is his head,” Mr. Mul said last week. At the request of the family, he cannot and will not answer questions about Joe’s medical condition on Thursday. “The family would like to express their gratitude for the care Joe has received.”
“A relief”
“This is good news and a relief. First and foremost for Joe and his family, but with extension for everyone who is involved in this file, from near or far. The fact that Joe has now woken up is a first important step in his healing process,” says Mr. Omar Souidi, Nick Bril’s lawyer.
“We now especially hope that serenity can return with this news,” Souidi continues. He is referring to the other party’s claim that there had been no attempt to make contact. “We can easily demonstrate that we tried this weeks ago through the police social assistant. Just because Nick Bril is in the line of fire does not mean he should simply accept that lies are being spread.”
Lawyer Karel Mul, who represents Joe Claridge’s family. — © JTP
Judicial investigation
The family of Joe Claridge filed a civil complaint in early February. The Antwerp public prosecutor’s office opened a judicial investigation into the exact circumstances. This will reveal what happened in the Groen Kwartier that Monday morning, before and certainly after the accident.
On the one hand, Mr. Souidi will have to see whether there is a causal link between the collision and the positive alcohol test. Camera images from the scene of the accident show that Claridge – for an unclear reason – was already on the ground before the accident.
On the other hand, it will have to be determined whether Bril actually tried to conceal the collision itself and whether valuable time was lost as a result. Earlier this month, Het Laatste Nieuws spoke to several witnesses who mentioned this. What is certain is that the first emergency services went to the Groen Kwartier on Monday morning for “a medical intervention”.
(jtp)