On Saturday night, Jurgen was attacked by a group of young people after a chiro party in Nijlen. — © RR
Nijlen –
In the early hours of last Saturday, 19-year-old Jurgen Swerts was the victim of a violent attack by a group of young people after a Chiro party in Nijlen. His mother, Christine Mertens, is calling for witnesses to help identify the perpetrators. “I am very happy that Jurgen can still tell the story.”
The incident took place around a quarter past 3, Saturday night, when Jurgen was on his way home with 4 friends. They had just left the Nijlen Chiro party and were confronted by a group of young people who were spreading mayonnaise on bicycles and mopeds. The situation escalated when Jurgen politely asked to stop smearing the bicycles. Insults were thrown. “They shouted at them that they would catch them, but Jurgen just kept cycling,” says his mother Christine. Halfway through the Rector de Ramstraat they were met by the same group.
“They started spraying mayonnaise again. At one point someone threw mayonnaise at Jurgen’s bike, causing him to fall. While trying to inspect his bike, he was pulled off his bike. He fell on his stomach and instinctively tried to protect his head because the group immediately started hitting him,” says Christine.
Halfway through the Rector de Ramstraat, Jurgen and his friends were met by a group. — © RR.
Jurgen’s smartphone had fallen, but he managed to get it back. During the incident, he immediately called the police and remained in contact with the emergency center. The police arrived on the scene, but the perpetrators immediately fled. Although they continued to search, there was no trace of them left. No report was made that evening, but Christine has an appointment at the police station to file an official complaint.
Bruises
As a result of the attack, Jurgen is currently unable to go to school. “I think it’s a shame. Jurgen is in his final year and it is currently the 100 days. It should be a period full of festivities,” says Christine. “His eyelid is swollen and he has abrasions on his eyebrows. He also has bruises on the crown of his head. It was the longest 18 minutes of my life when I drove to him, it was as if the world stood still at that moment. I am very happy that he can still tell the story of all this.”
Jurgen is described as a fantastic young man. “Jurgen is really a cream of a boy. Everyone is very shocked by the situation. Even his teachers are extremely affected by the incident. I think it was a very cowardly act, they immediately started hitting his head. one wrong hit and he could have been in a coma.”
As a result of the attack, Jurgen (right) is currently unable to go to school. — © RR.
The description of the perpetrators is still unknown because everything happened so quickly, says Christine. “He had only one goal in mind: to protect his face from the blows. I am very happy that he can still tell the story,” she says. “5 years ago, Jurgen had surgery on his hip due to a birth defect. My biggest fear was that he wouldn’t be able to walk again after the attack. Fortunately, we were helped very quickly at the Lier emergency department.”
Jurgen’s family is now publicly calling for help from witnesses. Anyone who saw anything or has information about the perpetrators is kindly asked to contact local authorities to help them investigate this attack.
For privacy reasons, no photos of Jurgen’s injuries are being shared. — © RR.