Jason Lindsley's first words after two weeks in induced coma delight family
THIS is the first picture of a recovering Jason Lindsley - the 24 year-old assaulted at the Zhivago nightclub last month - and his proud father Doug.
THE surprising first words assault victim Jason Lindsley spoke after two weeks in an induced coma left a wry smile on the face of his father, Doug.
"He said 'this is sh . . - it's all f ... ed up', referring to being in hospital," Mr Lindsley said yesterday.
It was a blunt but understandable appraisal of the shocking injuries Jason awoke to after he was allegedly assaulted at the Zhivago nightclub on August 26.
His family is elated with each small step in his journey back to health, and Mr Lindsley wanted to share the first recovery photograph taken by the family yesterday.
"The miracle is that he's back and if he ends up as slow as Molly Meldrum, I don't care," he told The Advertiser.
Meldrum suffered severe head trauma after falling from the roof of his Melbourne home last December and is also steadily recovering.
Mr Lindsley, who has mounted a political campaign to toughen penalties surrounding alcohol-fuelled violence, says the swelling on Jason's brain has reduced and, while he is having difficulty speaking, the future is looking brighter.
"He's still got a long, long way to go but the signs are promising," Mr Lindsley said.
"I'm confident that he is going to make a recovery as best as what he can. He's a fighter and he's as tough as nails."
Mr Lindsley has met Premier Jay Weatherill and Senator Nick Xenophon as part of his campaign and on Tuesday will meet Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond.
"We need some reform with the way punishments are handed out.
"We have a harsh penalty of 20 years but the judges and magistrates hand down a lot of suspended sentences and they need to start putting these buggers behind bars."
A 21 year-old, whose name has been suppressed, has been charged with one aggravated count of causing serious harm over the incident.
