Calvin Cooper was punched in the head in Queen Street Mall

A young man with the world at his feet and about to start his own business has had his life turned upside down after a thug’s coward punch left him in the hospital with a devastating brain injury.

Calvin Cooper was walking through the Queen Street Mall with mates at 3.30am on April 2, 2022 when he was assaulted.

A successful, socially active, independent young man with the world at his feet and on the cusp of starting his own business has had his life turned upside down after a thug’s coward punch left him in the hospital with a brain injury.

Brisbane man Calvin Cooper was walking through the Queen Street Mall with mates at 3.30am on April 2, 2022, when they came across a man and woman screaming at each other.

Moments later, Calvin’s life was changed – possibly forever.

The once confident, happy, active, driven boilermaker and almost fitter and turner sustained a head injury after Central Queensland man Barry Bloomfield punched him in the jaw, causing Calvin to drop to the ground where his head hit the pavement.

Bloomfield was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, with 276 days pre-sentence custody declared as time already served and immediate parole release.

Speaking with this publication after Bloomfield was sentenced, Calvin said he was faced with “lifelong mental impairment” from the attack.

He was in the neurosurgeon ward for eight days after the assault, which was followed by 10 weeks of rehabilitation at the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service at Metro North Hospital and Health Service.

Calvin Cooper was walking through the Queen Street Mall with mates at 3.30am on April 2, 2022, on when they came across a Central Queensland man and a woman screaming at each other. He was punched by Barry Bloomfield after he and his mates tried to stop the argument.

“My life is a constant struggle now and I am challenged with everyday things that I never used to,” Calvin said.

“This injury has greatly impacted my quality of life, and I am now faced with daily challenges, due to damage done to my brain and now have to live with this impairment.

“Unfortunately due to income loss, not being able to work for eight months, with minimal hours worked, I have not been able to continue with medical treatment to support the everyday pain that I have to endure.”

Calvin said he was now in constant physical pain in his neck and head, leaving him fatigued.

He suffers from major depression, ongoing headaches, lack of energy, brain fog, memory issues, anxiety and hypervigilance.

The physical and psychological impact has resulted in Calvin only being able to work minimal hours a week and struggling to focus when he does work.

He now relies on his parents for psychological and financial support.

Calvin has undergone physiotherapy, counselling, and psychotherapy, and sees a speech pathologist and occupational therapist.

He said he struggled to cope in large crowds or noisy environments and could not attend sports games, pubs, restaurants, concerts or celebrations.

“I have no energy to do the things that I love, which is helping others, exploring, being active, socialising and the wish to travel,” Calvin said.

Bloomfield was originally charged with grievous bodily harm, but the charge was downgraded by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to assault occasioning bodily harm because the medical documents included in the brief of evidence, about the victim’s long-term impact, stated there was no medical evidence yet to determine if that would be the situation for Calvin.

Calvin is upset his attacker, who he was told had a history of violence, “walks free” while he has to live with the damage.

Calvin Cooper was walking through the Queen Street Mall with mates at 3.30am on April 2, 2022, on when they came across a Central Queensland man and a woman screaming at each other. He was punched by Barry Bloomfield after he and his mates tried to stop the argument.

“I would happily exchange places with him,” Calvin said.

“I have to live with my injuries while he walks free.

“I’ve been kept in the dark, didn’t get told anything until the (charge) was lowered (from causing grievous bodily harm to assault occasioning bodily harm),” Calvin said.

He said he was told the charge was downgraded because there was not medical evidence available to say his injuries caused permanent impairment.

Calvin said medical staff had told him it was too early to tell if there was permanent injuries and it would take at least two years from the incident to see signs of permanent injuries.

He said it was not fair that Bloomfield got all the help, counselling and rehabilitation to get him back in the right path whereas he, the victim, has to wait two years for a victim of crime payment to get money to try to help him.