US doctor allegedly bashed by teenagers at Australian Open in Melbourne

A US physician, allegedly bashed by teenagers as he left the tennis, says Melbourne is “magical” despite needing titanium plates inserted into his face.

American doctor Edmund Pribitkin was allegedly bashed alongside his 17-year-old son by a group of teenagers as they left the Australian Open.

An American physician, who was allegedly bashed alongside his 17-year-old son by a group of teenagers as they left the Australian Open, has described Melbourne as a “magical city” despite needing titanium plates inserted into his face as a result of the attack.

Dr Edmund Pribitkin and his son Edik at the Australian Open.

Dr Edmund Pribitkin and his son Edik from Pennsylvania were walking back to their hotel last Wednesday night when they were allegedly attacked near the Queen Victoria Gardens.

The group of teenagers allegedly first approached the pair asking for cigarettes before demanding to be handed their belongings.

Edik and his dad were then attacked as they attempted to flee: kicked, punched and pulled to the ground.

“Anything from hitting me in the head, kicking and trying to pull me to the ground,” the teenage victim told Channel Nine.

“My face was broken into pieces and separated from my skull,” Dr Pribitkin said.

Dr Pribitkin, professor and academic vice chairman of Otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, suffered serious head injuries and was put in an induced coma while Edik suffered a broken nose and concussion.

After spending four nights recovering in Prince Alfred Hospital, Dr Pribikin thanked emergency services and said that, despite their ordeal, he and his son do not hold anything against Melbourne.

An American Physician and his son who were allegedly bashed after leaving the @AustralianOpen  by a gang of youths, have spoken of their traumatic ordeal. @LexiDaish  #9News pic.twitter.com/VtKJZty9DG

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) January 22, 2018

“This is a random act, it can happen anywhere in the world,” Dr Pribitkin said.

“It is a magical city, you have some of the friendliest folks on Earth here.”

Police have charged five teenagers and are still searching for several others believed to be involved in the incident.

The incident comes just six months after another doctor, Melbourne surgeon Patrick Prizwald-Stegmann, was punched in the head in the foyer of Box Hill Hospital, eventually dying as a result of the injury.

The 41-year-old husband and father of two had spent four weeks in a critical condition in The Alfred Hospital but died from the injury on June 28.

Dr Edmund Pribitkin and his son Edik from Pennsylvania.