Father appeals for witnesses after attack leaves son in coma

Mohammed Alexander Bourner was on his way home from a beach bonfire party at Glyne Gap in Bexhill on Friday night (October 28) when it is believed he was punched in the face, striking his head against the pavement as he fell.

The incident in De La Warr Parade left him with a fractured skull and potential brain damage.

Mohammed, known to friends as Mo, was rushed to the Conquest and later transferred to Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre as his injuries were so severe.

Dad Peter Bourner, 44, said: “This was a senseless, cowardly and unprovoked attack whilst he was on a night out with his friends in his favourite home town, Bexhill.”

Mo, a former pupil at Ninfield Primary School, is critically ill in a drug-induced coma, and staff at Hurstwood Park had saved his life three times already, Peter told the Observer on Wednesday.

Doctors do not yet know the extent of damage to Mo’s brain.

Peter said: “He is very, very poorly. He’s laying out hooked up to a life support machine, a situation no parent would want to find themselves in.

“However we are confident with Mo’s tenacity and lust for life characteristic aligned with all of his family’s and friends’ love, support and prayers, he can make a full recovery from such a heartbreaking situation.

“I appeal on behalf of Mo for any witnesses who may be able to provide further information to come forward and contact the police so we can have justice for our beloved boy.”

Mo was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and his family moved to the area when he was two-and-a-half years old.

He had lived in Hooe, but since September Mo has been living with his mother, Rahma Adan, in Bermondsey.

He was staying with his father for the half-term break and catching up with friends when the attack happened.

Peter described his son as a ‘typical teenager’ with a great range of interests, including music - especially hip-hop and playing the guitar - riding and maintaining his BMX bike, and dreaming of making and spending his first million.

He has also played a role in an anti-knife crime film.

Peter said: “Mo is an energetic, popular, talented, passionate teenager full of promise and potential who with his own brand of lovely wordplay would light up any room.

“Surely his burning star does not deserve to be extinguished at such an early and unfulfilled age whilst enjoying a night out.

“He’s got a lot of love and support and he’s a tough guy.”

Police have arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm in connection with the attack. He has since been released on bail.

Anyone with information on the incident, which took place on De La Warr Parade between Middlesex Road and Brassey Road between midnight on Friday October 28 and 12.45am on Saturday October 29, should contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999, quoting Operation Leverton.

Or call Crimestoppers anonymously and free of charge on 0800 555 111.