July 15th 2024.
Daniel Gerrard and Chris Harris were involved in a physical altercation outside a pub, resulting in Chris being punched by Daniel. As a result of this incident, Chris, a father of three, sustained a permanent brain injury and has been struggling to rebuild his life ever since. The incident took place in Merthyr Tydfil, where Daniel, a former professional boxer, hit Chris with such force that he was immediately knocked unconscious. Chris woke up the next day at the hospital, where he was treated for a two-inch skull fracture and a brain bleed.
Chris's wife, Lynsey, described his condition as childlike at first, but he has been slowly recovering and trying to piece his life back together. However, he still experiences anxiety and sits with his back against the wall in public places, so he can have a clear view of his surroundings. Recalling the aftermath of the attack, Chris shared, "My wife woke me up and told me about my brain injury. I was devastated and couldn't hold back my tears. I thought my life was over, and I only had an hour to live before undergoing surgery."
The attack left Chris with 23 staples in his head and he remained in critical care for three days. During this time, he stopped eating and lost a significant amount of weight. Meanwhile, Daniel Gerrard, who resides in Spruce Tree Grove, Gurnos, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault. The court also took into consideration his previous conviction for manslaughter in 2012, where he killed someone in a pub fight.
During the sentencing, Recorder David Elias KC addressed Daniel, saying, "The quick thinking of those at the scene and the subsequent treatment is what saved Chris's life. Your background in boxing makes your fists equivalent to weapons, as evident from your previous convictions and the CCTV footage." Daniel was sentenced to four years in prison with an additional year on license and was also issued a restraining order.
Despite the legal consequences faced by Daniel, the damage caused to Chris is irreversible. He shared, "My memory is terrible, and I often forget things that my wife asks me to do. I also experience PTSD and have frequent flashbacks. My sleep has been greatly affected, and I am constantly on edge. I believe a lot of this is due to the length of time the court case took. Throughout that time, Daniel was only two minutes away from where I live, and I even saw him twice. It's difficult not to constantly watch my back after such a traumatic incident. Now, I make sure to sit with my back against the wall when I go to a pub, just to feel safe and in control."
Despite the challenges he faced, Chris has returned to work and is now running his own roofing business, working six days a week. He hopes to share his story to raise awareness about the consequences of a single punch. He said, "I consider myself lucky to have survived, but many others do not. During the court case, I had the chance to meet the family of the man Daniel killed with a punch. He was a father and had a whole life ahead of him. I feel compelled to speak openly about my experience and prevent other men from resorting to violence. It's so easy to throw a punch, but it can ruin so many lives."
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