James Hatcher, 41, was walking along Brighton Road in South Croydon, London, on August 16, 2025, when he was kicked into the path of an oncoming van in a random attack. Paramedics took him to St George's Hospital with life-threatening injuries, including a bleed on the brain, broken legs, ribs, jaw and pelvis. He was placed in an induced coma and underwent multiple life-saving operations before waking six days later.
James had to relearn how to walk and, over a year after the attack, is still undergoing physiotherapy for his mobility. His attacker, Salman Kamraman Karim, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent on June 4 at Croydon Crown Court and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Early release notification
James received a letter on July 20 from the Ministry of Justice saying Karim was eligible for early release, only weeks into his sentence. James, from Croydon, said: "It is sickening that he is eligible for early release. He got sentenced in June and I am being told that he is eligible for early release. If it weren't for the air ambulance staff, I would not be alive today."
James was waiting for a bus home after getting his hair cut when the attack happened. Due to delays, he decided to walk instead. He had his noise-cancelling headphones in as he walked down Brighton Road when Karim came out of a vape shop and kicked him in front of an oncoming van.
Recovery and impact
The crane operator said: "I hit the floor straightaway. There was a crowd of people who circled me before the police came and shut the road." The van driver spoke to officers at the scene and was not arrested, but a few days later, Scotland Yard arrested and charged Karim.
James claimed that due to other 999 call-outs, an ambulance couldn't get to him for half an hour, so a London Air Ambulance team arrived nine minutes later. He was treated at the scene before an ambulance was available to blue-light him to St George's Hospital. He woke from his coma on August 21, 2025, having no idea where he was.
James said he "couldn't feel his legs" and realised he was lucky to be alive. He said: "I came around and had no idea where I was. I was then told what happened to me. I just thought, 'S***, I am lucky to be alive'. I didn't think about it too much and wanted to focus on the recovery."
He was released from hospital in November 2025, but to this day, James said he still struggles with his mobility and is unable to work. At first, he learned to sit up from his chair, before gradually learning to walk down the hospital corridors. James said: "I still have to go physio now. At first I couldn't feel either of my legs. They were really numb. Slowly but surely they came back and I was able to move them."
Facing his attacker
At the trial, James didn't want to see Karim's face, but he decided to attend the sentencing and face down his attacker. James said: "I was on my crutches. It was horrible to see him. I was looking him straight in the eyes, thinking, 'You piece of s***'. 11 years was not a long enough punishment in my opinion. I could have died."
James said he was horrified Karim is eligible for release just over a year after the attack, when he is still dealing with the effects of what happened. He added: "I am unable to work. The fact that he is eligible for early release really hurts me." Some 5,000 prisoners are scheduled to be released in stages over the next year in a bid to ease overcrowding in Britain's prisons. The first wave of this year's releases began on Thursday (October 1).
