Thieves attack bone disease boy

A French exchange student with a rare bone disease spent hours crawling home after he was attacked and robbed by a "callous" gang.

The 16-year-old was walking near Durdham Downs in Bristol when he was hit from behind and thrown to the ground.

Thieves stole his wallet and other belongings before leaving him for dead. He managed to crawl home to the family he had been staying with and was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary with "serious" injuries.

It later emerged he had been followed by a group of men and one woman before the attack.

Inspector Phil Robbins said: "The group followed him along a path for 60 metres. The gentleman concerned was a French schoolboy and unfortunately he also suffered a disease in his bones - due to the nature of the attack he suffered serious injuries.

"He then took about two hours to crawl back to his host family. Obviously, he's been taken to the local hospital."

Avon and Somerset Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 0117 9455355.

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