A man who moved to Manchester for its 'inclusivity' was viciously attacked in the city centre and left for dead in what police are treating as a homophobic assault. Morgan Fevre, 22, was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary then transferred to Salford Royal Hospital for emergency surgery to save his life.
He suffered a bleed to the brain as well as a severely fractured cheekbone and eye socket. His family and partner, after speaking to Morgan, have given the Manchester Evening News permission to publish shocking images they have posted on social media showing the extent of his injuries in hospital.
He was also left with three broken teeth and a badly broken nose, which was fractured in four places.
Morgan's father, Paul Fevre, said his son was approached by a man who made mocking comments about an item of clothing he was wearing. He said the thug then abused Morgan with a vile homophobic slur before attacking him.
Paul, 53, from Retford, Nottinghamshire, said Morgan had been out in Manchester city centre with friends and believes the thug first asked Morgan for a cigarette before attacking him. He said: "The man said to him 'why are you wearing a girl's jacket, you f****** f*****?
"That's the last that he remembers. In 2022, that people are called these names and these things happen to them - it is absolutely horrendous." Morgan - a support worker for adults with learning difficulties - moved to Manchester from the small market town of Retford for work more than a year ago.
His father Paul added: "Morgan has gone to Manchester thinking it's great - you can go out and be who you are. Then this happens. This has knocked him back, but we are all here for him. Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the reasons he came to Manchester was because of the city's inclusiveness."
Morgan, who lives with his partner Elliot Lyte in Didsbury, was taken to the MRI by ambulance at around 2.15am on Sunday, April 10. Elliot, 30, said he was last seen walking from a pub on Deansgate up Market Street towards Piccadilly Gardens.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were called to reports of an assault on Charlotte Street, in nearby Chinatown, at about 1.35am. The force said the incident was being treated as a 'homophobically-aggravated assault' and was being investigated by city centre-based detectives.
A major appeal for anyone with information to come forward has now been issued by GMP. Morgan went on to be transferred to Salford Royal Hospital, where his father Paul said he remained with a blood clot on his brain until he was discharged on Wednesday evening.
More than 40 staples medics used following Morgan's emergency craniotomy have been removed, but doctors are continuing to monitor him, Paul added. He said: "We are just taking each day as it comes. It is heart-wrenching to be honest. The family are in bits.
"I got a phone call from my wife saying that Morgan had been attacked and was in intensive care. We just jumped in the car and raced up to Manchester." Paul added that Morgan won't be able to return to work for some time due to his injuries and has lost a planned holiday in May because he can't now fly. He could also face expensive dental surgery.
Elliot said Morgan was now stable, but was initially left fighting for his life because of what he called 'senseless violence'. "He sent his last text message to a friend at 1.30am," said Elliot, who believes Morgan may have been followed by the man who attacked him. "So there's a gap in time before he was taken to hospital.
"In a country of progression and in a city which has somewhere called the Gay Village, that this can happen, and these words said, is baffling and upsetting. Morgan is doing well, but this will leave lasting scars both physically and mentally. He is on the way to recovery, but has only just become himself in the last couple of days."
Elliot also thanked all the hospital teams involved in Morgan's care.
The family have launched an appeal on GoFundMe. In it Morgan's father Paul wrote: "He moved to Manchester from Retford, a small market town in Nottinghamshire. He chose Manchester because of its inclusiveness, but is now fearful of ever going out again.
"Morgan is 22 years old and a support worker for adults with learning difficulties. Due to possible volatile situations he won't be able to return to work. In fact his consultant has told him that he will be housebound unless supervised for the foreseeable future.
"Money won't change this, but will help him manage with expenses as he gets back to some sort of normality."
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers were called to reports of an assault on Charlotte Street in Manchester city centre at about 1.35am on April 10, 2022. It is believed the male victim was punched by another man and required hospital treatment for face and head injuries. He has now been discharged from hospital.
"The incident is being treated as a homophobically aggravated assault and is being investigated by GMP's City of Manchester CID. Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 4409 quoting incident 247 of 10/4/2022.
"Information can also be reported online or by using the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk. If you can't report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
