A trainer fan knocked out when tempers flared outside a Manchester city centre shop about to release the latest Nike Jordans has been discharged from hospital following a scan, his mother has said.
Footage of the shocking incident showed the 21-year-old business graduate being kicked in the head as violence erupted outside Size?Manchester on Market Street on Saturday morning (January 11).
His mother has now revealed he has been discharged from hospital after a scan gave him the all-clear. During the 'frenzy', the woman's son was knocked out cold. Bosses say they offered the young man 'full assistance', but it was declined.
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The young man was attacked ahead of opening time when the trainer retailer had announced it would be selling Nike's latest Air Jordan trainers, named after Chicago Bulls basketball legend Michael Jordan, on a 'first come first served' basis.
The sought-after 'Air Jordan 4 SE Craft Photon Dust' went on sale for the first time on Saturday, with a pair costing from £285.
Fans of the new trainers, said to have responded to an announcement from the shop, turned up at the Market Street venue in darkness long before opening time.
The first would-be customers were handed tickets by shop staff confirming their place in the queue, but trouble broke out when more people arrived, according to one source.
Video handed to the Manchester Evening News shows a group of young men crowding around the front door of the venue.
Moments later, raised voices can be heard and a scuffle breaks out in the centre of the gathering of young men.
One man, wearing a blue top, emerges from the group pursued by others. He is seen to fall to the ground and one of the men is seen to kick the man in the head.
The injured man is then seen laying motionless on the ground.
The boy's mother told the M.E.N. her son came round moments later. He took himself to A&E the next day and was discharged following a scan.
She said of the 'frenzy': "He wasn't there with any friends. He was by himself. He ended up getting an Uber home. He was knocked out on the floor."
She confirmed what Greater Manchester Police had said - that her son had not reported the assault to police.
One source familiar with the incident told the M.E.N. the man was 'knocked out cold'.
On its website, Size?Manchester says it provides 'niche product and brands' at 'bespoke' stores boasting 'sought-after product that wasn’t readily available in your run-of-the-mill high street store'.
It styles itself as a 'go-to retailer for coveted, exclusive sneaker launches'.
The victim's mother has complained directly to Size? about the incident. The company said in a reply: "Thank you for contacting our size? Customer Care Team regarding the incident occurred outside our Manchester store."
The email promised the company would 'contact the Manchester store manager for a point of view with regards to this matter'.
A spokesperson for the shoe retailer, which is part of Bury-based JD Sports, told the M.E.N: "The safety of our customers and employees is our absolute priority, and we do not condone violence of any kind. As soon as becoming aware of the incident – which occurred before the store opened – one of Size’s managers sought to help the affected person, offering them full assistance."
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