A teenage Manchester United fan who spent 449 days in hospital after being brutally attacked has learned to walk, talk and write his own name again. James Bascoe-Smith was just 16 years old when he was stabbed multiple times during an assault by a group of masked men.
James had taken his mother's new bicycle for a spin to see if it was '100 per cent rideable' when he was stopped by the gang who left him for dead. While on the floor James was able to facetime his mum to let her know that he'd been attacked and emergency services rushed to the scene in Brixton.
His stab wounds led to catastrophic bleeding and roadside surgery was performed by HEMS doctors, to allow them to perform manual heart massages and compressions. He was defibrillated four times before his heart began beating again, and was effectively dead for 50 minutes while being rushed to hospital.
As a result, he suffered a severe hypoxic brain injury, with his family told to prepare the worst. He went through a number of cardiac arrests, with doctors predicting that it was unlikely that he would return from a vegetative state. Despite all the odds however, James has made a startling recovery and was eventually released after spending a total of 449 days in hospital.
As reported by My London, both James and his family are now committed to tackling knife violence, and have launched a new campaign ‘Sit Up to Stand Up 2 Knife Violence ’. This comes after James, now aged 19, managed to reach 100 sit ups in a physiotherapy session, with the family hoping to inspire others to participate in their challenges to raise awareness.
They have also launched a GoFundMe to raise funds for his treatment, which includes occupational therapy, talking therapy, specialist equipment and a speech and language therapist. Described as a “happy boy, always smiling” by his mum Lisa Bascoe-Smith, James had never been involved in gang violence or any form of trouble.
A passionate Manchester United fan, he spent his time watching football games, hanging out with his friends and listening to music. ”He was doing music technology, he was DJing and he was such a family-orientated young boy and a lot of that I feel has just been taken away just like that,” his mum said.
On February 23, 2021, James offered to test-ride his mum’s new bike while she waited on the doorstep. It was during that short bike ride that he was knocked to the ground by masked men in an unprovoked, random attack, and stabbed multiple times.
Speaking at the trial of his attackers at the Old Bailey, prosecutor Edward Brown KC said it was a “very determined and concerted” effort and “nearly succeeded” in killing the teenager. Afterwards, a selection of “terrifying” knives were discarded at the scene, including a combat knife, a Zombie-style machete and a Rambo-style blade said to have been used in the attack.
In September, Leon Rashid, 20, and Taiquane Lewis, 18, were convicted of conspiracy to murder James while two others were cleared. As the jury verdicts returned, James and his family sat in the public gallery and he was seen smiling as they were pronounced guilty. Both men are due to be sentenced on Friday afternoon (November 4) at the Old Bailey.
However, the road to recovery for the talented musician has been incredibly difficult. He was effectively dead for 50 minutes which caused a catastrophic brain injury, resulting in him spending 174 days in a trauma hospital. His stab wounds had lacerated his liver, ripped through his diaphragm, punctured his lungs and ripped his aorta.
After being taken to the intensive care unit, his blood pressure was unstable and the family faced the risk of him contracting sepsis. Despite suffering several cardiac arrests, he eventually opened his eyes for the first time a few days before Mother’s Day, although doctors warned it was likely he’d remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.
Due to his brain injury, his limbs became dystonic which left him physically disabled, and his weight dropped to below six stone. James persevered however, and over time he gradually began to show signs of improvement. He began to stick his tongue out and to eat food and on his 18th birthday, he said the word ‘Mum’ for the first time.
While being treated at The Royal Hospital for Neurodisability, he relearned to write his name, cook and participated in singing lessons before he was eventually discharged in May of this year. His aunt Rachel Duncan said: “He spent a total of 449 days in hospital and of that 174 days in a trauma hospital. I was told that James would not survive past 24 hours of admission, I knew that he would.
“I refused to believe that James would have 'died' for an hour, have his heart re-started at the roadside, go though hours of life saving surgery, to not survive. I was informed that James’ recovery looked bleak and he would not be the boy who we once knew, he would not remember who we are, he would not remember himself and the recovery would be a very slow process, fortunately James has defied the odds.”
His family however are asking for help with his treatment as he requires around-the-clock care. Lisa has now become his full-time carer but James requires bespoke equipment to help with his rehabilitation, that includes an electric folding wheelchair, an adaptive sofa chair, an electric tilt table and a mobile hoist.
You can find details of James’ recovery and a link to donate to his GoFundMe here .
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