I saw the video, they could have killed mé.. I'm lucky to be alive

Stephen has no memory of assault | Dad back on his feet after coma hell

- PAUL HEALY

THE US tourist who was attacked in Dublin's Talbot Street has given his first interview and exclusively told us: "I'm lucky to still be alive."

The horrific attack on Stephen Termini, 57, on July 19 made headlines around the world and has sparked national outrage and a major conversation about safety in the city centre.

The incident saw Stephen, who is from Buffalo, New York, fighting for his life in a coma. But he now out of hospital and recovering well - and even returned for a pint in the Celt Bar on Talbot Street yesterday.

In his first interview since the brutal attack, Stephen told us how he has no memory of the assault but he's since seen video footage in which teens punched him, kicked him to the ground and repeatedly booted him in the head.

He said: "You know it's a pretty f***ed up thing to do to somebody, especially if they don't deserve it and they don't fight back. They could have killed me.

"I'm lucky to still be alive to be honest with you.

"I have no memory of it but when I saw the video I told the police I never said anything to these people, they just came at me.

"I saw the video and this kid just comes up to me and punches me in the eye.

"Another kid then ran across the street and kicked me in the side and tried to break my ribs.

UNCONSCIOUS

"And then they kicked me in the head so many times that I became unconscious.

"They told me that somebody tried to wake me up for 20 minutes and they couldn't.

Stephen says it is only long after the incident that he came to realise how bad the attack he suffered was.

He added: "Like I say I really don't remember my condition in the first place until I was in the second hospital and then I was like, 'I was very close to being killed in this situation'.