Man lost half of his skull from a single punch and now wears a helmet outside

Branden Stromberg, of Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, who lost half his skull after a vicious assault by Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover.  See SWNS story SWLNskull.  A man has been left with half of his SKULL missing following a sickening one punch attack and now lives in fear a single knock to the head could kill him.  Braden Stromberg, 27, was left with was bleeding on the brain and had to be placed in an induced coma following the unprovoked assault on May 2 last year.  He had been walking to the shops after work with his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by thug Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover, Derbys.  Braden was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face before smashing his head on the road.

Punch victim Braden Stromberg has to wear a helmet when he goes outside (Picture: SWNS)

A man has been left with half of his skull missing from a single punch – and now fears a knock to the head could kill him.

Braden Stromberg, 27, was placed in an induced coma with a bleed on the brain following the unprovoked assault on May 2 last year.

Despite the permanent impact it had on his life, Braden was shocked to hear his attacker Kyle Stephenson was jailed for less than two years, calling him ‘not long enough’.

He had been walking to the shops with his girlfriend when Stephenson attacked him from behind in Bolsover, Derbyshire.

The grounds worker was punched in the face and smashed his head on the road, leaving him unconscious.

He was rushed to the hospital where doctors removed the right side of his skull in a desperate bid to save his life.

Braden came close to death and spent 15 days in the coma, before making a miraculous recovery.

But he now has to wear a helmet to shield his unprotected brain whenever he leaves the house.

Braden, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, is awaiting further surgery to have a titanium skull fitted so he can return to work.

Branden Stromberg, of Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, who lost half his skull after a vicious assault by Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover.  See SWNS story SWLNskull.  A man has been left with half of his SKULL missing following a sickening one punch attack and now lives in fear a single knock to the head could kill him.  Braden Stromberg, 27, was left with was bleeding on the brain and had to be placed in an induced coma following the unprovoked assault on May 2 last year.  He had been walking to the shops after work with his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by thug Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover, Derbys.  Braden was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face before smashing his head on the road.

Braden is awaiting surgery to have a titanium plate fitted to protect his brain (Picture: SWNS)

Branden Stromberg, of Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, who lost half his skull after a vicious assault by Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover.  See SWNS story SWLNskull.  A man has been left with half of his SKULL missing following a sickening one punch attack and now lives in fear a single knock to the head could kill him.  Braden Stromberg, 27, was left with was bleeding on the brain and had to be placed in an induced coma following the unprovoked assault on May 2 last year.  He had been walking to the shops after work with his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by thug Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover, Derbys.  Braden was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face before smashing his head on the road.

Braden fears a single knock to his unprotected head could kill him (Picture: SWNS)

He said: ‘Every doctor I have spoken to has said how lucky I am to not have woken up from a paralyzed coma or in a vegetated state.

‘They can’t believe it. There might be an inch of spinal fluid where my skull has been removed and then it’s just my brain unprotected.

‘If I knocked this it could potentially be fatal.’

He added: ‘I am able to talk and move around but the attacks have had life-changing effects on me mentally, physically and emotionally.

‘I now have poor dexterity in my left eye and left hand. I can’t close my right eye and keep my left eye open, and I can’t grip things with my left hand.

Branden Stromberg during his treatment in Hospital.  Branden Stromberg, of Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, who lost half his skull after a vicious assault by Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover.  See SWNS story SWLNskull.  A man has been left with half of his SKULL missing following a sickening one punch attack and now lives in fear a single knock to the head could kill him.  Braden Stromberg, 27, was left with was bleeding on the brain and had to be placed in an induced coma following the unprovoked assault on May 2 last year.  He had been walking to the shops after work with his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by thug Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover, Derbys.  Braden was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face before smashing his head on the road.

Braden was placed in an induced coma for 15 days (Picture: SWNS)

Branden Stromberg during his treatment in Hospital.  Branden Stromberg, of Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, who lost half his skull after a vicious assault by Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover.  See SWNS story SWLNskull.  A man has been left with half of his SKULL missing following a sickening one punch attack and now lives in fear a single knock to the head could kill him.  Braden Stromberg, 27, was left with was bleeding on the brain and had to be placed in an induced coma following the unprovoked assault on May 2 last year.  He had been walking to the shops after work with his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by thug Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover, Derbys.  Braden was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face before smashing his head on the road.

Doctors removed the right side of his skull (Picture: SWNS)

‘I have dropped a lot of plates and bowls and I can’t type or play online games, but I have been told I should be able to slowly regain these functions.

‘My personality has changed slightly following the attack. I now don’t always have a filter between my brain and mouth so I can say things without thinking.’

Stephenson, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm, which he later pleaded guilty to.

The 32-year-old was jailed for one year and 10-and-a-half months at Derby Crown Court earlier this month.

Braden added: ‘I am happy he is behind bars, but I don’t think the sentence he has been given is long enough.

Branden Stromberg during his treatment in Hospital.  Branden Stromberg, of Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, who lost half his skull after a vicious assault by Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover.  See SWNS story SWLNskull.  A man has been left with half of his SKULL missing following a sickening one punch attack and now lives in fear a single knock to the head could kill him.  Braden Stromberg, 27, was left with was bleeding on the brain and had to be placed in an induced coma following the unprovoked assault on May 2 last year.  He had been walking to the shops after work with his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by thug Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover, Derbys.  Braden was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face before smashing his head on the road.

Braden made a miraculous recovery which stunned doctors (Picture: SWNS)

Police mug shot of Kyle Stephenson.  Branden Stromberg, of Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, who lost half his skull after a vicious assault by Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover.  See SWNS story SWLNskull.  A man has been left with half of his SKULL missing following a sickening one punch attack and now lives in fear a single knock to the head could kill him.  Braden Stromberg, 27, was left with was bleeding on the brain and had to be placed in an induced coma following the unprovoked assault on May 2 last year.  He had been walking to the shops after work with his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by thug Kyle Stephenson in Bolsover, Derbys.  Braden was knocked unconscious after being punched in the face before smashing his head on the road.

Kyle Stephenson was jailed for little under two years for the senseless attack (Picture: SWNS)

‘In court, the fact that I survived the attack and Kyle giving a guilty plea were the reasons his sentence was reduced but I don’t think it should have been.

‘It was even said that if I had come out of the coma paralyzed or in a vegetative state, the sentence he received would have probably been the same, which is crazy.

‘Everyone has been pretty traumatized by what happened, especially my mum and my ex-girlfriend.

‘In a way it’s kind of good that I lost my memory of the attack as it means my mental state hasn’t been too badly affected.’

Detective Investigator Sarah Price said: ‘The actions of Stephenson just go to prove how damaging a single punch can be with the victim incredibly lucky to have survived the ordeal.

‘What happened on that day in Bolsover not only had a major impact on Braden’s life but also on those closest to him with his family suffering alongside him through the aftermath.

‘Stephenson will now have time to think about the consequences of his actions behind bars and I would urge anyone who finds themselves in that situation to take a step back and think about what could happen not only to themselves but also to the other people involved in the incident.’

Braden’s mother Louise has set up a fundraiser to help support her son.

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