The family of a teenager beaten within an inch of his life say they are still haunted by the horrifying gang attack five years on.

German tourist Daniel Ezzedine was left permanently brain-damaged and needing round-the-clock care following the racially-motivated violence in Canterbury city centre.

This week, his brother has told KentOnline how Daniel still uses a wheelchair, cannot move his right hand and has “moments when he is sad, as he naturally remembers what he was like before the incident”.

It has also had a wider impact on the Ezzedine family, with his parents suffering from depression, while his siblings put their careers and studies on hold to look after him.

Despite their agony, they say Daniel’s attackers have never shown any remorse over the sickening violence that erupted on June 6, 2019.

Daniel was 17 at the time and enjoying a post-exam trip to Canterbury to experience a different culture and the city’s rich history.

But tragically, he became the victim of a gang attack which left him with life-changing injuries.

Harrowing details read out in court revealed he was beaten with a bag of bricks and kicked full force in the head as he lay defenceless on the ground.

The attack was branded a “horrific and shameful stain” on the city by Canterbury’s MP Rosie Duffield and sparked a ‘March against Racism’, where hundreds of people descended on the streets in support of the German schoolboy.

Daniel was given just a 30% chance of survival by doctors but he miraculously pulled through following life-saving surgery after being airlifted to London.

‘There are moments when he is sad’

Today marks five years since the horrific attack unfolded outside McDonald’s in the city centre.

In an update on Daniel’s progress, one of his brothers told KentOnline he is “doing well under the circumstances”.

Samer Ezzedine said: “Within the barrier-free flat, he can walk short distances under supervision with the help of an orthosis and crutches.

“For longer distances and generally outside the flat, he moves around in a wheelchair.

“Unfortunately, he cannot move his right hand.”

In the aftermath of the attack, Daniel’s right side was paralysed, giving him very little movement in his right arm and leg.

He was put into an induced coma, underwent surgery to remove part of his brain and insert metal plates in his skull, and now suffers from multiple neurological problems.

After a year-long stay in hospital, first in the UK and then in Germany, Daniel went home to his family in Mönchengladbach.

“Overall, he understands language better than in recent years, but his attention span and ability to concentrate are still limited,” Samer added.

“There are moments when he is sad, as he naturally remembers what he was like before the incident.

“However, we always try to keep him entertained so that he can enjoy life.”

A family still haunted by attack

The violence took an enormous toll on the Ezzedine family - leaving them struggling with crippling debt and their mental health.

They were forced to provide him with round-the-clock care and someone always had to sleep beside him on the floor.

But it was Daniel’s mother who was hardest hit by the ordeal and is still battling severe depression.

“The attack caused my parents to suffer from depression and they still do,” Samer said.

“We, his siblings, also initially neglected our jobs and studies to support my brother as he needed a lot more support at the beginning than he does now.

“We continue to support him but we can also pursue our careers at the same time.

“You try to deal with it as best you can but everyone is affected differently in their own way.

“My parents, especially my mum, are still very unwell, but she is also grateful that things did not get worse.”

Daniel, now 22, regularly visits doctors and receives physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy.

Almost £15,000 was donated to the family after KentOnline launched an appeal to help pay for his continued care.

“We are very grateful for the donation and will never forget the solidarity we experienced…”

His family ran up huge debts during his stay in a London hospital after the attack and were experiencing financial troubles during Daniel's ongoing care.

“The donation helped us a lot as we incurred debts during our stay in the UK and the costs for my brother - which are not covered by insurance - could be financed by the donation, such as special physiotherapy,” Samer said.

“We are very grateful for the donation and will never forget the solidarity we experienced.”

Despite leaving Daniel with debilitating injuries and the widespread shock and anguish the attack generated, Samer says none of his brother’s attackers have apologised over the past five years.

“They showed no remorse even during the criminal proceedings in court,” he added.

How the violence unfolded

Two days before the attack, Daniel and some fellow foreign students unwittingly wandered into the Canterbury gang’s cross-hairs during a trip to KFC.

The youths began jeering at the Germans - setting the stage for the brutal series of events that would follow.

On June 6, both parties clashed in Canterbury’s city centre outside McDonald’s, where Daniel squared off with the gang.

A pair of the Canterbury group’s members peeled off into Poundland’s tool aisle on a thieving expedition.

There, one teenager stole a Stanley knife before returning to the confrontation outside, where he made a "slashing motion".

Jack Barron and Luke Fogarolli then headed to Iron Bar Lane, along with the youngest defendant, who was just 14 at the time, who returned to the group making "hand motions". It is believed this was the point at which a bag was filled with bricks.

As Daniel's entourage retreated, Jack Barron sent a Snapchat message to his hundreds of followers, which said: “Beef in ct (Canterbury) whose backing it then asap.”

His younger brother, Belcher Barron, then 17, responded to this request for back-up by heading to the city centre.

The altercation came to a head when the two groups clashed inside Tesco in Whitefriars, before moving outside into Rose Lane, where a large brawl broke out in the crowded shopping area.

Belcher Barron was seen fighting with Daniel before the German teen fell to the floor after trying to kick Barron.

When Daniel tried getting to his feet, Jack Barron swung a heavy-loaded bag - believed to contain bricks - with such force into his right cheekbone it forced his head to hit his left shoulder.

A security guard described the haunting “horrific crunching sound” of the strike.

Fogarolli took a running kick at Daniel’s head as he lay helpless before the group fled into Beer Cart Lane.

Nancie Lee could be seen clapping in an apparent bid to encourage others to join the melee before tussling with a security guard who tried to diffuse the situation.

The group then ran from the scene.

CCTV showed them swaggering away down Water Lane in apparent excitement, with one defendant making a kicking motion.

The teenager who stole the blade was seen throwing an item into the River Stour, from which a knife was later recovered.

Samer told KentOnline: “The sad thing is this group consisted mainly of minors and yet was capable of something so brutal.

“I think parents should pay attention to the circle of friends their children are in.”

The sentences

Jack Barron was convicted of GBH with intent. He was just 15 at the time of the attack and was sentenced to six years in a young offenders' institute (YOI).

Luke Fogarolli was found guilty of the same charge after a jury heard he aimed a running kick at Daniel's head.

He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in a YOI, plus an extra year for separate drug-dealing and weapon offences.

George Potter admitted violent disorder and was sentenced to 18 months in YOI, suspended for two years, plus 150 hours unpaid work.

Belcher Barron was handed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and 60 days of rehabilitation.

Michael Murray was sentenced to 15 months in a young offenders' institute, suspended for two years, along with 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehab days.

Nancie Lee was sentenced to a two-year community order with supervision, with 30 days of rehab and 150 hours of unpaid work.

A teenager from Birchington was given a two-year youth rehabilitation order (YRO) with an enhanced level of intervention.

Another boy, who was just 14 at the time of the incident, was given a two-year YRO with a standard level of supervision.

Leon Thurston, who was 17 at the time of the attack, was sentenced to 18 months in a YOI suspended for two years.

The teenager who stole the knife, who was 17 at the time of sentencing, was given a two-year youth (YRO) with intensive supervision and surveillance.

He was also sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work, tagged and subject to a curfew - and was temporarily banned from within the city walls.

‘We’re not afraid to return’

Daniel should have left Canterbury with lasting, happy memories.

Instead, he returned to Germany with life-changing injuries which led to his loved ones struggling with depression and debt.

But his family remain strong and have not been deterred from visiting the UK in the future, despite the harrowing incident.

“My parents are not afraid of Great Britain,” Samer said.

“They know there are people who hurt others for racist reasons all over the world.

“But they are generally worried something like this could happen when travelling abroad, no matter where.

“My siblings and I are more relaxed about it as we know something like this is a rarity but unfortunately it does happen.

“You should exercise a certain amount of caution no matter where you travel, whether in the UK or elsewhere.

“As for whether any of us would ever go to the UK, I would not rule it out.”