A fundraiser has been set up to help the family of a Bristol City season ticket holder who has been left fighting for his life after he was hit by a tram on holiday in Germany.
Richard Bridgman was left with life-threatening injuries in the accident just after midnight on Friday night, according to police in the German city of Dusseldorf.
A spokesperson for the police said the 69-year-old was crossing a road where two trams were travelling in different directions, and he was hit by the second tram and trapped underneath.
Fans of Bristol City, where Mr Bridgman has been a season ticket holder for more than 30 years, have been rallying around the family to support them, and an online fundraiser has brought in almost £4,000 in less than 24 hours since it was set up on Sunday morning.
The collision happened on the busy Berliner Allee road at its intersection with Grunstrasse. The dual carriageway here has a separated two-way tram track and police said they were investigating the circumstances of how Mr Bridgman was hit by the tram.
“In a serious traffic accident shortly after midnight, a 69-year old man was hit by a tram and suffered life threatening injuries,” the spokesperson said. “Paramedics took him to hospital.”
“According to the current status of the investigation, the 69-year-old Brit intended to cross the Grunstrasse/Berliner Allee intersection via a pedestrian crossing. At the same time, two trams ran along the Berliner Allee in each direction. The man let the first tram pass and was then hit by a tram on line 705 and was subsequently trapped under the tram.
“After rescue workers freed him, the man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The 53-year-old tram driver suffered a shock. The Dusseldorf police traffic accident investigation team was on site to secure the scene. During this time the road remained closed to both rail traffic and road traffic. The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing,” they added.
Georgia Hughes set up a fundraiser for the Bridgman family over the weekend, after news of the collision reached the West Country. She said she set up the GoFundMe page to help support the family with anything they will need.
“A lot of you guys have heard the devastating news of Richard,” she said. “The family are still in Germany – this is where Richard will have to remain for treatments and surgeries. The money can help go towards any medical expenses or anything they will need for Richard and his care,” she added.
“Richard really is the life and soul of the party, has the most infectious laugh and is loved by so many. Let’s raise as much as we can to help! Keep fighting Richard,” she added.