Brixton waiter, 25, punched and cracked head on ground left in ‘desperate conditions’

A waiter has been left with “life-changing injuries” after he was punched and cracked his head on the pavement at a restaurant in Brixton.

The man, identified in reports as Marco Pannone, 25, from Fondi, Italy, had been working in a restaurant on Ferndale Road, south London, in the evening of Friday, December 2.

He was approached by two men at around 11.10pm before one man punched him in the face, outside the restaurant, and he fell to the ground and hit his head on the pavement.

The men then ran off towards Nursery Road.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene in SW9 at 12.10am where they found Marco with a head injury and took him to hospital.

The Mail Oline said Mr Pannone’ sister Veronica, speaking from Italy, said: “He is between life and death.

“My brother is such a gentle person, he’s been living in London for five years and nothing like this has ever happened before, he always said how safe he felt there.”

While MyLondon reported that his uncle, who has flown to the UK, told the Roman news outlet Il Messaggero: "As soon as I landed, I went to the hospital.

“A kind doctor explained to me that Marco’s conditions are very serious, who arrived in desperate conditions and they had to remove a part of the skull cap to try to reduce the pressure and save his life."

A Met spokesperson said: “The assault appears to have been unprovoked… He suffered life-changing injuries.

“The man’s family have been contacted by officers and are being kept informed about his condition and the progress of the investigation.”

Detectives from the local policing team have carried out several enquiries, including a review of CCTV from the area, and have now shared an image of a man they would like to identify.

Anyone who can help the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 85/03Dec. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.