Father of man killed in attack says he was giving first aid; Police to review charges against teenager
0 Comments | Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Feb 13, 2008
Byline: Lauren Turner
THE father of a “good samaritan” who died after being assaulted on his way home, yesterday described how his son had been trying to give someone first aid moments before the attack.
Father-of-one Nicholas Baty, 48, was returning froma night out when he was attacked outside the Physique Gym in Brackla, Bridgend, on January 4.
The trained first-aider, who was also a keen surfer, was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, but never regained consciousness.
He died on Sunday. A 17-year-old boy has been charged with grievous bodily harm and remanded in custody, although South Wales Police are now understood to be reviewing the charge.
Mr Baty’s father John of St Brides Major in the Vale of Glamorgan, yesterday paid a moving tribute to his son.
The 79-year-old said, “He is the type of person who would have wanted to help out.
“We understand he went to help someone, and that’s when he was assaulted.
“He worked in France for a time and was trained as a first-aider for accidents at work.
“If anyone is trained there and sees someone in trouble, they’re obliged to help-and that’s what Nick would have been doing.”
As well as his father, mother Mary, and twin brothers, Mr Baty of Brackla, Bridgend, leaves a 12-year-old daughter, Katy, who Lauren Turner newsdesk@mediawales.co.uk lives in Bristol. His father said the last five weeks had been traumatic for the whole family.
“We had a dreadful telephone call at about 11pm on the night, saying a wallet had been found, and was it our son’s.
“I had to go and identify his body onMonday. It was the worst experience of my life.”
He thanked the staff at the hospital for their care, and added, “They have been marvellous. Although he was unconscious, he was allocated a nurse full-time, in an isolated ward. The attention has been wonderful, not only to my son, but also to my wife and myself.”
Mr Baty said friends had been inundating them with messages expressing their sympathy. A date for the funeral of his son, an engineering fitter who had maintained printing presses for the Media Wales group – which prints the Western Mail – for the past 12 years, is yet to be set.
The local coroner has been informed of the death of Mr Baty, who was diabetic.
His daughter Katy said, “I just want everyone to know how proud I amof him. He has been so brave all his life and he always tries to help people.
“Dad and I keep a scrapbook together of all our memories, but I guess I won’t be doing that anymore.”
Tributes to Mr Baty, who often surfed off the South Wales coast at Southern down, have also been paid on a surfers’ website.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Burke, who is leading the investigation, said, “This is a very sad incident where a man has been walking a short journey home having spent the evening with friends, when he was assaulted.
“We are now undertaking a painstaking investigation in order to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the assault and are keen to hear from anyone that might be able to assist in establishing the events of that night.”
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FIRST-AIDER Nick Baty ‘is the type of person who would have wanted to help,’ says his father
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