Five arrested over gang attack that left cyclist fighting for life

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Three 16-year-olds, an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old were seized in a series of raids in Surrey this morning and were interviewed in connection with the attack.

Cyclist Filipe David, 39, was knocked off his bike and severely beaten in a quiet street in West Ewell. He remains in a critical condition in hospital after his skull was fractured in the attack.

The suspects were arrested close to the scene of the assault, which happened in Hogsmill Way at 9.30pm on Tuesday.

Surrey police say there is no obvious link between the Portuguese father of two and his assailants, who could have mistaken him for someone else. Mr David tried to flee but one of the men, who was on a bike, chased him and dragged him from his bicycle.

Hospitalised: Felipe David

Detective Chief Inspector Maria Woodall said an altercation of some kind may have taken place before the gang chased Mr David.

Joe Johnson, 22, who found Mr David lying in the road, said: "I've never seen so much blood. It was streaming down his face. It was like a scene from a horror film. Two older people had stopped their car to help him. They tried to put him in the recovery position but he kept moving around.

"He was very confused. At one point he was sitting up. He was worried about his bike. He seemed to think people were trying to steal it but everyone there was trying to help him. He was grabbing the frame, pulling it towards him and wouldn't let go."

West Ewell resident Henry Smith, 47, said: "People are afraid to speak out about what happened in case the people who did this come after them."