Yzabelle Bostyn
A NORWEGIAN expat has been left traumatised after a horrific axe attack in Fuengirola left him with ‘unbearable’ back injuries.
Marius J, 30, was drinking with friends in Queen Mary’s Bar on November 11, 2022, when he was struck in the back of the head by the butt of the weapon.
At around 5am, he left the bar for a cigarette, chatting with friends in a quiet street.
Just minutes later, the barman rushed out, saying that he had been ‘hit in the chest with an axe’.
Photo: The Olive Press
Before he knew it, Marius received a heavy blow to the back, luckily with the blunt side of the weapon.
Although the attacker was eventually apprehended, the Norwegian was left with extensive muscle damage, spinal injuries and mental trauma.
“Initially, the adrenaline masked the pain, I was in ecstasy just to be alive,” he told The Olive Press.
“It wasn’t until two days later that I realised my back was really messed up.”
At the time of the attack, Marius claims his injuries were ‘hastily’ examined and ‘dismissed as mere bruises’.
This was the start of a ‘harrowing’ journey for the call centre worker.
Only two weeks later and fighting through ‘unbearable pain’ Marius was forced to return to his office at WebHelp, Benalmadena.
Despite insisting his injuries were more serious than first thought, he claims he was consistently ‘ignored’ by doctors, who simply prescribed more sedatives.
“It was like I was already down in the dirt and the system was pushing me further,” he said.
“My workplace showed no empathy or understanding. They doubted the severity of my injuries and forced me back to work. Drugged and with a damaged spine, I was expected to perform my duties as if nothing had happened.”
During this time, his relationship broke down and he was forced to live on friends’ sofas before moving in with his mother.
After six months of physical and emotional turmoil, the expat was reviewed by social security, who he claims ‘barely examined’ him, ‘dismissing’ and even ‘laughing’ at his pain.
“They declared me fit to work, ignoring my obvious distress,” he said.
“I had to take several days off due to the pain and it led to conflict with my supervisor, who suspended me without pay. I was forced to quit.”
Now ‘desperate’, the 30-year-old sought private medical care, where an MRI revealed significant damage to his spine.
He recently underwent an operation which has ‘restored’ his ability to walk, run and lift again.
A step forward in his recovery, Marius ‘has renewed energy and determination’ to ‘fight for justice’.
He said: “The treatment I received from the system was dehumanizing and demoralising.
“The toll on my mental and physical health has been immense. The heavy
use of painkillers, the inability to engage in physical activities I once enjoyed, and the constant struggle with pain affected every aspect of my life.”
After living in Fuengirola for over a year, he was forced to move to the mountains outside Marbella due to ‘disturbing’ dreams and ‘nervousness’ which plagued him whenever he stepped foot in the town of his attack.
He is now seeking compensation for the alleged medical negligence but says it is an ‘uphill battle’.
“I hope my story sheds light on these systemic failures and encourages others facing similar struggles to keep fighting for their rights,” he said.
“My experience has been a brutal awakening to the flaws in the system, and I am determined to ensure that no one else has to endure what I have been through.”Webhelp have been contacted for comment but the Olive Press has received no response.
