Gang assault victim regains speech, speaks with News 12

<p>A street vendor from the Hub says he only just regained his voice after a brutal attack three months ago at the hands of a group of men.</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 3, 2017, 11:36 PM

Updated 2,702 days ago

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A street vendor from the Hub says he only just regained his voice after a brutal attack three months ago at the hands of a group of men.
Souleymane Porgo, a 48-year-old father of four, spent 11 days in a medically induced coma and had been hospitalized since May 2. He still has a row of staples in the side of his head and another on his stomach. 
Six people have been charged with gang assault for the street-side attack at East 149th Street and Third Avenue. They allegedly beat Porgo within an inch of his life after he caught one of them trying to steal a purse from his stand.
"They knocked me down, kicked me in face and broke my head," he says. "I'm lucky I'm still alive."
After two brain surgeries, Porgo tells News 12 he doesn't want to dwell on what happened and instead wants to move forward in the healing process.
Go HERE for an extended interview with Porgo.