Campaign Aims to Offset Medical Bills for Canadian Attacked Outside Gulou Bar on New Year's Eve

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to offset the medical bills of Canadian expat Matthew Cormier, who suffered a ruptured spleen, internal bleeding and a broken rib after being attacked outside a Gulou bar on New Year's Eve.

A description on the crowdfunding site, penned by the fund's organizer and friend Brad Locke, says Cormier was, "celebrating the New Year with a few friends in a bar near the Gulou area, a quiet area of Beijing with many narrow alleyways, and was apparently attacked when he left the bar to go home."

It goes on to say that Cormier believes he was drugged before leaving the bar, and cannot recall what happened.

The victim's employer, a tutoring center, only offers partial health insurance, Locke notes.

The initial operation to stop internal bleeding and remove Cormier's ruptured spleen at Chaoyang Hospital was successful. The course of medical treatment is estimated to exceed RMB 50,000.

In a Facebook instant message exchange, Locke told TBJ that although Cormier cannot remember what happened, he believes he was attacked because "there was no damage to his hands or signs of a struggle," and that he was likely "kicked very hard in the ribs, hard enough to rupture his spleen." 

Cormier said his wallet and two cell phones were taken in the attack as well.

Locke added in an earlier social media post that Cormier has not yet been released from the hospital, and that the victim and his loved ones would not like to comment until after he has had a chance to recover. 

In the meantime, concerned readers can donate to Cormier's crowdfund here. Its goal is set at RMB 57,150 and to date 186 supporters have pledged RMB 44,357. Well-wishers can post in the comments section. 

Members of the Gulou community are alarmed by the incident, and have passed on their concern and support to Cormier as he recovers.

Michael Cupoli, a musician known as Noise Arcade and an active member of the hutong area's bar scene, says the attack was "awful." He implores club goers to never accept drinks from strangers or leave their beverages unattended, for fear of them being drugged.

While that suggestion may seem obvious, such common sense can be difficult to maintain in the midst of a tipsy evening out. He adds: "The hutongs are generally safe. Just be aware of what's happening around you like you would in any big city. It's unfortunate what happened." 

Indeed, while such incidents are rare in Beijing, they can often blindside residents when they do occur. Cupoli adds: "Beijing is in general a safe city, and people probably do let their guard down a bit." 

Uncommon incidents of violence in the Gulou area usually do rally the community in solidarity whenever they occur. The latest such case took place in early December when reports of a sanlunche driver preying on female passengers was heavily circulated on WeChat, with venue owners posting a photo of the driver and warning their customers to avoid such unsafe means of transportation. 

An earlier TBJ article outlined other safety issues brought on by wayward cabbies, while also suggesting that concerned citizens take a self defence course from organizers like KMG China. Another post suggests that victims call 110 emergency line whenever they fall into trouble, while adding that residents should avoid large crowds. An article with tips to avoid scams and theft can be read here. 

More to come as this story develops.

Photo from Matthew Cormier's You Caring Crowdfund