A Slovak tourist on a cycling trip near Makarska suffered two broken ribs and a third cracked rib after an unprovoked assault by a Polish national over a beach lounger, according to an interview given by the victim, Radoslav, to the regional news outlet Korzár.
Beach Lounger Dispute Leads to Sudden Violence
Radoslav told Korzár that after his family departed a small beach near Makarska, he borrowed one of the vacant loungers to rest following a strenuous bike ride. Roughly 30 minutes later, an unfamiliar man approached and flipped him out of the chair without warning or communication. When Radoslav stood up, the assailant slammed his chest and forehead into him, displaying physical fitness and apparent martial arts training, according to the victim’s account. The attacker repeatedly shouted in Polish that the items belonged to him and that Radoslav had no right to take them. Radoslav responded that leaving belongings unattended on Croatian beaches is prohibited and that the shoreline is not a trash bin.
Assault Results in Fractured Ribs and Hospitalization
The confrontation escalated when the attacker delivered a knee strike to Radoslav’s ribs, sending him to the ground. According to Radoslav’s statement to Korzár, the assailant attempted to continue striking him on the ground before acquaintances of the attacker intervened to pull him away, explaining that they had nowhere to store the loungers in their apartment. Radoslav subsequently visited a local police station and a medical center due to severe chest pain. Upon leaving the clinic, the Polish national shouted mockingly from a nearby apartment, prompting Radoslav to take a photograph of him posing and kissing his biceps to display physical dominance. That photograph and the accommodation location ultimately enabled local police to track down the suspect.
Legal Proceedings and Court Verdict
Hospital examinations confirmed that Radoslav suffered two broken ribs and a third cracked rib from the kick to his chest, extending his holiday because he could not immediately drive his car back home alone. After his hospital discharge, Radoslav returned to the police station, where an investigator took his detailed statement with the assistance of an interpreter. Police informed him that the suspect had been detained and questioned that same day, and that the man confessed to the crime, according to Korzár. Radoslav also notified the Slovak consulate in Zagreb and shared the photographs. A court subsequently found the assailant guilty of grievous bodily harm in a trial conducted without the personal presence of either party, issuing a six-month prison sentence with a two-year probation period. Radoslav has requested financial compensation but has not yet received a response.
Did you know? According to local regulations cited in the report, leaving personal items unattended to reserve public beach space is prohibited in Croatia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What legal penalty did the attacker receive?
According to court proceedings reported by Korzár, the assailant was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation period.
How was the suspect identified by authorities?
Police traced the attacker using a photograph that the victim, Radoslav, took of the man posing outside his apartment following the incident, alongside the location of the rental property.
What injuries did the victim sustain?
Medical examinations at a Croatian hospital confirmed that Radoslav sustained two broken ribs and a third cracked rib as a result of being kicked in the chest.
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