A man who suffered life-changing injuries in an unprovoked acid attack has spoken about the terrifying five words a stranger said as the assault unfolded.
Andreas Christopheros was left permanently scarred and blind in his left eye after opening the door to a man he didn’t know in December 2014 at his home in Truro, Cornwall, UK.
The attacker, David Phillips, had travelled roughly 300 miles from Sussex to target Andreas, believing he was responsible for assaulting a member of Phillips’ family. It later emerged the attack was the result of mistaken identity.
When Andreas answered the door, Phillips threw sulphuric acid over his face before fleeing the scene.
Phillips was originally sentenced to life in October 2015 after admitting assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Following an appeal, that was reduced to a 16-year sentence in 2016.
After a further successful appeal linked to parole, Phillips ultimately served around five years in prison for the offence.
Speaking recently to LADbible Stories, Andreas described in detail what happened that day and the moments leading up to the attack.
He said: “On the day of the attack, I was working from home, my office looks out onto the road of an 80s cul-de-sac and you can see everything. You know what cars should be there and shouldn’t. I look out the window around quarter to 4 and I see this red van coming down the road. I clocked the van because it was the same model and color of one of the vans that one of our staff uses for work.”
Although he noticed the vehicle, Andreas soon realised it wasn’t one of his and initially didn’t think much more about it—until someone came to the door.
“As I answered the front door, I instantly received a pint of sulphuric acid to the face,” he added.
Andreas said Phillips told him ‘This is for you mate’ as he launched the acid at him.
He recalled: “I knew it was acid straight away, which was probably the first saving grace. My t-shirt was just disintegrated and just rolled into nothing.”
In agony, Andreas ran through the house as the chemical continued to burn, before paramedics arrived and he was taken to hospital.
He compared the pain to ‘having petrol with a match’, and said he ‘blacked out’ on the driveway shortly after police reached the scene.
At one stage, Andreas’ family were warned to prepare for the worst as medical staff struggled to stabilise him.
While he has endured multiple surgeries since the attack, Andreas says he is thankfully doing well today.