WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT
An Irish man who lives in Belgium claims he was bitten by a fellow bus passenger after asking the stranger to wear his face mask properly.
Robert Murphy, 56, was reportedly bitten on the chest twice by the man during the altercation.
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Murphy, who lives in in the municipality of Merksem in the northern Belgian province of Antwerp, said: "I just asked the man to wear the mask properly over his nose."
According to AD Media, Murphy had been sitting on a bus when he heard a man sneeze - and then felt droplets on the back of his bald head.
He asked the man behind to 'at least turn away' if he planned to sneeze, and the passenger then apologised.
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Moments later, a couple boarded the bus and sat down directly opposite Murphy.
Their masks were positioned under the chins, so Murphy asked them if they could adjust their face coverings so that they were over the nose and mouth.
However, Murphy said 'the man refused' and it wasn't long before a row broke out.
The suspect allegedly attacked Murphy after swearing at him, prompting Murphy to say: "You are a b*****d."
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He recalled: "I tried to pull myself free, but I am disabled so it was not easy.
"We tussled until the man threw himself at my chest and bit me. I couldn't believe it. He was like a mad dog. I pushed him away, but he wouldn't leave me alone. The whole time he tried to bite me again."
Thankfully, other passengers eventually managed to pull the man off Murphy, before the couple reportedly jumped off the bus and fled.
According to AD Media, Belgian police were able to track down the 38-year-old man and his partner, and have arrested them.
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Murphy, meanwhile, went to a local hospital to receive treatment for his bite wounds.
He said: "Strangely enough, the doctor doesn't want to do a Covid-19 test because I cannot show that the other person, the biter, was infected with the virus. Fingers crossed."
The investigation continues.
Last month, the World Health Organisation said masks should be worn in public where social distancing is not possible.
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World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "In light of evolving evidence, the WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments."
Topics: Belgium, World News, News, Face Mask