Victim of acid attack at NTU may go blind

台大硫酸攻擊受害者可能會失明

NTU student who was doused with sulfuric acid by apparent jilted lover may lose his vision

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- After a horrific acid?attack in the early hours of Friday (Oct. 20) at NTU, the victim has suffered series damage to his retinas and could possibly lose his vision, while his parents have issued a declaration that denies permission for any interviews, videos?or photographs of their son or hospital staff to release any further information on his status, on pain of legal action. reported ETNews.

The 23-year-old victim of the attack, and male National Taiwan University student surnamed?Hsieh (謝), suffered burns to 60 percent of his body, including his back, arms, neck, and most seriously, his retinas, when he was splashed with sulfuric acid in a dispute over an apparent breakup that took place in the lobby of a student dormitory. Hsieh, who is on life support but in stable condition, has already undergone a number of procedures to debride damaged tissue and treat his eyes.

The assailant, a male 25-year-old?National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech) surnamed Chang (張), allegedly splashed bottles full of sulfuric acid on Hsieh?out of an apparent dispute over?their breakup as a couple. During Chang's attack, another student who was trying to mediate the dispute,?surnamed Luo (駱), and a security guard surnamed Ku (古) were wounded by the flying acid.

After being splashed with the caustic substance, Hsieh immediately tried to escape from Chang, who chased him outside the dorm carrying a knife. Chang then sliced his neck with a knife and then doused it with the remaining acid, ending his life in gruesome?fashion in a massive pool of his own blood.

Following interviews with the friends and families of Hsieh and Chang, as well as Facebook postings, it has become apparent that the two were romantically involved, and that Chang was greatly upset about Hsieh's decision to break up with him.

Hsieh's parents, accused Chang of being an irresponsible person. Hsieh's father said: "He just made a mess then left quietly, leaving two families?facing a big loss."

In response to the media circus over the grizzly assault and suicide, Hsieh's?parents issued a formal declaration stating that no interviews, photographs, or videos?are to be taken of him by the media, or legal action will be taken. The same declaration bars hospital staff from releasing any information about the status of Hsieh's condition to the media.

Chang's parents visited Hsieh at the hospital on Saturday and issued a statement apologized to the Hsieh?family and other victims of the attack:


"Our stupid child was not able to overcome his feelings over lost love and chose a path of mutual destruction. He made an irreversible blunder harming both himself and others, inflicting much physical and mental pain on Hsieh and his classmates, and bringing great anguish to both families. We are aware at this moment that even 10,000 apologies would not be enough to make up for the mistake our child made."