What started as a dream honeymoon ended with severe head trauma at a Luke Combs concert in Perth.
Newly-married Andreas Lehr took his bride, Kanisha, left their two children at home and ventured to Australia, where he was brutally attacked by a random stranger who threw a single, savage punch as they were leaving Perth’s RAC Arena.
As of Friday, Lehr was spending his seventh night in Royal Perth Hospital, “slowly recovering from bleeding on the brain and severe head trauma,” 9News reports.
“Everyone was sort of shoulder to shoulder,” Kanisha told the outlet. “Andreas put his hand out to shake this fella’s hand and asked him if he was okay, and he’s turned around and king hit him and Andreas has fallen to the ground.”
(Video: YouTube)
Off-duty nurses and good Samaritans rushed to Andreas’s aid.
“He got that medical assistance almost instantly, which has probably saved his life,” Kanisha, a resident of New South Wales (NSW) said.
“We’re super grateful for those people that were around to help him when he needed it the most and obviously to all of the staff here that are doing their best – everyone who is helping us get home to our kids,” she said.
Andreas’s recovery could take days, or it could take months.
“He’s not doing very well at the moment but each day is getting better,” Kanisha said. “It’s the unknown that’s so scary, we don’t know how long it’s going to take.”
Australia, thank you for showing the fellas and I so much love! We’ve had a great time and can’t wait to be back!!
: @zackmassey pic.twitter.com/4Nqu9yivol
— Luke Combs (@lukecombs) August 27, 2023
In addition to her husband’s recovery, the desperate bride is worried about their children and how the couple will get home to them.
A GoFundMe has been organized on Kanisha’s behalf.
“Andreas will need to be medically transferred back to NSW to receive the care and medical treatment he needs, whilst staying close to his immediate family,” wrote organizer Elly Hayes. “What is certain, is that over the coming year ahead, Andreas will require extensive medical attention and therapy to assist in his recovery.”
“They haven’t asked for anything, but when pressed, it’s clear that the financial burden of the path ahead will be huge, and we feel that this the last thing they should be worrying about at a time like this,” Hayes continued. “Funds will go directly to Kanisha & Andreas, to support them with his return home and long recovery.”
To date, the GoFundMe has raised $32,698 AUD of its $100,000 goal.
The medically-assisted flight to NSW alone is expected to cost more than $25,000, 9News reports.
“Our two children, three and five, Mason and Kelly, they’re at home wondering, ‘Where’s mum and dad?’,” Kanisha said, adding, “Getting home to my kids is top of the list” for Andreas.
“I hear it all the time,” she said.
Andreas’s alleged attacker, a 23-year-old man, was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm.
“There’s a few sentences and words he can string together that actually make sense,” said Kanisha.
Meanwhile, Luke Combs announced on X that he and his wife, Nicole, welcomed the arrival of their second child, Beau Lee Combs, on August 15.
“Welcome to the world buddy,” the country star wrote. “We couldn’t love you more.”
8.15.2023 – Beau Lee Combs. Welcome to the world buddy. We couldn’t love you more. pic.twitter.com/jLYNoO3A0E
— Luke Combs (@lukecombs) September 1, 2023
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