A father-of-three from Rhondda Cynon Taf tragically died after being attacked with a vodka bottle while on a stag do in Prague. David ‘Dai’ Richards, 31, from Mountain Ash, was assaulted just hours after arriving in the Czech capital on Friday, 20th September, for a friend’s stag party.
Mr Richards, a well-known footballer for Abercynon AFC, was struck in a “blind attack” on a city street, resulting in severe injuries. His family has confirmed that he passed away in hospital on Saturday, 21st September, with the provisional cause of death being blunt force trauma after he was hit on the back of the head.
David Richards, who was described as the “glue of the family”, leaves behind his partner Jola Simms and their three young children: Aurora, aged four, Bear, two, and one-year-old Vienna. In a heart-wrenching tribute, his family called him “an absolutely amazing father, partner, son, brother, and friend.”
A Devastating Loss
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr Richards’ sister-in-law Tammy Sheehan, cousin Gemma Thomas, and partner Jola Simms revealed that David had just returned from a family holiday on Thursday before heading to Prague early on Friday morning.
“He left the house at 5am,” they said. “By 10pm that night, Gemma and Jola received a phone call from [David’s friend] Nathan, telling them there had been an incident and the whole family needed to get to Prague immediately as David was in a critical condition.”
The family rushed to the Czech capital, hoping for a miracle. However, his life-support was turned off the following day.
“It wasn’t a fight, like some might think,” they explained. “It was a blind attack. David was simply talking to locals in the street when he was hit from behind. A French passer-by administered first aid at the scene, but the impact was fatal.”
A Heartfelt Tribute
The family expressed their grief and dismay, made even worse by the fact that the incident occurred abroad. They felt unsupported by local authorities in Prague, describing their experience as cold and unhelpful. “It was awful, even when we asked for help, they just looked at us blankly,” they said.
Despite their pain, the family fondly remembered Mr Richards, emphasising his vibrant personality and his love for those around him. “David had the heart of a lion. He was extremely family-orientated, always bringing energy and fun. He really was the glue of our family.”
A fundraising page has now been set up to assist Miss Simms, who now faces raising their three young children on her own. The family described the outpouring of love as overwhelming, saying: “It’s comforting to see how well-loved he was, but Jola is in an incredibly difficult situation. We just want to help as much as we can.”
Abercynon AFC Mourns the Loss
Abercynon AFC, where Mr Richards played, also paid tribute, with the club postponing their match on Saturday as a mark of respect. In a statement, they said: “On behalf of everyone at Abercynon AFC, we send our deepest condolences to the Richards family – especially Jola and the children. The world has lost a good man – a father, a son, a brother. This is a terrible loss, and our thoughts are with you all. Rest in peace, Dai.”
Dai’s older brother Matthew, who also plays for Abercynon AFC, has been deeply affected by the loss.
Ongoing Investigation
Czech police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with the attack. Local reports suggest that the suspect, a fellow tourist, struck Mr Richards during an altercation between two groups. The police spokesman, Jan Daněk, stated: “One individual struck another in the head with a vodka bottle. The impact was so severe that the victim collapsed immediately and tragically died in the hospital.”
The suspect now faces charges of grievous bodily harm and disorderly conduct. If convicted, he could face up to 16 years in prison.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has confirmed they are providing support to Mr Richards’ family during this difficult time.
