The man whose bleeding eyes shocked Germany in the wake of last week’s clash between Stuttgart 21 protestors and police has been identified as 66-year-old Dietrich Wagner. The pensioner was hit full in the face by a water cannon blast.
The picture of Wagner being helped away from the melee, his eyes swollen shut and bleeding, came to symbolise what critics claim was a heavy-handed approach by police trying to break up a demonstration against the controversial revamp of Stuttgart's main train station.
Wagner’s doctor said the patient was currently blind and might never have his sight fully restored.
On Wednesday, news magazine Stern reported on its website that Wagner, a retired engineer had been trying to help some young people who were caught in the stream of water.
But it’s OK, because…
Blinded Stuttgart protestor threw objects at police, video reveals
A new video shows a pensioner blinded by a police water cannon in last week’s violent protests in Stuttgart was throwing objects at officers, raising questions about whether they were provoked or guilty of excessive force.