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Sylvia Yau (right) with her brother Yau Chak-ming, 17, who was unhurt in the incident. Photo: Christy Leung

‘I feel heartbroken’: relatives describe painful process as Hong Kong victims of German train attack fight to recover

Edmund Au Yeung, 31, suffered heavy brain trauma and a skull fracture; Yau Shu-ping, 62, is up from coma, but lengthy hospital stay is expected for both

Relatives of Hong Kong’s first victims of a wave of so-called Islamist terror in Europe have said they fear for their family members’ long-term recovery and revealed how a family holiday ended in Tuesday’s brutal axe attack.

Meanwhile, German police pledged to submit an initial investigation report to the ­relatives next Monday.

Au Yeung Mei-fun, younger sister of ­Edmund Au Yeung Chi-kin, 31, who remains in a coma, said the right side of his brain had suffered heavy trauma. He also had a skull fracture above the forehead after taking a direct blow to the head, she said.

Doctors removed all bone fragments ­during surgery, with medical staff saying the wound was deep, according to Mei-fun, who spoke to the Post in Wuerzburg on Thursday night after visiting the victims in hospital.

“I felt particularly miserable and heartbroken as the other three patients showed signs of improvement on the second day, except my brother,” she said.

“The coming fortnight is a critical period. It is a painful process for us to wait for his changes and recovery.”

Mei-fun said her brother travelled to the UK with his girlfriend Tracy Yau Hiu-tung, 27, and her family to visit relatives there. Before heading to Tracy’s older sister’s wedding, the group of five visited Germany, where the brutal assault happened on a train near Wuerzburg.

She said the attacker – who was later shot dead fleeing the scene by police – first assaulted Tracy and her mother, Wong Pui-king, 58, with an axe. Tracy’s father, Yau Shu-ping, 62, and Edmund turned their backs on the attacker to shield their relatives, but that act of selflessness saw the pair suffer critical injuries.

Au Yeung Mei-fun, younger sister of Edmund Au Yeung. Photo: SCMP Pictures

“Our father passed away two years ago. My brother had become the breadwinner of the house. His condition has now made the situation hard for the family,” Mei-fun said.

On Thursday, the German consul general in Hong Kong, Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff, ­arrived in Wuerzburg and met the relatives.

Sylvia Yau’s husband, who gave his name only as Kwok, appeared angry and emotional after the meeting, and blamed the German ­police for dragging out the investigation.

“They just made us angry. They could not tell us the details of the case,” said Kwok.

Tracy Yau, who was not as severely injured as the other victims, was transferred from ­Nuremberg hospital to Wuerzburg on Wednesday afternoon, to be closer to her family.

Although her father came out of his coma, the doctor of the injured duo said they would most likely spend a long time in hospital.

Sylvia said the family faced a huge financial burden as they did not know how long their stay in Germany would last.

“I have to live, to eat and to travel here. I do not have much cash,” she said.

“The insurance companies said they would cover the medical fees, but I understand there is a limit or a cap. I don’t know how long it will take them to recover.”

Her husband said they expected to stay in Germany for a month to be near their relatives.

“I do not see why we would want to head back to Hong Kong,” Kwok said.

Germany’s government agreed to give up to 40,000 to the victims’ families. And Hong Kong’s Social Welfare Department has also granted HK$50,000 cash to each family.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: recovery worries for victims of axe attack
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