Coronavirus: French bus driver dies after being attacked by passengers for telling them to wear masks

Philippe Monguillot, 59, was left brain-dead by the attack in the southwestern town of Bayonne last weekend and died in hospital on Friday

Two men have been charged with attempted murder for beating the driver, who had asked passengers to wear masks in line with coronavirus rules

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People leave flowers as thousands of people take part in a remembrance march in tribute to French bus driver Philippe Monguillot. Photo: EPA

Published: 12:28pm, 11 Jul 2020Updated: 8:51pm, 11 Jul 2020

A French bus driver who was badly beaten by passengers after asking them to wear face masks in line with coronavirus rules has died, his family said, sparking tributes from political leaders who condemned his “cowardly” attackers.

Philippe Monguillot, 59, was left brain-dead by the attack in the southwestern town of Bayonne last weekend and died in hospital on Friday, his daughter Marie said, after his family decided to switch off his life-support system.

“We decided to let him go. The doctors were in favour and we were as well,” she said.

Two men have been charged with attempted murder over the attack and prosecutor Jerome Bourrier said that he would ask for the charges to be upgraded following Monguillot’s death.

Parents of Veronique Monguillot, Philippe’s wife, react as they participate in a remembrance march for the bus drive. Photo: EPA

France’s prime minister Jean Castex led tributes to Monguillot.

“The Republic recognises him as an exemplary citizen and will not forget him. The law will punish the perpetrators of this despicable crime,” he tweeted, describing the attack as “cowardly”.