Young Father in Bulgaria Dies After Months in Coma Following Brutal Street Attack Over Cigarettes

A young man from Chirpan has died after spending months in a coma following a violent assault that reportedly began over a dispute involving cigarettes. The attack took place outside a restaurant after he left a nightclub, and the injuries proved fatal after a prolonged struggle for survival.

The victim’s family says the consequences are devastating, leaving behind a 7-month-old child. His mother, Radka Ivanova, described the period after the attack as “a real nightmare,” saying doctors fought for months to save him. “He was taken to Stara Zagora, where he underwent surgery. That’s where the horror began,” she told NOVA, adding that his condition repeatedly worsened due to complications such as infections and seizures.

According to her account, the assault occurred on November 2 when the young man was attacked by three individuals aged 17, 19 and 29. “I understood from the testimonies that it started over a cigarette,” she said, noting she had no direct witnesses and was relying on statements from the investigation.

After initial treatment in Stara Zagora, the victim was transferred to Sofia for rehabilitation, supported by funds raised through a public campaign. However, his condition did not improve, and the efforts were ultimately redirected to help other children after the treatment could not proceed.

The legal proceedings have continued in parallel with the medical developments. Authorities say interrogations began in Chirpan, with formal charges filed about a month later. The prosecutor’s office has confirmed that the 17-year-old suspect was released due to legal limits on detaining minors, but is expected to face a more serious charge once he reaches adulthood.

Ivanova said she received notification from prosecutors only after her son’s death, and claims she has not been provided with further updates during the five-month period of his hospitalization. “I was left without a child, a seven-month-old baby will grow up without a father, and the perpetrators are at large,” she said, calling for the harshest possible punishment and insisting she will continue seeking justice.