A Liverpool FC fan was mugged and attacked with "hammers" in front of his son after May's Champions League final.
Danny Smith, 47, was lucky enough to secure tickets for the final against Real Madrid in Paris and took his son, 13 with him.
The dad, who is from Everton, was caught up in the shocking scenes outside the Stade de France, with fans crushed and teargassed before the game.
They had both enjoyed a day at the fan park with some friends but by nightfall it had turned into complete chaos.
Danny, who attended and witnessed the horrors of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, said how Paris was the closest thing he had experienced to the tragedy and was forced to lift his son up above his head to prevent him being crushed, the Liverpool Echo reports.
But it was after the match when the nightmare really began and Danny was left with a shattered knee after being brutally mugged.
Danny's friend, Kevin Morland, 47, from Allerton said: "When he came out they [Danny, his son and some friends] were walking down towards a tunnel.
"There were crowds of local youths lurking around, they started following them and getting closer and closer and then they just attacked them."
He added: "Danny said he felt excruciating pain and he couldn't stand on his leg before he collapsed.
"They were kicking him and they started going through his top pockets and took his money, phone, watch and they ripped a chain from him that his son and daughter bought for him as a present.
"They took everything and his son just had to watch."
Kevin explained how the youths didn't attack Danny's teenage son, and a number of Liverpool fans managed to help him get to a nearby hotel.
From there the dad and son made their way home and flew from Nantes to Manchester.
After arriving at Manchester Airport, a number of Liverpool fans arranged to get a taxi with him and dropped Danny off at Royal Liverpool Hospital where he found out his knee was shattered.
"People from Liverpool stick together, everybody was helping each other and fans helped him get a taxi," Kevin said. "When he got to The Royal they told him his leg was really bad.
"They said from a scale of one to six, his leg was a six. At one point one of the doctors was talking about amputation because it was that bad.
"They said he was hit with hammers or something of the sort, something metal with a square head. He's had this rod put into his leg to stop anymore damage being caused and has been in hospital ever since."
Danny has since been transferred between Aintree and Broadgreen Hospital where he is waiting for a six to eight-hour surgery on his leg. Doctors hope to fit a cage, which means he will be able to start his recovery.
Kevin said his friend was in "good spirits" and was "happy he was alive" despite the terrifying ordeal.
He added: "He said to me he was happy to be alive and that his son was not injured. He's said the nurses and doctors in hospital have been amazing.
"They have said he might never be able to walk properly again and will be off work for at least nine months."
Danny's friends have set up a JustGiving page for him to help survive while he's unable to work. So far £16k has been raised for the dad.
To donate to the page, click here.
