An Irishman living in Belgium says he was bitten by an angry bus passenger after he asked him to lift his mask from under his chin and wear it over his face.
Robert Murphy, 56, who lives in Merksem in Antwerp, Belgium, was reportedly bitten by the male bus passenger on his chest twice.
He said: “I just asked the man to wear the mask properly over his nose.”
Murphy was sitting on a bus when he heard a man sneeze and felt droplets on the back of his head, according to AD Media.
He said he asked the man to "at least turn away" if he was going to sneeze, adding: "The man apologised.”
Moments later, a couple got on the bus and sat directly opposite Murphy with their masks positioned under their chins.
He asked the couple to put their masks over their nose and mouth, however “the man refused”.
A row ensued and the suspect reportedly attacked Murphy after swearing at him and causing the Irishman to say: "You are a b*stard."
The victim explained: “I tried to pull myself free, but I am disabled so it was not easy.
“We tussled until the man threw himself at my chest and bit me. I couldn’t believe it. He was like a mad dog.
"I pushed him away, but he wouldn’t leave me alone. The whole time he tried to bite me again.”
Other passengers managed to pull the man off Murphy and the couple reportedly jumped off the bus and fled.
The Belgian police tracked down the 38-year-old man and his partner and arrested them, according to AD Media.
Meanwhile, Murphy visited a local hospital for treatment for his bite wounds.
He said: “Strangely enough, the doctor doesn’t want to do a COVID-19 test because I cannot show that the other person, the biter, was infected with the virus. Fingers crossed.”
The investigation continues.
