An elderly woman was attacked by an assailant while walking her son's dog on the Upper West Side on Friday, leaving her unconscious and suffering a concussion, according to the victim and authorities.
The 81-year-old longtime New York resident was on the sidewalk near her apartment at West 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue when a man sneaked up from behind and punched her in the side of the face around 7 p.m. Video Obtained by Fox 5 Show.
The suspect first walked past the victim where she was with her son's goldendoodle, then minutes later he turned around and brutally assaulted her, as seen on video.
The shocking footage shows the woman, identified as Geula Freeman, being thrown to the ground after the vicious surprise attack.
She suffered injuries to her face and head and was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital for treatment, police said.
“I have amnesia and I don't even remember what happened,” she told The Post on Tuesday, “but I can feel it because I have bruises on my face and body.”
“I lost consciousness and they said I had a concussion,” she continued.
The first thing she remembers after the attack was sitting in her sister's apartment, where she lives in the same building as her sister.
She said she doesn't believe she was targeted by the gunman, but would like police to help if they catch him. As of Tuesday night, the suspect remains at large.
“I don't take it personally. It was an accident and nobody wanted to do that to just me. I don't take it personally,” Freeman said.
Freeman, who has lived on the Upper West Side since 2007 and frequents Lincoln Center, said a few days later that the swelling in his face had subsided and he was glad his injuries were not more severe.
Freeman said she is still recovering from the attack but will be more careful when she goes out, avoid small spaces and being around people who could make her feel more uneasy, and won't be riding the subway for the foreseeable future.
“They explained to me what had happened and I was so surprised I couldn't do anything,” she said of the attack.
“But at least now I'm watching who's coming towards me and making sure I don't get too close. If I see someone acting a little bit off, like they have the last two days, I make sure I stay a little bit further away. I'm being very cautious.”
