This Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m., a white march is planned in Bayonne (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) between the place of assault of Philippe Monguillot, this 58-year-old bus driver who was severely beaten on Sunday evening, and the hospital where he is still in hospital. resuscitation "in a state of brain death". Véronique Monguillot, his wife, confides a few hours from this meeting.
Three days after his attack, what is your husband's state of health?
VÉRONIQUE MONGUILLOT. There is a good part of his brain which does not respond any more and another which is healthier. The doctors are doing their best for him. Unfortunately, we do not know how his condition can evolve and that is what is the most difficult to live with, this uncertainty. We ask ourselves a lot of questions: if its vital functions are affected, is it worth it to continue?
Have you discussed this with the doctors?
Yes. I told the doctors that I did not want relentless therapy. Philippe would not want to see himself like that. So there you go, I'm still lost today, I let them do their best but I don't want them to go after them either. We are there, we are waiting. For now, his heart is beating, I can kiss him, talk to him like we do every day. With my daughters, we try to connect with a hope. We ask ourselves a lot of questions, of course. We are in total blur but we tell ourselves that he is fighting. We tell ourselves he's fighting, yes ... Really.
When you saw him the first time after the attack, you told us that you were shocked by his face, "distorted" by the blows ...
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
Yesterday, his face had swollen, but, yes, the first time I saw it, it was blue, black, all over the left side of the face. His lips were swollen, it was crazy. His injuries would have been outside, it could have been repaired, but there, his injuries are inside, it does not repair, unfortunately. Philippe is connected on all sides, it's maddening, maddening.
I was yesterday in #Bayonne to meet the staff shocked by the unworthy assault of their fellow driver.
The @gouvernementFR stands by all - employees, elected officials, operators - to secure operating conditions.
Thoughts for loved ones and family. pic.twitter.com/YPvc7Cq1tn
Did you follow the progress of the investigation with the request for indictments, Tuesday, of four people?
I listened to the press conference of the public prosecutor of Bayonne. I know the police will be contacting me soon to discuss this. I now hope that with this progress in the investigation, the people who attacked my husband will go to jail. You realize, my husband who is being massacred by two kids of 20 and 22 years old, a big fellow like him! They must have kicked like a head in the head while he was on the ground. These blows massacred his head and his head is the engine.
VIDEO. Bus driver attacked in Bayonne: "Philippe was a good guy", says a colleague
What do you think of the many messages of support you have received since Sunday evening?
I already have support at home because I have a lot of people coming and that allows me not to "think". When you find yourself alone with my daughters, it's different, we ask ourselves a lot of questions. But everything that the town hall of Bayonne has prepared for the white march this evening ( Wednesday ), the mayor of Anglet too, the Chronoplus bus drivers, everything they do ... This support is fabulous. There are also all the messages we receive on social networks, it's huge, it takes my guts. This support will give us the strength to move forward, whatever the outcome anyway. I find it wonderful and it crossed borders. The USA, Spain… it's phenomenal! And all of that is for Philippe. We have no right to destroy us like that. We have no right, not really ... In my misfortune, I am very happy with this support.
➡️ MINUTE OF SILENCE IN TRIBUTE TO THE DRIVER OF THE BAYONNE NETWORK.
Following the attack on a driver from the Bayonne network @Chronoplus_Info, all bus / tram vehicles will stop for a minute at 7:30 p.m.
We invite travelers to respect a minute of silence. pic.twitter.com/b9s5RCZoNe
What would you like to say to all these people, close and anonymous, before this white march?
Frankly, I thank the entire population, everyone, all the buses that will stop at 7:30 p.m. throughout France, all these people I don't know. I have esteem for them because they are human and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. People don't have to be there, they don't know us, but even a word, a smile is comforting. It is enormous what happens for Philippe, for my daughters and me. It is a walk for Philippe and to say to him: You, you are there in your room in intensive care, we are down there: go ahead, go for it! Fight my darling, fight! We are waiting for you, in fact we are waiting for you. "
