THE Big Brother star who tearfully outed himself on TV last week was the victim of a violent gay bashing that left him bloodied and unconscious.
As this picture reveals, model David Graham, who is the early favourite to win the sixth series of the reality show, nearly paid a fatal price for his lifestyle. The Queensland farmer, 26, was brutally beaten by five men and left for dead in a pool of blood after leaving a popular Brisbane gay night spot in the early hours of January 22.
David was making his way to his ute parked in a side street when he was set upon by a gang of men throwing rocks and bottles. In an interview several weeks before he entered the Big Brother house, David said he tried unsuccessfully to placate his attackers.
"But before I knew it there were guys behind me and they were just beating the back of my head," he said.
"All I can remember after that is the pain. They absolutely beat the s... out of me. My mate said they just kicked me while I was on the ground until they thought I'd had enough or they were scared they had killed me."
The assault left David with severe bruising on his face and body.
"My whole face was a mess of blood -- I was taken to the hospital and was in and out of consciousness for two hours.
"If you've been bashed by five guys you would expect there to be some type of internal injuries or brain damage after the kicks I took to the head -- thank God there wasn't."
His sister Linda Graham said the early morning telephone call informing her David had been found bashed in a dark street was "one of the most horrific moments of my life".
"To be called at 4am and told by your friends they've found your little brother unconscious and covered in blood ... it's horrifying," she said.
But rather than harbour anger or bitterness towards his attackers, she said David had moved forward in life.
"After the bashing he said 'hey, things happen, but you could die tomorrow, so why look at the negatives when you can celebrate the positives'."
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