At the club World Cup in the USA
German reporter from the homeless
30.06.2025 – 6:47 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Before the game of FC Bayern in Miami, Pit Gottschalk was attacked by a police -known man. A wheelchair user came to help – the journalist thanked him with a gesture.
Shock moment for Pit Gottschalk: The German sports journalist has become the victim of an attack during a stay in the United States. As first reported the US portal “7News”, Gottschalk was attacked and depressed by a homeless on Miami Beach last Friday.
The incident occurred near the 27th Street and Collins Avenue. Gottschalk was on the way back to his hotel when he was suddenly attacked. “The man appeared out of nowhere and shouted at me,” he said at the request of the “Bild”. In vain, he asked passers -by – including compatriots – for help: “But nobody helped.”
When trying to flee, Gottschalk was beaten twice: “First on the left yoke bone and then, when I was lying on the ground, the kidney at the back right.” Finally, a homeless wheelchair user intervened and alerted the police. The officials were able to arrest the alleged perpetrator.
In his column for the “Focus”, Gottschalk wrote after the incident: “His fist hit me on the face and back. The emergency doctor looked after me promptly, the police were able to arrest the racket. Since then I have followed the club World Cup with violet, chef bruise, kidney pain and the oppressive feeling that you are not even in the tourist center of Miami Beach.”
The attacker is the 54-year-old Perry Smith, who is already known to the police. According to the US media, he is said to have been registered as a sex offender and recently attacked an 80-year-old woman. He has not had to compete with a prison.
Smith was aggressive in court. When judge Christine Hernandez set a deposit of $ 1,000, he threatened: “And you will die a thousand death.” He was then taken off.
For Gottschalk, experience remains a drastic experience. “You look around twice when you walk in Miami Beach. You don’t shake the fear so easily,” he said.
A bright spot: Gottschalk could later meet the wheelchair user who had helped him – and thanked him with a breakfast together.