Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen recently took to social media to thank fans for their overwhelming support and good wishes after being attacked outside his hotel in Florida on March 12.

“Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support. Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space. We are focusing on healing for everyone involved,” Allen wrote.

He continued, “We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy. We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people. To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community we are thinking of you all. Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times.”

The drummer was allegedly attacked by 19-year old Max Edward Hartley, according to Fort Lauderdale Police.

Hartley was arrested and charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and one count of abusing an elderly or disabled adult after lunging at the musician “at a full run” while outside of the Four Seasons hotel.

According to Rolling Stone, the drummer, who lost an arm following a car accident in 1984, “reportedly hit his head on the ground causing injury.”

Hartley, who was allegedly watching Allen from “behind a pole” before the attack, hit another woman who tried to help the musician and fled the scene after repeatedly attacking her.

Source: RTT Music News