Doujon Zammit to be honoured with gold medal for bravery

Doujon Zammit, the 20-year-old Maltese-Australian who died after being bashed into coma in a Mykonos attack last week, will be honoured by the Greek government with the gold medal for bravery after his organs were donated to save other people's lives, his distant cousin Darren Agius told timesofmalta.com.

Doujon lost his battle for life at the “Errikos Dynan” intensive care ward in Athens after his life-support machine was unplugged on Friday. Doujon’s 20-year-old cousin, Cameron Tabone, suffered a broken nose and wrist in the attack.

Mr Agius also told timesofmalta.com that Doujon will have a new ward in the hospital where he was treated named after him.

Doujon’s father – Oliver Zammit – together with other relatives is expected to return to Australia today. Mr Zammit, who is Maltese born but had migrated to Australia with his parents when very young, expressed his gratitude to Dr Richard Vella Laurenti – Malta’s Ambassador in Greece – for the help he and his relatives received from the embassy, and said that he was very proud to be a Maltese national.

Doujon was given a Maltese passport some two weeks ago. He was in Malta up to July 27 and had fallen in love with Mdina, Wied iz-Zurrieq and the Valletta Waterfront where he ate spaghetti with sea urchins.

Greece was the last stop of a European tour for which Doujon had worked on weekends for two years while studying graphic design.

Doujon and Cameron travelled to Dubai, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Ibiza and Malta before heading for Greece.

Bouncer admits hitting Doujon

While Doujon’s father was making arrangements to fly his son’s body back to Sydney, court proceedings on the island resort of Syros were started against the 25-year-old bouncer who allegedly hit Doujon with an extendable baton on the head.

Australian media have reported that the bouncer, who had his charges upgraded from grievous bodily harm to murder, admitted hitting Doujon but claimed that he did not intend to kill him. It was also reported that, according to his lawyers, the bouncer had intended to plead temporary insanity however no mention was made as he was refused bail and the case was adjourned. The bouncer was also charged with illegal possession of a weapon (an extendable baton) and impersonating a police officer.

Another three club workers were charged with complicity and bodily harm, but all three pleaded not guilty and blamed the bouncer for the incident. They were released on bail.

Memorials held

Meanwhile, at Cecil Hills in Sydney’s west, where Doujon played as a child, hundreds of people gathered for a memorial service to farewell him. The memorial service was organised through Facebook on behalf of family and close friends. The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Doujon’s friend Daniel Chamoun telling the crowd that, “we anticipated about 20 or 30 people to come down here and remember him but we got overwhelmed”. It was reported that Doujon’s father spoke to the crowd from Greece by phone and his comments were transmitted over a loudspeaker.

Another memorial service, also organised through Facebook and which was attended by many, was held on a Mykonos beach.

Agius family's words of thanks

The Agius family, on behalf of the Zammit family residing in Sydney, said they would like to express their gratitude to the Maltese Ambassador in Greece Dr Vella Laurenti, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Cecilia Attard Pirotta, relatives and friends in Malta for the help and solidarity that was shown during the difficult time that followed the tragic death.