Travis Mitchell, 25, from Edinburgh, Scotland, says he has met a mix of characters since sleeping on the streets. He recalls the moment someone threatened to ‘kick’ his ‘head in’
A homeless man has recalled the moment he went “numb” and was rushed to hospital with pneumonia after sleeping rough in crippling temperatures.
Travis Mitchell, 25, has opened up about life on the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland, as he braces himself for a tough Christmas. Travis has been homeless since he fled domestic violence at his home.
The young man, who has ADHD, autism and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, says his disabilities have hindered his chances of steady employment. Now, he is living on the streets, which he says has been “hard” due to freezing conditions and surrounding violence.
Despite his distressing circumstances, he continues to focus on “moving forward”. Opening up about his recent struggles, he said: “On Wednesday (November 20) another homeless dude was threatening me because he wanted my spot. I told him this was my spot, and he said to me, I’m just trying to make some money to get charged.
“He said he was going to kick my head in – I said ‘go ahead and get it done then because I’ve been through more shit than anyone should go through. On Thursday, I felt like my body was numb. I couldn’t even stand up. I can’t remember how many nights I was out in the cold, around four o’clock in the evening.
“I had so much phlegm. It was sticky every time I breathed no matter how I tried to get it out my throat. It was just building up. I asked a woman for help and she said to me instantly, ‘I already knew’ because of how ill I looked. She phoned the ambulance and I was taken to the Royal Infirmary and they said I had pneumonia.
“The doctors had to put a tube down my throat, and every time I’d try to get it out I’d be sick. They gave me antibiotics to clear it up, but because pneumonia can be caused by coldness and dampness – I told the doctor it’s gonna be hard for me to stay out of the cold when I’m homeless.”
Travis says he has seen some kindness from strangers which has helped him keep his sense of humour, reports Edinburgh Live. He said: “There were a couple of people. Someone passing by told me to keep on going, and keep pushing myself to the limit. Achieve more life, achieve your goals, but keep on moving. And to keep a smile on your face.
“Another woman – she was about in her eighties – said ‘I love your smile.’ And I was like ‘I know, I got the cutest smile ever.’ I just wish there were more kind people in this world, other than selfish, heartless people.
“When people help each other, you get loads of help back. There should be more helping this, but there [ are ] people that grieve a lot. It’s just been a hard day and hard week, but it’s all about keeping moving forward.”
