A health worker assaulted outside Dandenong Hospital this week after refusing to give a man a cigarette says he’s still struggling as he recovers from his injuries.

• IT STARTED ON THE RUMOUR FILE: How it unfolded

John* told Tom Elliott he can’t remember the whole attack.

“I was just minding my own business when a gentleman unknown to me asked me for cigarettes,” he said.

“I basically said I don’t have any, at which point he started making not-nice remarks.

“From what I can remember I was hit two or three times.”

John then kicked when he was on the ground.

He praised a co-worker, who was also injured, who stepped in to help him.

“He put himself between my head and the (attacker’s foot),” he said.

Click PLAY above to hear his account of the terrible incident

*not his real name