By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
BOSTON — A corrections officer who was put on life support and made an incredible recovery after an inmate attacked him spoke publicly for the first time since the 2022 assault, NBC Boston reports.
Matt Tidman testified before a legislative committee on Jan. 23 in favor of House Bill 2422, known as “Matt’s Bill,” which would ban exercise equipment and free weights from the state’s medium and maximum security prisons.
“Luckily, with all of my friends and my family, I’m still here,” Tidman said. “Nobody deserves this, and their families certainly don’t deserve it ... I hope it doesn’t happen to anybody else.”
Tidman was attacked by an inmate at the MCI-Shirley medium-security prison using a metal weight. The incident occurred on Aug. 31, 2022, leaving Tidman severely injured and requiring intensive care at a Boston hospital. The assault resulted in significant neck and head injuries, resulting in Tidman being placed on life support at the time.
The assault resulted in Tidman suffering from a permanent disability due to a traumatic brain injury along with numerous other health complications, according to the report. It also led to the loss of his vision and hearing on one side.