A lecturer at Stratford College was assaulted and thrown into a freezing river—for being white.

Lee Skinner, 38, was out jogging when he was attacked by five hooded youths, who would later be described as teenagers of Middle Eastern or Southern Asian descent.

Skinner’s attackers punched him in the face, and pushed him in the icy canal, allegedly because of his race. 

As Skinner struggled to tread water, one of the attackers stood by the edge of the canal to prevent Skinner from getting out.

Skinner, who had been a linguistics professor, thought quickly—and reasoned with his attackers in Arabic.

After saying, in Arabic, “May God forgive you,” and an statement of faith: “There is no God but Allah,” his attackers panicked—presumably concerned that they had attacked a fellow Muslim.

As his attackers ran away, Skinner was able to swim to the opposite side of the canal, where he was able to get help from passersby. Skinner was hospitalized with damaged teeth, as well as bruising and minor injuries to his face and neck.

Police are still searching for his assailants.