American physician Edmund Pribitkin described Melbourne as a ‘magical city’, despite having titanium plates inserted into his face after he was allegedly severely bashed and robbed by a group of teenagers as he left the Australian Open last week.

Dr Pribitkin was on his way back to his hotel with his teenage son Edik, 17, on Wednesday night, when they were allegedly attacked near the Queen Victoria Gardens.

The teenagers allegedly asked the pair for cigarettes before they began punching and kicking them.

The two US citizens have been identified as highly acclaimed American doctor Edmund Pribitkin and his teenage son Edik. Credit:CHANNEL NINE

“My face was broken into pieces and separated from my skull,” Dr Pribitkin told Channel Nine.