A racist thug attacked a Chinese man for speaking Mandarin leaving him with horrific injuries.

The student, known only as Constantine, was walking down the street in Adelaide on Saturday, when he was approached by a man ordering him to speak English.

In an act of horrific violence the man then punched the 29-year-old in the face smashing his cheek bone.

The international student, who is in Australia to learn historical fencing, is now at risk of losing his eyesight and will need thousands of dollars worth of reconstructive surgery.

A racist thug attacked a Chinese man for speaking Mandarin leaving him with horrific injuries

Constantine's fencing teacher Mark Holgate is furious about what has happened to his student who he described as 'one of the nicest people I've met'.

'Today I'm angry and ashamed to be Australian,' he wrote.

'Three days ago a Chinese student of mine was cowardly assaulted for walking down the street speaking another language.

'...It's been a privilege to train and fence with him.

'Now that's all over, he won't be fencing for a long time.'

Mr Holgate said Constantine's attacker 'spewed racist trash' before smashing his cheek bone.

'The coward who attacked him smashed a huge section of his cheek bone, and he's going to need serious and expensive facial reconstruction surgery to keep from losing the eye.

'I'm just gutted for him. He was worried sick about his family in China facing the coronavirus, and now something as bad has happened to him.'

Constantine's fencing teacher Mark Holgate (pictured) is furious about what has happened to his student who he described as 'one of the nicest people I've met'

Constantine requires immediate surgery and due to not being an Australian citizen, will be out-of-pocket thousands of dollars.

A GoFundMe page has since been launched and $2,480 has been raised of the $6,000 goal.

In a turn of events, the alleged attacker returned to the scene was then arrested by police.

'Our country has an ugly history of racism. Challenge it and call it out,' Mr Holgate said.

'And look after your Asian friends, the Coronavirus is just another excuse that's stirring up racist violence.'

A police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that a man has been charged following the alleged attack.

'Police attended the scene and located the offender where he was arrested and charged with assault and property damage,' she said.

'A 24-year-old man from Noarlunga Downs was granted police bail and he will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 30.'

