A French bus driver was badly beaten by passengers after asking them to wear face masks

News24xx.com - A French bus driver who was badly beaten by passengers after asking them to wear face masks in line with coronavirus rules has died, his family said.

Philippe Monguillot, 59, was left brain dead by the attack in the southwestern town of Bayonne last weekend and died in hospital on Friday after his family decided to switch off his life-support system. 

Two men have been charged with attempted murder over the attack and prosecutor Jerome Bourrier told AFP news agency that he would ask for the charges to be upgraded following Monguillot's death.

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France's prime minister Jean Castex led tributes to Monguillot.

"The Republic recognizes him as an exemplary citizen and will not forget him. The law will punish the perpetrators of this despicable crime," he tweeted, describing the attack as "cowardly".