A VICIOUS assault has left a 45-year-old Warrnambool man suffering life-threatening head injuries with most of the bones in his face shattered.
Detective Senior Constable Richard Hughes, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said an ambulance was called after a resident noticed a man lying unconscious on the road near the intersection of Bates Road and Verdon Street about 9.30pm on Saturday.
He said it was clear the man was seriously injured.
It was the second serious assault in less than 30 hours after a Port Fairy man was bashed late Friday afternoon. Both victims were flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne.
The victim of the Verdon Street bashing was taken by ambulance to the Warrnambool Base Hospital before being flown by air ambulance to The Alfred where he was yesterday listed as being in a serious but stable condition. Fears over the man’s life prompted Warrnambool police to close Verdon Street overnight Saturday.
Water was diverted from the road around where the man was found and a tent erected to preserve any crime scene evidence.
Verdon Street was reopened about noon yesterday when the man’s condition improved from critical to serious and it seemed his life was no long in danger yesterday.
Detective Senior Constable Hughes said yesterday police were seeking witnesses.
“There was a disturbance at a flat and a male was serious assaulted in Verdon Street near the intersection of Bates Road by an unknown assailant,” Detective Senior Constable Hughes said.
“The male was conveyed to hospital with serious head injuries, life-threatening injuries and he was in a critical condition. He was transported to The Alfred with head injuries.”
Detective Senior Constable Hughes said the victim had suffered swelling to his brain.
“And most of the bones in his face have been shattered as a result of the serious assault. It is unknown how the injuries were inflicted. He was not stabbed,” he said.
“The male is a resident of the nearby flats behind the Turn In Motel. A resident called an ambulance after observing the male lying unconscious on the road. Police detectives were notified about 11pm.”
Detective Senior Constable Hughes said any witnesses or anyone who has information about the assault was asked to contact the Warrnambool police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said an ambulance was called to Verdon Street at 9.40pm to a man aged 45 who was found on the road and had suffered critical head injuries.
She said the patient was first taken to the Warrnambool Base Hospital, intubated and then flown to The Alfred.
A spokeswoman for The Alfred yesterday said the man’s condition had been downgraded to serious but stable.