A man had his jaw broken in two places, teeth knocked out and received injuries to his arms and legs after a vicious assault outside a Hawke's Bay restaurant this week.
The victim, a 51-year-old Hastings man, was yesterday flown to Palmerston North Hospital for jaw surgery after the 8.30pm incident at Hastings KFC on Wednesday.
It was believed two men, who had been dining at the fast-food chain, were responsible for the attack in the Heretaunga St carpark that stemmed from an argument inside the restaurant, said Hastings Police Detective Rob Parker.
"The assault ... left the victim with a double fracture of his jaw, two missing teeth and abrasions to his face, arms and legs," he said
"It appeared as though the victim had had a minor dispute with customers inside the KFC restaurant, had gone out into the carpark and then been assaulted by at least two [men]."