Attack prolonged and ferocious - police

Police are hunting Patrick Young, 42. Photo / Supplied

A brutal attack which left a south Auckland man brain dead and on life support was prolonged and ferocious, say police.

The man, 56, was not expected to live after he and his sister were beaten with a wooden stick for several minutes by a man who fled moments before police arrived at the Bolton St house in Otara about 9.30am yesterday.

Police said the man they were now hunting, Patrick Young, 42, was dangerous and should not be approached. The woman victim was his stepmother and the man was her brother.

The critically hurt man's family was at his hospital bed saying goodbye before the life support machine in Auckland Hospital was switched off, said police. However, his sister had spoken to police and was expected to recover.

"It was a persistent and ferocious attack," said Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Glossop from the Counties Manukau police.

"It lasted several minutes, long enough for the police to be called and the police weren't too far away by the time the person we are seeking had left the scene."

The victims were yet to be named. Mr Glossop said they were still trying to contact family members overseas.

He said medical staff at the hospital had told police the man could not recover from his injuries.

"He is surviving on life support at the moment and the medical staff are dealing with the family over that.

"We are dealing with it as an expected homicide inquiry."

Mr Glossop said it was a domestic dispute.

"We are treating it as a domestic-related incident but we are still following a couple of different lines of inquiry as to what is the primary motive and, of course, we really need to talk to Patrick to establish that.

"I was perplexed as to what the motive would be to trigger such a violent outburst and that is what we have to establish."

He said a wooden stick had been recovered but police were still looking for other weapons, none of them firearms.

Mr Glossop said police were concerned enough about Young to warn the public not to approach him and call the police if they spotted him.

He said Young was ``well known'' to police and anyone who sheltered him knowing he was being sought by police was committing an offence.

``We will treat that seriously.''

Young left in a white 1997 Toyota Corolla, registration WE4878.

Anyone with information about Young was urged to contact Otara police.

- NZPA