Attacked man out of coma

Police will this afternoon speak to a Napier man who suffered a beating at the hands of a group in what may be a gang attack.

The 23-year-old sustained a number of blows to the head after he was chased by up to 10 people in the Napier suburb of Maraenui about 10am yesterday.

He was put into an induced coma Hawke's Bay Hospital after the assault. However, he was now out of the coma and police hoped to interview him around lunchtime, Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Reid told NZPA.

Police have not made any arrests yet and face difficulties with witnesses not coming forward.

Because of the time of day, the weather and the particular suburb the attack took place in, there were few witnesses willing to talk to police, he said.

"There has been talk of gang members involved in the attack but we haven't been able to get to the bottom of that yet."

Ten people may have been involved in the chase, but there may not have been that many involved in the assault, he said.

- NZPA