KEY POINTS:
A teenager is assisting police with their inquiries into the brutal assault of an elderly man at his home at Dobson, 10km from Greymouth, on Monday night.
The 74-year-old man was saved from his smoke filled home about 8.30pm by neighbours after they heard his smoke alarm.
He was dragged from the house after he was discovered lying beaten on the floor on his home.
Police believed the offender also tried to set the man's cottage on fire before leaving the scene.
West Coast acting area commander Senior Sergeant Stu Koefoed said today the man was still in Wellington Hospital.
"He is in a stable, but serious condition and has still not regained consciousness."
Mr Koefoed said no charges had been laid against the Dobson teenager, aged 17, and inquiries into the matter were continuing.
"We are still door knocking around the area and our ESR science and forensic staff are at the scene of the assault."
The name of the victim will not be released today because police were still trying to trace relatives and were unsure whether he even had any in New Zealand.
- NZPA
