KEY POINTS:
Police are hunting for a man who fled after a bar regular was left with life-threatening head injuries outside a pub in Botany, Auckland, on Friday night.
The victim, believed to be in his 50s, hit his head on the ground after being felled by a single punch outside the Headin' Home Bar and Grill on Ti Rakau Drive at about 8pm.
Police arrived to find a group of about 50 patrons at the scene.
Bar manager Bruce Lahore said the victim was a regular. "It's just really sad, he was well-liked and was just going home."
Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Jones said police were still trying to find a man who was involved in the incident and had fled the scene.
They were working with the man's family, who were co-operating with police.
The injured man was last night in a serious condition at Middlemore Hospital. Jones said he was hanging in there, but was not in a good way.
