Public turn blind eye to unconscious assault victim

Police are amazed that witnesses saw a man lying unconscious in a Glen Innes reserve but failed to get him any help.

The 37-year-old man was found by members of the public in Maybury Reserve at about 8am on Sunday. He was unconscious and had life-threatening head injuries.

Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley said the man may have been lying in the reserve - in an open area next to a footpath - for eight to 10 hours, possibly after a group beating.

"What must have been a vicious assault could have taken place in the early hours of Sunday morning - or possibly even late Saturday night," Mr Whitley said.

"One of the young people spoken to by us has said he saw this man lying unconscious at various times throughout the night. If that's so, it begs the question 'why didn't he call for an ambulance or police"'.

Mr Whitley said police will be looking for answers to that and many other questions about how the man came to be so badly beaten and left for dead in the reserve.

The man underwent emergency surgery for his injuries on Sunday afternoon and is believed to remain in Auckland Hospital in a drug-induced coma.

Mr Whitley said he was last seen by his family members on Friday morning.

Police would like to hear from anyone who saw the man or his attackers. Phone: 0800 OP NAVEL / 0800 67 62835.