Victim in a coma after park beating

A man found lying unconscious in a Glen Innes park was in a critical condition last night after undergoing surgery.

The man was found by a local resident in Maybury Reserve at about 8am yesterday.

His identity was confirmed last night and his name is expected to be released today.

He was lying about a metre away from a footpath that runs through the reserve. He was out in the open on the grass and had suffered multiple injuries, including serious head injuries.

Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley said the man's injuries were life-threatening and he was last night in a drug-induced coma after surgery.

"The doctors think he has done remarkably well to survive this far."

Mr Whitley said police have very few clues as to what happened to the man, who is in his mid 30s.

"There's no doubt that he has been assaulted, it's not a case of him having fallen over or anything like that."

"It's Saturday night in Glen Innes and there's lots of things going on but nothing that points us in the direction of why this guy has ended up at 8am lying dying in the reserve."

Maybury St residents said this was not the first time a person had been found injured in the reserve and they suspect a group of young men were involved in the assault.

Papa Malolo said he heard a group of men arguing in the reserve outside his house early yesterday morning.

Mr Malolo said the group then walked off towards the area where the man was found unconscious.

His wife Lala Malolo said there had been problems with young people gathering in the reserve before.

"That's not the first time. One guy was found there about a year ago," she said.

"There was many people, especially young boys, found beaten up. We never go there in the dark."

A boy at another Maybury St residence said his 14-year-old brother had seen a group of young men beating a man in the reserve, but he did not know any further details about the attack.

Mr Whitley said police want to hear from anyone who has any information about the attack.

A dedicated police phoneline is expected to be up and running today. Phone 0800 OP NAVEL / 0800 67 62835.