Man fighting for his life after violent attack in West Auckland bar

A 28-year-old man is alive and his high school sweetheart faces a future without him after a violent attack at a West Auckland bar.

Surgeons removed half of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain, but his head injury is so severe that he is fighting for his life after what is said to be an unprovoked attack at The Mates Bar on Friday.

The victim is in the hospital surrounded by relatives. Her mother-in-law spoke to the Herald this morning.

“It’s heartbreaking,” he said.

“My daughter… is broken, this is her love, they have been together since high school, they thought they were going to have babies, they thought they were going to get married.

“He was supposed to come home from work on Friday and he never did.”

The victim, whom the Herald agreed not to name, works as a roofer and was at a job in the Kumeu area last week.

“They finished early and went to have a beer with their boss,” said the mother-in-law.

“Their boss had just left and (the victim) called (a colleague) to come pick them up. It was around 4.30pm.”

“(The friend) called again but there was no answer, the phone kept ringing.”

The alleged incident was happening when the friend tried to call.

It is understood that the friend of the victim was attacked first and was attacked while trying to help.

“These are good young people, working boys, they are not vicious, they are not violent, they have their whole future ahead of them, they had a good day at work.

“(The other victim) is not an aggressive person at all … I spoke to him yesterday and he is devastated, you can see it in his face.

“This kid has to live with this for the rest of his life, he keeps thinking ‘what if he had done this differently?”

The victim underwent emergency surgery and her family will meet with doctors this afternoon for an update.

“But they have done everything possible for him,” said his mother-in-law.

She said in her opinion that the attack on the victim and her partner was “senseless and disgusting.”

“It was random and it shouldn’t have happened,” he said.

“This is all so surreal. These people can’t get away with it.”

Detective Sergeant Major Kim Libby confirmed that police were investigating an alleged incident at the bar.

“One man received serious injuries in the assault and a second man received moderate injuries,” he said.

“Police have arrested a 38-year-old man due to appear in Waitakere District Court tomorrow on charges of injuring with intent to cause serious bodily harm.

“There are likely to be more charges and arrests.

“An examination of the scene has been completed and investigations are ongoing,” he said.

“The police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and speak to them.”

Anyone with information can call 105 and quote the event number P044313222.

A woman who identified herself as the owner of the bar declined to comment.

“At the moment everything is manufactured and quite twisted, so no comment will be made at the moment,” he said.

“I mean the people involved who may comment, but we will get back to you as soon as we know the truth.

“The best thing for you is that you do not report anything at all because what has been obtained is not a fact.”

The woman said she would reply to the Herald “within a week.”