Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a Dunedin man was knocked unconscious by a single blow and left lying in the road in an unprovoked attack.
The 31-year-old man and a friend were standing at the corner of George St and Moray Pl, waiting to cross the road, when the victim was attacked by the unknown assailant about 2.45am on Sunday, May 29.
Security camera footage of the attack - just obtained from a nearby BNZ bank's security cameras - showed the man "didn't even see the punch coming", Constable Tracey Bransgrove said.
The victim was left lying unconscious in the street for about four minutes after the attack, while his friend tried to get help.
He was taken to Dunedin Hospital for treatment, and had a "closed head injury" that could take 10 weeks to heal, as well as a large lump, bruising, double vision and headaches, Const Bransgrove said.
He was also forced to return to the hospital for further tests the next day, after vomiting several times, she said.
There were a large number of pedestrians in the area at the time, and police wanted to speak to anyone who witnessed the assault, she said. In particular, she appealed for a young woman who intervened moments after the attack, pushing the offender away, to come forward.
The woman - believed to be a witness - was described as a young caucasian aged in her early 20s, with dark shoulder-length hair, wearing a grey jacket and a pale-coloured skirt or dress with black boots.
The offender was believed to be aged between 18 and 25, with dark hair shaven to a number two cut, "quite tall" and thin.
