A man has been arrested after a patron was bashed unconscious outside a Nelson hotel.
The 56-year-old victim suffered a severe cut to his head, possible concussion and facial bruising and swelling after the attack early on Saturday morning.
Police said the bashing followed an exchange of words between two men at a Waimea Rd hotel.
Detective Sergeant Mark Kaveney said the man was attacked as he left the hotel to catch a taxi about 1.25am.
He ontinued to beat his victim about the upper body as he lay unconscious on the ground.
He was then confronted by a witness from the hotel, who was also struck in the face with the bat.
The witness tackled the offender and attempted to protect the injured man, trading blows with the attacker before wrestling the bat from him.
The victim was taken to Nelson Hospital where he was examined and later discharged.
Mr Kaveney described the incident as a "premeditated and unprovoked attack on an innocent person, which has resulted in that person being seriously injured''.
It is understood the attacker was in the hotel and had been spoken to about his behaviour by his victim earlier in the night.
A 34-year-old man was arrested yesterday and remains in police custody.
He will appear in Nelson District Court tomorrow charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, relating to the initial victim, and injuring with intent to injure, relating to the assault on the witness.
Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.
