A father-to-be left in a coma after a ''one punch'' assault in Queenstown has been described as a ''happy, warm-hearted'' man.
Two men have been arrested and charged over the incident, which left a Queenstown chef in a coma in Dunedin Hospital.
The victim, a Sri Lankan man, worked as a chef at Lone Star Queenstown until about a year and a-half ago.
Lone Star owner Dave Gardiner said the victim was a ''very happy, warm-hearted'' man, who was ''definitely not aggressive''.
''I was quite shocked to hear he was even out late at night.
''It's a bit of a shock, that's for sure. It's pretty devastating for the Sri Lankan community.''
Mr Gardiner said the man's wife was pregnant, and called the situation ''extremely sad''.
The victim suffered a fractured skull in the assault, which took place in Cow Lane about 3.20am on Tuesday.
A 24-year-old man has been charged with grievous bodily harm, and another 24-year-old man with being a party to grievous bodily harm.
Both will appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday.
Sergeant Steve Watt said the assault was sparked by an altercation in a bar in Camp St between two pairs of men. The victim was allegedly punched and fell to the ground, hitting his head.
