A father-of-three is 'fighting for his life' in a coma after being punched at a bar following his own stag do at the Grand National. Lee Burns, 41, was celebrating with friends at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 15 before having a night out.
The dad, who was out in Poulton, Lancashire, was assaulted and was knocked unconscious outside a bar at around 1.25am on Sunday, and suffered a head injury, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The HGV driver from Blackpool was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery that took three hours and is now in an induced coma at Royal Preston Hospital. His family, including fiancé Sara, have been at his bedside.
According to Lee's friend Paul Latham, who has set up a GoFundMe page which has already received £6000 of donations, the dad won't be able to work again following the life saving brain surgery. The wedding, which was due to be in four weeks time, has been postponed.
He wrote: "Hello, I’m Paul. Lee’s friend.
"So many people have contacted me in the last 24 hours, asking me to do this as they want to make a donation to help support Lee and his family, following the brutal attack on Lee in the early hours of Sunday morning 16.04.2023. Lee was returning home from his own stag do at Aintree Racecourse. Lee is now fighting for his life in Royal Preston Hospital, following a completely unprovoked attack in Poulton Le Fylde. Lee is now in a coma.
"If you would like to make a donation, please do so as Lee will never be able to return to his job again following his life saving brain surgery. Lee and Sara’s life has been changed forever as a result of this attack. Thank you in advance on behalf of Lee, Sara and his family."
Paul added on Facebook: "Everybody who knows Lee, knows he has the biggest smile in Blackpool. He’s always happy, always laughing, always making new friends.
"Long may that continue but it will be some time before he is able to display his trademark smile on the Fylde Coast."
Police had arrested a 33-year-old man in connection to the incident on suspicion of wounding but he has been bailed pending further inquiries until July 13.
Detective Chief Inspector Lee Wilson, of Lancashire Police’s West Division, said: “The victim was on a night out when he was seriously assaulted. He remains in hospital in a serious condition and we are doing our utmost to get answers as to what happened and who was responsible.
“One person has now been arrested and released on bail, while we continue to investigate the incident.
“We are still urging witnesses to come forward and would like to speak to anyone who saw what happened, or caught it on mobile phone footage. If you were in that area of Poulton between around 12.30am and 2am on Sunday morning, please cast your mind back and please check any photos or videos you took on your phone.
“Similarly, if you have information about what happened or who is responsible, please let us know.”
Anybody with information should contact Lancashire Police, quoting log 124 of April 16.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
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