Police are hunting those responsible for bashing and setting alight a man aged in his early 20s in Newcastle's west end in the early hours of Thursday.
Two men allegedly assaulted the 23-year-old on National Park Street, near the intersection of King Street, shortly before 3.20am before they doused him in an accelerant and set him on fire.
The attackers fled the scene and the 23-year-old - who had suffered what police described as "serious burns" - made his way to the 24-hour King Street McDonalds fast food outlet, where staff called emergency crews for urgent help.
He was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition before he was transferred to the burns unit at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Police were combing the scene for clues on King Street, between the construction site east of McDonalds and Coles Marketown, and surrounding areas well into the morning on Thursday.
Investigators have not said whether they believed the men were known to each other and have not speculated publicly on a motive.
The site of the attack is a busy part of the city - particularly popular late into Wednesday nights and into the early hours of Thursday mornings.
Parts of Newcastle West - including sections of King, National Park and Steel streets - were closed for several hours as dozens of police searched the area for evidence.
No-one had been charged over the attack at the time of publication, as detectives continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police are calling for any witnesses or anyone with information about the attack - or with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area in Newcastle West at the time of the incident - to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
