Police are appealing for witnesses to the assault of a man outside a pub that resulted in him being airlifted to hospital in a coma.
Around 12:30 am on Sunday, local man Shane Smith got into an altercation with two other men at the Bernborough Tavern in Oakey, about 120 kilometres west of Brisbane.
Police report the fight “spilled out” of the pub, and Smith was hit twice in the face, by each of the other men.
The 37-year-old man sustained serious head injuries, and was later taken to Toowoomba Hospital. After being put in an induced coma he was later transported to Gold Coast University Hospital by the Toowoomba RACQ Careflight helicopter, where he remains in a critical condition and is expected to undergo specialist treatment in coming days.
The two assailants, both 24 years old, have been charged over the incident. Russell James Smith, who is believed to be not known and unrelated to the victim, appeared briefly today in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on one count of grievous bodily harm. He was released on bail under strict conditions.
The other man has been charged with grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning bodily harm, and will appear in court later this month.
Investigations are continuing into the sequence of events, and police are searching for witnesses.
“We’re asking any members of the public who may have been in the vicinity of Campbell St to come forward to police,” said Det. Snr Sgt McCusker.
