A 34-year-old man found with a fractured skull in Palmerston North last night has been transferred to hospital in Wellington.
Police were called to Tweed Street around 12.35am (Thursday, 8 January) by a security guard serving a noise abatement notice at a house where a party was being held. As he served the notice he saw an unconscious man in the garden of the property.
The man was initially taken to Palmerston North Hospital and placed in an induced coma, but there have since been some concerns about his condition and he has now been transported by helicopter to the Neurological Unit at Wellington.
An investigation is ongoing to establish how he received the injuries and whether he had been at the party. People at the party claimed they found him unconscious in the street and had carried him to the house just prior to the security guard arrived.
Anyone who was in the area of Tweed Street on Wednesday night (7 January) or early Thursday morning who saw or heard anything suspicious is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Dave Thompson on 06 351 3812 or the Palmerston North Crime Line on 0800 808585.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.