A dad-of-three who was celebrating his stag do at the Grand National over the weekend is now fighting for his life in hospital after being punched outside a bar.
HGV driver Lee Burns, 41, had been at the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday (April 15) before going for a night out with friends in Poulton, Lancashire.
It was then that he was assaulted and was knocked unconscious in an incident outside a bar at around 1.25am on Sunday. He suffered a head injury and was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He is now in an induced coma at Royal Preston Hospital.
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The Echo reports that Paul, who was due to get married in four weeks, underwent the three hour long surgery to try and stop two bleeds on his brain and to ease the pressure from the swelling, according to friend Paul Latham.
Paul has now set up a GoFundMe campaign to support Lee, who is a HGV driver and will not be able to work again due to his injuries, and his family following the tragic events.
He penned: "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. X"
In a Facebook post, he continued: "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."
A 33-year-old man from Blackpool has been arrested on suspicion of wounding in connection to the incident. 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.
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