A frantic mum put out an emotional plea on social media asking for help finding her son, not knowing he'd been attacked by his best friend - and later died.
Jay Webster, 28, was jailed for more than five years this week for the manslaughter of friend Ben Lloyd, 27.
The pair got into a "silly argument" while on a night out in Caerphilly, South Wales, on April 1, which turned violent, the court heard.
A single punch saw Ben crashing to the ground outside a library, striking his head on the pavement.
He died the next morning at his dad's home after refusing to go to hospital for checks.
On the same day, mum Kay Main asked on Facebook: "I can't believe that I am sat here going out of my mind with worry over my boy, although he is an adult.
"Please can anyone who knows if my son is ok."
She later wrote in the comments he was at his dad's, adding: "But still don't know what has happened."
Following the sentencing yesterday she wrote: "I hope people stop trying to judge and leave my family and Jay's family alone to deal our sorrow and grief.
"The truth is they were best friends who after a stupid scuffle things went wrong.
"My son was too stubborn to get medical help, however much we tried. So stop blaming others. And think about how the families have to cope with what has happened."
Cardiff Crown Court heard Webster appeared "absolutely devastated" as he stood over his best friend, frantically saying: "Get up Ben. Get up."
Witness Curtis Jeremiah said he heard Ben strike the floor, adding: "The noise was horrible."
"It was almost like the sound of a snap as his head hit the ground."
Prosecutor James Wilson said CCTV footage captured the moment the violence was sparked.
He said: "The defendant pushes Mr Lloyd up against a window. Mr Lloyd takes two swings and misses.
"The defendant punches Mr Lloyd to the left side of his face with his right fist and he falls to the ground."
The court heard Webster told onlookers he "did not mean to do it" after they had a "silly argument".
He stayed with his friend as witnesses called for an ambulance before Ben regained consciousness three minutes later.
Webster left the scene before he made his way to a pub - and later visited the victim's mum, Kay.
Mr Wilson said: "She described Ben as having been a brilliant friend to the defendant."
The court heard Webster told Kay: "I'm sorry, me and Ben had an argument."
Mr Wilson said the worried mother called her daughters to tell them what had happened, before putting an appeal on Facebook.
The court heard victim Ben refused to wait for an ambulance at the scene but instead tried to get into a taxi.
Police arrived to find him with dried blood in his mouth before Ben told officers he did not need medical assistance and did not want to make a complaint.
The court heard he was taken home to his father's house where he was urged to get medical attention by his worried family.
He refused help, but instead went to bed while his father checked on him during the night.
Mr Wilson said: "His father kept an eye on Ben through the night but discovered him at about 9.30am unconscious. His father attempted CPR but sadly Ben passed away."
The court heard Webster was arrested by officers later that day before he said to police: "He's dead?"
In a victim impact statement, Kay said: "Ben and Jay knew each other for about 20 odd years since they were six or seven.
"The boys always got on really well, so losing Ben and seeing Jay locked up was almost like I lost both of them."
She said she did not "hold any malice" towards Webster after believing her son's death was an accident.
Webster, of Senghenydd, near Caerphilly, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for five years and three months.
