A pensioner had every bone in his face broken after confronting a yob who was vandalising his car.
Anthony Jacob, a 75-year-old from Weymouth, Dorset, was left fighting for his life after the vicious attack.
He is now awaiting an MRI scan that will determine whether or not his injuries are survivable.
The septuagenarian was brutally assaulted outside his home on Tuesday evening after seeing a man damaging his car.
Mr Jacobs went into cardiac arrest before being airlifted to Southampton General Hospital where he remains in an induced coma in intensive care.
Dorset Police have made an appeal for a possible witness to the incident on Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicky Jenkins, of Dorset CID, said: “We are grateful to members of the public who have provided information to assist our enquiries so far, and I am appealing for any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to please make contact with us.
“In particular, we are keen to speak to a white man of slim build who was seen walking from the junction of Newstead Road toward St Paul’s Church wearing a red or burgundy-coloured hat, a black Puffa-style jacket, black trousers and white trainers at around 8.10pm on the evening of the incident.
“I would like to stress that we are keen to identify this man purely as a witness and take his account, as he may have important information to assist our investigation.
“I am also keen to hear from motorists or residents who may have captured any relevant dashcam, home CCTV or doorbell camera footage.”
A 19-year-old man appeared in court charged with attempting to murder Mr Jacob today.
Jake Saunders is also charged with three counts of assaulting an emergency worker, including an ambulance paramedic who suffered a broken jaw.
Saunders is also charged with two counts of criminal damage to a Volkswagen Golf car by allegedly jumping on it.
Saunders wore a grey sweatshirt and jogging bottoms when he appeared in court.
He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody. He will appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on January 9.
Meanwhile, Dorset Police have made an appeal for a possible witness to the incident on Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicky Jenkins, of Dorset CID, said: “We are grateful to members of the public who have provided information to assist our enquiries so far, and I am appealing for any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to please make contact with us.
“In particular, we are keen to speak to a white man of slim build who was seen walking from the junction of Newstead Road toward St Paul’s Church wearing a red or burgundy-coloured hat, a black Puffa-style jacket, black trousers and white trainers at around 8.10pm on the evening of the incident.
“I would like to stress that we are keen to identify this man purely as a witness and take his account, as he may have important information to assist our investigation.
“I am also keen to hear from motorists or residents who may have captured any relevant dashcam, home CCTV or doorbell camera footage.”