Bridegroom, 33, attacked at Grand National-themed stag party in coma
Bridegroom, 33, attacked at his Grand National-themed stag party at Aintree by a drunken stranger is left fighting for his life in a coma
- 33-year-old Lee Burns was set on without provocation by a violent thug
A man who was attacked at his Grand National-themed stag party by a drunken stranger is now in a coma, fighting for his life.
Lee Burns, 33, had been to Aintree with friends for the day ahead of his wedding before returning home – where he was set on without provocation by a violent thug.
This disturbing image of him in hospital was shared by his heart broken wife-to-be Sara Ann Smith who said: ‘His life will be changed forever’.
The dad-of-two, was drinking with pals outside Boca Bar in his home town of Poulton Le Fylde, Lancs, in the early hours of Sunday after a day at the races when he was approached by a drunken thug.
His attacker is believed to have thrown just one punch but it sent Lee crashing to the pavement unconscious – as his 18-year-old son Scott watched on in horror.
HGV driver Lee was rushed to hospital for life saving surgery for a bleed on the brain and remains in a coma – just four weeks before his wedding was due to be held.
Lee Burns, 33, pictured with wife-to-be had been to Aintree with friends for the day ahead of his wedding
Sara has been keeping vigil at Lee’s bedside at Royal Preston Hospital as police question a 33-year-old man in connection with the ‘unprovoked and vicious attack.’
Shattered Sara said the last few days have been ‘hell’ for her and her and their three children, Scott, Tia, 16, and five-year-old Freddie.
She said: ‘We are devastated. I’ve had to watch my fiancé be placed in an induced coma and fight for his life.
‘Me and Lee’s family were told he might not survive surgery and we are living minute by minute not knowing what will happen.
‘We have a five-year-old son at home that doesn’t know anything and we had to tell him daddy is at work because he will never understand why he isn’t waking up.’
After the arrest, his close friend Paul Latham posted a photo of Lee and Sara ahead of ‘what should have been the happiest day of their lives’ – alongside a heartbreaking picture she took of Lee wired up in intensive care.
Paul said: ‘The first photo is how life was for Lee and Sara, Saturday 15th April 2023.
Lee was rushed to hospital for life saving surgery for a bleed on the brain and remains in a coma
Lee venturing out for the day on his own stag do to Aintree with the pair of them just four weeks away from what should have been the happiest day of their lives.
‘I took the second photo of Lee last night. 20 minutes after he came out of theatre, having just endured a three hour life-saving brain operation.
‘This resulted in him losing the front part of his skull as well as part of his brain to try and stop the two bleeds on his brain and to ease the pressure from the swelling caused by Lee having suffered a fractured skull at the hands of the parasite who sucker punched him. Without this emergency surgery taking place, Lee would have passed away.
‘Lee is still in a coma and on a life support machine right now.’
Paul said Lee, who he’d known for 22 years, didn’t have an ‘ounce of aggression in him’ and was set upon by a drunken yob for no apparent reason.
He called the assault a ‘cowardly act from a pathetic individual’, adding: ‘Lee has never spoken or even looked into the eyes of his attacker.
‘The scumbag just chose a victim at random, who wouldn’t have the opportunity to duck or dodge what was coming.
‘Just trying to end his night with his own personal high and with a knockdown to go home and tell his mates about it.
‘Lee’s 5 year old son thinks Daddy has gone away to work for the week in his truck and daddies charger is not working so he can’t call or FaceTime this week.’
The severity of the brain injury is likely to be life changing for Lee, who is a long haul lorry driver.
Paul said: ‘Should he survive, he will never be allowed to get behind the wheel of a truck again.’
Lancashire Police have questioned a 33-year-old man on suspicion of wounding.
Det Ch Insp Lee Wilson said: ‘A man remains in hospital in a serious condition, with family by his side.
‘We have been working tirelessly to establish what occurred, and a man is now in custody.
‘However, we are continuing to ask 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 this morning please cast your mind back and please check any photos or videos you took on your phone.’
Det Chief Insp Lee Wilson, of Lancashire Police, 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.’
References
- ^ Scott Hesketh For Mailonline (www.dailymail.co.uk)