A Dundee man was on life support in a London hospital last night after being seriously injured in an unprovoked vicious assault.
The family of David Forbes were keeping a vigil at his bedside in the Royal London Hospital after his condition deteriorated.
Mr Forbes has been in the intensive care unit since Sunday November 25 after suffering a serious head injury.
He had travelled to London the previous day to take up a job as a joiner and had gone from King’s Cross Station to a pub in Euston Road where he spent the Saturday evening.
He was outside the premises the Rocket in the early hours of the Sunday when he was approached by a muscular-looking man with short hair.
Witnesses said the man punched Mr Forbes, who fell to the ground and hit his head on the road. The suspect then walked off with a group of men and a woman towards King’s Cross.
An ambulance was summoned and Mr Forbes was taken to the Royal London Hospital for treatment to his head injury.
He was taken to intensive case and his family were informed, his parents travelling to his bedside from their home in Dundee.
His condition worsened and he became critically ill, forcing doctors to connect him to a life support machine.
Mr Forbes’ parents were joined in their bedside vigil by their son and daughter and Mr Forbes’ girlfriend.
The Royal London Hospital declined to issue a report on his condition last night.
Detective Constable Matt Burmby, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “This seems to have been an unprovoked attack, which has left a man seriously injured. We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this assault or know the whereabouts of the suspect.
“We would also be interested in speaking to anyone who may have seen the victim or suspect earlier in the evening.”
Police have visited the Rocket pub to interview staff and customers in their efforts to gather evidence. There are also posters in the pub urging witnesses to pass on information.
The area of the assault is covered by CCTV and officers were studying the footage.
A spokesperson for the Rocket confirmed a member of its door staff, who witnessed the assault, administered first aid while waiting for the emergency services.
They continued: “We have been actively helping the police with their inquiries and have provided external CCTV footage. We have also been asking our customers if they can provide any information that might help the police with their investigation.”
Mr Forbes was a seasoned construction worker who travelled overseas for positions on building projects.
He had worked in Ireland, Spain and Dubai, where he abseiled down the side of a multi-storey block to carry out construction and maintenance tasks.
He had been back in Dundee and had secured another job on a contract in London when the attack occurred.
The suspect is described as a white man, approximately 5ft 9in and aged 25-30. He is thought to have a muscular build with short dark hair, wearing a plain white T-shirt.