Counties Manukau police investigate serious assault

Counties Manukau Police are currently investigating a serious assault. The assault took place this afternoon just before 4 pm on Elizabeth St Tuakau.

It involved a group of local tuakau youths and an off duty police officer.

The group of youths gathered on Elizabeth St, a fight broke out between two of them, a local resident / off duty police officer and one other male approached the group to break up the fight. The off duty officer was hit from behind and kicked in the head and body. Other neighbours witnessed this attack and came to assist.

The off duty police officer who was assaulted was taken back to his home on Elizabeth St where he fell unconscious. Soon after he left his home in an ambulance in a critical but stable condition. Since being at hospital he has gained some conciousness and is responding to medical staff. Police have currently cordoned off the scene and are speaking to independent witnesses. They are in the process of identifying people that were present at the time of the incident. No one has been arrested in relation to this event.

There are a high number of staff working on this investigation this evening and there will be an increase in staff numbers tomorrow.

There will be no further comment from police this evening.