The man suffers serious injuries during a "coup de roi" at the Dunedin service station

A man who helped the victim of an alleged king's blow by a member of a Dunedin service station said his family was praying for the victim's survival.

But last night, the attacker was still at large. Esitakio Moata's ane was driving along Hillside Road around 10:30 pm Saturday when her daughter said, "Dad, there is a man lying on the floor in the Mobil."

He went to investigate and found an unconscious man in front of Mobil Forbury with

"He was drowning in his vomiting … so I and this other guy went back into a recovery position." [19659005] Moata's ane said that the man seemed to have

"It was like a king's blow."

"There were no black eyes, it was just the mouth and nose.

He was also injured on the back of the head. [19659002] "He must have fallen back and hit his head on the ground."

Moata's ane, a deeply religious man, said that he was standing and praying for a victim before the paramedics do not transport him to Dunedin Hospital.

He then asked his children to "pray for this man" before they

The 25-year-old forklift driver has stated that his wife had given birth to their fourth child Thursday, just two days before he and his children came across the consequences of the vicious aggression.

witnessed the incident told Moata's ane that one of the members of a gang of charlatans had committed the aggression.

A gang member reportedly told the woman that the v ictime was "too mean."

Detective Sergeant Nik Leigh of Dunedin Last night, the 43-year-old man remained in critical condition at the Dunedin Hospital

Police officers the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) and forensic scientists from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research were on the scene yesterday. The gas station remained closed and was cordoned off, with a scene guard stationed there overnight.

Detective Sgt Leigh said that the police had not made any arrests in connection with the assault but that she was following positive leads

some people from "

The CIA had yet to determine whether it was "a chance meeting or something more," Sgt Leigh said.

Police were calling for anyone who had information about the assault that had been in the area on Saturday night, to contact them or provide information anonymously via the Crimestoppers line.

• Dunedin Police (03) 471-4800, Crime Stoppers 0800-555-111.