Last updated at 17:18, Sunday, 22 July 2012

DOCTORS have warned the family of a Barrow man badly injured in a savage attack this week that he might never fully recover.

Gerard McBlain was in surgery for six hours on Thursday night as surgeons worked to remove a blood clot from his brain.

The 31-year-old was allegedly bashed with a baseball bat in Dundonald Street at about 7pm on Wednesday evening.

A 24-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested the following day and remained in police custody yesterday.

The victim’s brother, Paul Woolveridge, 39, of Ormsgill, said the family had been told to prepare themselves for the chance Mr McBlain might have suffered permanent injuries.

He said his mum, Julie McBlain, had rushed to Preston Royal Infirmary to be at her son’s side as he recovered from the surgery.

“Gerry is still critical,” he said. “(On Thursday night) he had a six-hour operation to remove a piece of his skull so that doctors could remove a clot from his brain.

“His brain is still swollen and the piece of skull has not been put back.

“He is still critically ill and unconscious.

“Doctors have said that he may never be the same again.”

Police have not ruled out the possibility that a second violent assault, in Hartington Street at 4.10am on Thursday morning, was connected.

In that incident a 40-year-old Barrow man was allegedly attacked with a small crowbar when he went to investigate a noise outside his home.

He was treated at Furness General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is now recovering at home.

The offender was described as about six-feet tall, of slim build, and wearing dark clothing with a hoodie zipped up to his eyes.

Police have also made an appeal for the driver of a white taxi, who picked up a bare-chested man in Bath Street between 9.30pm and 10.15pm on Wednesday, to contact police.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Barrow CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

First published at 13:07, Sunday, 22 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk