Crawley man in coma after high street brawl

Image source, Google

Image caption, Police said the fight broke out in the high street at about 03:00 BST

A man is in an induced coma after a fight police said involved "possibly a baseball bat and metal bar".

The 22-year-old was in a car when he got into an argument with people in another two cars in Crawley, Sussex, at about 03:00 BST on Saturday.

Police believe two Suzukis and a silver BMW drove into the high street, before several people got out and started fighting outside Lloyds Barbers.

Five people have been arrested and remain in custody, police said.

  • A 21-year-old man and a 22-year-old man, both from Crawley, have been arrested on suspicion of GBH with intent.
  • A 27-year-old man from Crawley has been arrested on suspicion of affray.
  • A 23-year-old man from Redhill has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
  • A 16-year-old boy from Crawley has been arrested on suspicion of using threatening words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress; drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

Image caption, The fight took place outside Lloyds Barbers, police said

Officers said they believed those involved knew each other.

Det Insp Wendy Burton added: "It is unclear how the victim [became] unconscious but he is in an extremely serious and life-threatening condition and has been placed into an induced coma."

"We believe all those involved are known to each other and this is not a random attack.

"We would urge anyone with information to come forward and help us."