A father-of-one is ‘lucky to be alive’ after being hit over the head with an iron bar — in front of his horrified girlfriend and baby daughter.
Jay Bailes, 28, was rushed to hospital where doctors found that he had suffered a fractured skull from a single blow following the unprovoked attack in broad daylight.
Shocking photos also show a huge gash in his forehead which required 12 stitches.
Jay is still suffering from whiplash and has told how he feels like “I have been in a car accident”.
He had been walking home after a trip to the park with girlfriend Maddison, 20, and their six-month-old daughter Izabella when the attacker approached him from behind.
Jay collapsed to the floor unconscious after being struck over the head by the attacker who never said a word.
Following the attack in Wibsey near Bradford, West Yorks, on Saturday afternoon police arrested a 26-year-old man.
Jay, who works as a window fitter, has been told he must not work for the next month because of his injuries.
He said: “I remember going to have a drink of my energy drink then something hit me really hard on the head.
“It knocked me out for two or three seconds, then things went bright, I went dizzy and I couldn’t open my eyes.
“My girlfriend was hysterical and was screaming and shouting for help.
“I think I was only hit once because if it had been twice I don’t think I would be here now.
“The doctor who looked at me said I was very lucky to be here because people can die from a single punch.
“It feels like I have been in a car accident and I’ve got severe whiplash because the thing that hurts the most is my neck.”
Jay yesterday (Mon) returned to his home in the village of Shelf, less than a mile from where the attack took place but the ordeal has left him scared to go outside alone.
He has been left with an open fracture on his forehead and a wound on the top of his head.
Jay believes the weapon used was a crowbar or some form of metal bar.
He added: “I’m worried to walk around the streets and for my daughter and girlfriend.
“I’m scared for their safety because if they can do it to me in front of my girlfriend and daughter, who is to say they wouldn’t do something to them.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed the attack happened on Saturday just before 3pm and that a 26-year-old man has been arrested.
They added: “We would like to appeal to anyone who saw or heard anything regarding yesterday’s incident.”