Kapiti teen in critical condition

A 17-year-old Kapiti teen is in a critical condition in Wellington Hospital on life support, after being found unconscious by Police in the early hours of this morning.

Wellington District Field Crime Manager Detective Inspector Mike Johnson says police located the 17-year-old near the back of KFC in the Coastlands car park.

He was taken by Ambulance to Wellington Hospital where he has undergone surgery.

"An investigation is now underway to establish the circumstances which have led to this man being found unconscious. It’s too early to speculate on what has occurred or whether any weapons have been involved."

Detective Inspector Johnson says early enquiries by police so far have established the man was outside the Retro Bar at Kapiti Lights before 3am, where it appears he got into an altercation with a group of people.

"From there, the male has then gone through an alleyway which leads to Coastlands. We have cordoned off this area to complete a scene examination. 

“The area where the male was located is also cordoned off, whilst a scene examination is completed."

Police would like to hear from anyone who was at the Retro Bar in the early hours of this morning and witnessed an alleged altercation in the car park area outside the bar.

“We would also like to hear from anyone who saw this male unconscious near the back of KFC around 3am.”

The victim is a male Maori, who was wearing a blue and beige checked shirt with a white t-shirt underneath, blue jeans and light brown boots and a black woollen hat.

Anyone with any information in relation to this incident is urged to contact Kapiti Police on (04) 296 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: New Zealand Police.