A 33-year-old man from Blackpool has been arrested on suspicion of wounding and remains in police custody for questioning. The incident took place outside Boca Bar on Breck Road at around 1.25 a.m. on Sunday morning (April 16).The victim of the attack,  Lee Burns,was taken to hospital for treatment where he remains in a serious condition.

A spokesperson very close to Lee’s fiancé, Sara, has written this heartfelt message:

‘Lee’s fiancé, Sara has asked me to put something together to firstly thank everybody on behalf of her family and us close friends of Lee for sharing my post yesterday to ensure that people power would result in an arrest….and it has. Thank you all!!

• PHOTO 1 (Left of featured photograph)

So, the first photo below is how life was for Lee and Sara, Saturday 15th April 2023.

Lee venturing out for the day on his own stag-do to Aintree with the pair of them just four weeks away from what should have been the happiest day of their lives.

• PHOTO 2 (Right of featured photograph)

I took the second photo of Lee last night.

20 minutes after he came out of theatre, having just endured a three-hour (hopefully) life-saving brain operation. This resulted in him losing the front part of his skull as well as part of his brain to try and stop the two bleeds on his brain and to ease the pressure from the swelling caused by Lee having suffered a fractured skull at the hands of the parasite who sucker punched him.

Without this emergency surgery taking place, Lee would have passed away yesterday.

Lee is still in a coma and on a life support machine right now.

• THE SUCKER PUNCH

A cowardly act from a pathetic individual.

Lee has never spoken or even looked into the eyes of his attacker, because the first point of contact in their relationship was the element of surprise. The scumbag just choosing a victim at random, who wouldn’t have the opportunity to duck or dodge what was coming. Just trying to end his night with his own personal high and with a knockdown to go home and tell his mates about.

• LEE’S FUTURE

That has changed forever as a direct result of the actions of the above-mentioned arsehole.

Lee is a long-haul HGV driver, and should he survive, he will never be allowed to get behind the wheel of a truck again, due to the severity of the brain injury.

Lee and Sara’s big day in 4 weeks – postponed but definitely not cancelled.

Lee’s 5-year-old son thinks Daddy has gone away to work for the week in his truck and daddy’s charger is not working so he can’t call or FaceTime this week.

His 16-year-old daughter, crying at his bedside yesterday and holding his hand at his bedside today knowing he had made it through the night and the swelling has reduced.

Months of rehabilitation, facial reconstruction as well as counselling for the effects the incident will have impacted on Lee’s mental health.

Everybody who knows Lee, knows he has the biggest smile in Blackpool. He’s always happy, always laughing always making new friends.

Long may that continue but it will be some time before he is able to display his trademark smile on the Fylde Coast.

• FINALLY

We don’t know the attacker by name.

Being an optimist, I’d love to think he has a conscience and if he doesn’t, he’ll have plenty of time to find a one whilst he detained and staring at four walls at his Majesty’s pleasure after he is brought to justice.

The sucker puncher wasn’t some tracksuit wearing 17-year-old chav who was been dragged up and not brought up. It was a 33-year-old man.

If Lee pulls through and makes some form of recovery, his life will be changed forever as a direct result of one person’s mindless, cowardice stupidity.’

Detective Chief Insp Lee Wilson, of Lancashire Police’s West Division, said: “A man remains in hospital in a serious condition, with family by his side. We have been working tirelessly to establish what occurred, and a man is now in custody. However, we are continuing to ask witnesses to come forward and would like to speak to anyone who saw what happened, or caught it on mobile phone footage. If you were in that area of Poulton between around 12.30am and 2am this morning please cast your mind back and please check any photos or videos you took on your phone. Similarly, if you have information about what happened or who is responsible, please let us know.’

Anybody with information should contact Lancashire Police  on 101, quoting log 124 of April 16^th.