A man found outside an Auckland nightclub with severe head injuries has had emergency surgery to remove part of his skull in a last-ditch bid to save his life.
And now his family say his survival is down to his strength and their faith.
Trevor Kaukau, 40, was found unconsciousand bleeding with severe head injuries on a Karangahape Rd footpath about 5.45am on Saturday.
Police have not yet been able to find how he got the injuries and Mr Kaukau remains in an induced coma in Auckland Hospital.
His sister Rebecca Kaukau told the Herald her brother's brain pressure had been skyrocketing to more than four times what was considered normal.
He had a tube inserted into his brain to relieve the pressure, but the swelling continued to increase so he was rushed into surgery last night to remove part of his skull.
"They removed a piece of his skull about the size of a person's hand," Ms Kaukau said.
"It's a bit like a bottle of Coke when you open it and everything rushes up to the top. The risk was that when they took the piece of skull off, the brain would start to come out. The doctors said if that happened, they'd be cutting off those piece[s] of brain.
"That was a big shock, a really big worry. The risk involved with the surgery was really high, so everyone was doing their last-minute goodbyes and kisses. It was a race against the clock."
The surgery was a success, and Mr Kaukau's brain pressure was now much lower.
"But if his brain pressure goes back up again, there's nothing more they can do for him," said Ms Kaukau.
It is now a waiting game for Mr Kaukau's family, who know he has irreparable brain damage and will never be the same again, but just hope he will survive.
"Now it's down to his strength and our faith."
Detective Sergeant Neil Hilton said police were reviewing CCTV images but had no leads on what happened. He urged anyone with information to contact him at the Auckland police station on (09) 302-6400 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555-111.
