Man critical after domestic dispute stabbing

Police are investigating what they believe is a domestic dispute in which a 61-yaer-old man was stabbed. Photo / file

A 61-year-old Havelock North man is in a critical condition with suspected stab wounds after a domestic incident last night.

The incident happened just before 7pm, Hastings Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange.

"It is a family violence incident and the victim and the offender are known to each other. It looks like the victim had been stabbed but we are not sure what with.''

A 31-year-old Havelock North man had been charged with assault and was to appear in Hastings District Court today.

Mr de Lange said at least one of the two men lived at the address, and police were alerted to the incident by a third person who also lived there.

This morning the house was cordoned off and a scene guard was in place as police and ESR staff carried out a forensic scene examination.

Neighbours were shocked that such a serious incident occurred on their quiet street, and had seen police and ambulance officers working "frantically'' last night.

"I could see the ambulance working frantically to save him and hopefully he is going to survive,'' said one resident.

"They were doing it for a long time.''

St John Hawke's Bay co-ordinator Steve Smith said an advanced life support ambulance was sent to the scene with support from a second ambulance.

"The gentleman was treated at the scene and transported to hospital in a critical condition,'' he said.