Man found on seafront with critical injuries

A man who was found near Bognor Regis seafront with serious head injuries was yesterday undergoing emergency surgery.

A 55-year-old-man, named by police as Mr Robert Capelin of Bognor Regis, was being operated upon at Southampton General Hospital's neurological unit. His injuries were described as life threatening. Sussex Police are investigating the cause of the injuries.

They have appealed to any possible witnesses who have not already contacted them to help with the investigation.

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Police officers were called to a report of a man with a head injury at the Russell Hotel in Kings Parade at about 1pm on Tuesday. He was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester. He appears to have discharged himself before being treated.

At 2.40pm the same afternoon, police were again called to attend to the same man in Swanfield Drive, a short distance from the hospital. An ambulance arrived but the man fell unconscious while paramedics were treating him. He was returned to St Richard's before being transferred to the specialist unit at Southampton.

Police taped off an area of Marine Park Gardens, in front of the Russell Hotel, yesterday with a police officer in attendance.

Detective Sergeant Alan Pack said the police were interested in finding out all they could about the man's movements on Tuesday. 'If anyone saw a man drinking in any of the shelters around Kings Parade near the seafront during Tuesday morning, or if they saw a man with an obvious untreated head injury that day, I would be grateful if they would contact us.

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'The slightest piece of information may help us establish what happened,' he stated.

Mr Capelin's condition was described as stable but serious. Information to 0845 60 70 999, quoting Operation Swanfield, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.