Port Douglas police are continuing to call for witnesses to come forward following the serious assault of an 80-year-old Port Douglas man on Garrick Street in late November.

Last week Newsport reported that police had put the call out for information from the public to assist with the investigation after the man was allegedly approached by two males, one striking him in the jaw without warning.

The blow caused the man to fall onto his side on the roadway striking his head on the road. The men then fled the area, the older man managed to get to his feet and was attempting to start to walk home when two younger men came to his assistance.

He was hospitalised for six days and received treatment for facial bruising, a jaw injury and injuries to his left side.

Port Douglas Police Sergeant, Damian Meadows, said they had had no witnesses come forward as yet. 

“We are heavily reliant on witnesses for this investigation which is still ongoing,” he said.

Police are in particular seeking assistance from the two younger men that came to the man’s aid.

“Two young men assisted the elderly gentleman post-assault and they may be able to help us identify the possible offenders,” Sergeant Meadows said.

He added that it is possible the two witnesses may have been from out of town and may have left the region already, but if anyone else had witnessed anything to also let police know.

Sergeant Meadows said this type of behaviour is not tolerated here and is uncommon for the town.

“It is a very much an anomaly that this type of offence has occurred in Port Douglas, particularly on an elderly man.

“It is horrid behaviour, the fact that the victim is an 80-year-old, quiet, peaceful gentlemen and that there would have been no provocation for this assault,” he said.

Al Spence from Garrick House Holiday Apartments on Garrick Street said the attack is out of the ordinary for the usually very quiet street.

“However, I think it is an issue in Port Douglas, that we don’t have the CCTV to capture people leaving Macrossan Street,” he said.

“It’s been an issue for some time, and I think it would reduce this sort of crime if there was more CCTV and people knew they were on camera.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and quote reference QP2002532562.