Souleymane Porgo was attacked by five men for stopping one of them from stealing a purse, police said. View Full Caption Street Vendor Project

THE BRONX — An army of caring donors have raised more than $30,000 for Souleymane Porgo, a street vendor whose skull was fractured when five men beat him for stopping one of them from stealing a purse he was selling.

More than 400 people had donated $15,855 to a GoFundMe page by Monday, well over the $3,000 that organizer Sean Basinski of the Street Vendor Project had originally asked for when he set up the page on Thursday.

"This is really amazing! In less than one day we reached what we thought was an ambitious goal. Thanks to all of you!" Basinski wrote Saturday.

Another page started by a friend of Porgo's had raised $17,260 by Monday afternoon and a GoFundMe spokeswoman said all funds raised would reach Porgo's family.

Porgo was still lying in a coma in Lincoln Medical Center Monday, but visitors said his condition was improving.

Porgo, 53, had stopped a man from stealing a purse he was selling at his table at East 149th Street and Third Avenue, police said.

The man returned about 5 p.m. with four friends and attacked Porgo in front of his wife and two daughters, knocking him to the ground where they continued to beat him as he lay with a broken skull while his brain filled with blood, NYPD officials said.

WARNING: Graphic Video

"They did this in front of his kids. They were both under 6 years old. One was yelling, 'Daddy!' But he was stiff like a board. I thought he was dead," said longtime friend Amalio Garcia, 35, just after the incident.

The suspects all fled, including one of of them who can be seen grinning as he took a bite from a snack as he walked away, and hadn't been arrested as of Monday morning, police said.

In the aftermath, Porgo was listed in critical condition as doctors worked to save his life, friends and officials said.

"They took a piece of his skull out. He's got maybe 200 staples. He's got a machine he's hooked up to. He's breathing, but not on his own. He's fighting for his life right now," Garcia said.

Police released graphic video of the attack which outraged community members.

Donations large and small poured into the GoFundMe throughout the weekend.

"Souleymane, I wish you a full and speedy recovery. My heart is with you, your wife, and children," Alexa Waters wrote with her $20 donation.

"You and your family are in my prayers as you recover from this horrible attack," Mary Heidenry wrote with her $100 donation.

"Stop the violence! Get well my brother. Those cowards will meet their maker," said Darryl Toppin with his $50 gift.

Basinski said he visited Porgo's wife at the hospital Saturday to give her the first $5,000 of the fundraising efforts.

He's also considering using some of the donations to set up a reward for information that leads to the capture of the suspects.

There had been no arrests as of Monday afternoon, officials said.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).