A man walking near Limeridge Road East and Upper Sherman Avenue after last call Saturday morning was approached from behind and viciously mugged by four attackers.

"He had headphones on at the time and didn't hear them approaching," recounted Detective Steve Lassaline of the Hamilton Police.

Lassaline said the muggers knocked the young man to the ground and demanded he turn over "basically everything he had." When their victim resisted he was attacked with a weapon and suffered deep bruising to his legs, fractures to his facial bones, and a serious laceration to his head. Bruised, battered and bleeding, the man continued on his way home. It was about 2 a.m., Saturday.

Somehow he made his way from the attack to the area of Rushdale Park on the south side of the Linc, where a couple walking a dog saw him and helped him home; there his father took charge and drove him to the hospital.

Although police canvassed the area Saturday morning and afternoon, they are still seeking witnesses as well as the couple who assisted the man.

"It's not every day you see someone covered in blood and walking through the park at that time of night. You're not likely to forget it," Lassaline said.

The victim lost what Lassaline described as "personal items" to the thieves, who fled the area in a small "sporty" vehicle, last seen heading towards Upper Sherman Avenue. At this point that's the best vehicle description he has – beaten to the ground, the victim "was more likely seeing stars than cars" as his attackers fled towards Upper Sherman Avenue.

Lassaline said he's investigating to see if there is a link between the Mountain mugging and another robbery that occurred in the east end within a few hours of the attack and is "a very similar occurrence."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact D/Cst. Steve Lassaline of the Division Three Detective Office at 905-546-2377 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.