Thank you everyone for your prayers and get well wishes. Please continue praying he has a long road to recovery. "

"Awesome article. Thank you. I heard from Bernard. And a detective has been assigned to the case. David was up and walking today, no leaning or limping, very straight and steady. And he ate a good meal.

Mrs. Woods contacted CNBNew via Email a short time ago. She heard from WPVI Channel Six, Philadelphia earlier today. She thanked us for our article.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 23, 2014, 8PM-- Below are photos taken of Mr. Woods' incision. He also has two large bruises on his back where he was hit by the assailant. The assault happened Thursday afternoon at a store located near the intersection of Marion and Lancaster Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. Late Friday afternoon he underwent a three-hour operation to repair damage done by the assailant who hit him with a hammer and kicked him when he was down on the ground. The surgery was performed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. The suspect is still at-large.

"It's hard seeing him like that. It's frustrating. He looks like a completely different person. It's hard seeing my uncle like that, he's the strongest person I know," said Nicole Cohen, niece.

WEST PHILADELPHIA - February 23, 2014 (WPVI) -- A man was violently attacked with a hammer outside a West Philadelphia deli and his family spoke out to Action News. It was a surprise attack. Surveillance video, obtained exclusively by Action News, shows the moment a man brutally hit 46-year-old David Woods with a hammer. Investigators say it happened at 49th and Lancaster in West Philadelphia just after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.The Gloucester City man is now surrounded by family at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania but he was hit so hard, he can't even speak.

BY CNBNEWS STAFF

Updated February 22, 2014 at 8pm

PHILADELPHIA PA (February 22, 2014)—A Gloucester City New Jersey man was attacked in Philadelphia Thursday afternoon by an assailant wielding a hammer.

David Woods Sr., was walking out of a store when the suspect struck him from behind with the hammer. Woods, who owns and operates Day and Night Door Service, had just taken a coffee break after finishing up a job late Thursday afternoon.

His friend, Bernard, was sitting in the truck waiting for Woods when he heard a popping sound. Bernard turned towards the sound and saw the assailant bludgeoning Woods with the hammer. He jumped out of the vehicle and went after the man who ran away. Woods, who suffered a fracture skull, was knocked to the sidewalk and was laying on the ground in a pool of blood.

He had been struck three times by the assailant in the front and the back of his head. Later we learned he was also kicked several times in the back by the mugger.

According to the family of Mr. Woods, Bernard was able to somehow get his good friend

into the vehicle. He drove him to nearby Presbyterian Hospital and from there he was transported by ambulance to the Hospital of the University of Penn, 3400 Spruce Street for emergency treatment.

Woods had surgery Friday afternoon. Woods is expected to make a full recovery. However, the surgeon who operated on him says he has a long road ahead of him. He remains in the hospital.

Because of the injuries sustained Mr. Woods has been unable to communicate all the details of the crime including the exact location of the incident. Also they have been unable to locate Bernard, the helper.

According to the family, at this point they know the assailant was a black man, store cameras captured his image and some of the attacker’s personal property was left behind at the scene.

For some reason there has been no publicity about this horrific act in either of the two Philadelphia daily newspapers or the South Jersey daily paper. Nor has there been any news about the incident reported on the local televisions stations.

CNBNews has reached out to the media department of the Philadelphia Police Department for information about their investigation of this case. As of this posting we are still waiting for a response.

Connie Lynn Cleary Woods, wife of the victim, said today he is doing better but he is in a lot of pain. She wrote the following on her Facebook page today.

Thanking everyone for their support and prayers. David is recovering but needs to do it in his own way. He does not want to see anyone right now not to be mean but because it is what HE NEEDS. Please respect his privacy and know that he will be back stronger than ever!!!!! I love this man with all my heart and will do whatever it takes to respect his wishes and get him better!!!! Everyday is one step closer to where he needs to be!!! Love you babe forever and ever!!!!! We got this!!!!oxoxoxoxox “

If anyone saw what happened please contact the Philadelphia Police at anyone of the following addresses:

Via Telephone - dial 215.686.TIPS (8477)

Via Text Message - text short code PPDTIP (773847)

Photo/Video Tips via Email - if you would like to submit a tip, including photo or video, send an email to tips@phillypolice.com.

http://www.phillypolice.com/forms

Editor's Note: Mr. Woods is the son-in-law of William E. and Connie Cleary Sr., the owners of this news blog.