A man was attacked with a tomahawk in the front yard of a home in Melbourne’s north east in what police and witnesses believe was a case of mistaken identity.

The 20-year-old man was confronted by a man and a woman on the front lawn of a friend's home where he was house-sitting, at Bardia Street, Heidelberg West, on Sunday about 8pm.

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A 20-year-old man was attacked with a tomahawk in a front yard of a Melbourne home when a man and woman confronted him looking for his mate. Picture: 7 News

The pair was believed to be looking for the occupant of the house, before a fight broke out when the man wouldn’t let them inside.

He was then struck to the head with a tomahawk and ran bleeding to a neighbour’s home next door, who raised the alarm.

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The man was believed to have been house-sitting for a friend when he was confronted by a man and a woman, and a fight broke out when he wouldn't let them inside. Picture: 7 News

The pair fled in a maroon sedan with an accomplice and remain on the run.

Paramedics treated the victim at the scene before transporting him to the Northern Hospital in a stable condition.

Neighbour Ben Middlebrook described the incident as “traumatic”.

“This guy comes running over, screaming for help.”

The witness told 7 News the victim was screaming that he had "just got tomahawked to the head".

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