Adrian Shield, aged 21, suffered serious head injuries following the assault on West Street in the early hours of yesterday morning and was today said to be in a critical condition.

The student, who was said to be preparing to take his final exams at university in Sheffield this summer, was on a night out with a friend when he was attacked and left for dead.

He was on West Street - lined with bars, restaurants and takeaways and a favourite for student nights out - when he was attacked and fell to the ground, smashing his head.

Today his parents, who travelled down from the family home in Richmond, North Yorkshire, were holding a vigil at his bedside in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

His mother told detectives: "My son is a healthy young man about to sit his final exams and I can't believe something like this could happen to him."

Police said the attack happened at 2am on Wednesday morning outside Aslans kebab shop at the junction of West Street and Regent Street.

They have not revealed the exact circumstances of the incident but it is believed Adrian and his friend were involved in an altercation with a group of people and he may have hit his head on a tram track as he fell to the ground.

Adrian was treated by paramedics who were close by, who saw the altercation and rushed to his aid.

Initially he was taken to the Northern General Hospital but when his condition deteriorated he was transferred to the Hallamshire Hospital for emergency surgery.

Police today said it was "touch and go" whether he'd pull through.
His worried parents raced to Sheffield once news of the attack was broken to them and have remained at his bedside ever since.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Williams said: "He has life threatening injuries and we are very concerned - it is touch and go.

"He was on a night out with a friend and they were the innocent victims of an attack by four individuals.

"His friend was also assaulted and is shaken up, but it is the young man in hospital who was most seriously injured."

Last night detectives trawled West Street hoping to find anyone who was in the area on the night of the attack to piece together what happened.

They spoke to pub, restaurant and takeaway workers as well as people on the street, and have been examining footage from CCTV cameras in the area.

Three men and one woman are currently being questioned by police.

DCI Williams said: "Although we do have people in custody in connection with this incident we still need witnesses to come forward. Anyone who was in the area at the time who believes they witnessed the incident is urged to contact the police in confidence."

Call West Bar CID on 0114 2964162.

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