A man is fighting for his life after he was seriously injured in an alleged assault at the Maders bar in Mayville, Tshwane, on Saturday.

It is reported that Louie Niemann is in a coma in ICU.

A friend of Niemann, Brendon Steenkamp, wrote in a Facebook post that Niemann was assaulted while trying to help a woman whose husband was hitting her.

“All prayers are welcome. Louie Niemann is in ICU in a coma, fighting for his life. He was at a bar on Saturday and saw a 55-year-old hitting his wife and stepped in.”

Niemann was badly beaten up.

“You are a hero my brother. Love you, keep on fighting,” read Steenkamp’s Facebook post.

Bar owner Frikkie Louw confirmed the incident and said the police were called to the scene as soon as the alleged assault started.

Louw questioned the conduct of the police.

“The police came to the scene but did nothing at the time. They stood around and then left,” he claimed.

Police have confirmed the incident and that they are busy with investigations to make an arrest.

District police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk said a case of grievous bodily harm is being investigated.

He said the family of the victim alleged that he was found in his home in Pretoria North and was taken to Tshwane Academic Hospital.

Van Dyk said at the hospital, it was determined that he had serious internal injuries and brain surgery was done.

“The victim could not be interviewed due to him being in ICU. However, the police will view CCTV footage from that particular bar to get a clear picture of this incident and to make an arrest,” Van Dyk said.