A MAN who was left for dead after an unprovoked attack has thanked the strangers who may have saved his life.
Police and ambulance crews said Mark Windas, 35, is lucky to be alive after he was punched to the ground and kicked in the head while unconscious.
He was put into the recovery position by a passing couple, who found him lying in the street covered in blood.
Mr Windas has no memory of the assault, which happened as he was walking to his mother's house in east Hull after a night out with friends in the city centre.
Witnesses have told police he was punched and kicked by a man, who was being encouraged by a woman.
Mr Windas said: "I was just left for dead by whoever did this. They didn't know if I was dead or alive, they just left me there.
"If this couple hadn't stopped, I don't know what could have happened. I am very grateful."
Mr Windas, a father to Freddie, five, and two older step-children, suffered concussion and cuts to his face.
Since the assault, he has had loss of memory, frequent headaches, difficulty sleeping and panic attacks.
Mr Windas' wife Kerry, 41, said: "The paramedic came to see Mark in the hospital and said he was one lucky man. He said, if it wasn't for the couple who stopped, things could have been very, very different.
"They called an ambulance, put him in the recovery position and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived."
"It is miraculous that he hasn't come away so much worse."
Mr Windas, of Withernsea, had been on a night out in Hull with friends when the assault happened in the early hours of February 2.
Having been unable to get a taxi, he left the Bonny Boat pub in Hull's Old Town to walk to his mother's house in east Hull.
Witnesses are believed to have told police he was "kung-fu kicked" by a stranger, who continued to kick him in the head as he lay on the pavement.
Mr Windas, a thermal insulation engineer, was found outside The Baby Depot in Witham by the couple who dialled 999 at 3.30am.
He was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment and was released later that day.
Mr Windas said: "I can remember being in the Bonny Boat and then nothing clearly until I was with the paramedic. Since it happened, I have been waking up in the middle of the night remembering bits of it.
"I can hear an angry male voice and I can hear a female voice either saying, 'kill him' or 'you're going to kill him'.
"For me, the fact there was a woman involved encouraging it and not stopping it makes it worse.
"You never imagine something like this will happen to you. It has really knocked my confidence.
"The witnesses have said I didn't do anything back, I didn't try to defend myself at all. There's not a chance I would ever have got into a fight."
Officers investigating the assault have scoured CCTV from the area, but have been unable to see the assault or the suspects on camera.
Mr Windas said: "It is the not knowing that is the worst thing. I just wish I knew what had happened or who did this. When I see people down the street, I wonder if it is them.
"I am looking all around panicking that I could see the person who did this and I won't know."
Mr Windas has told his story in the hope someone will contact police with information.
He said: "I hope someone will see this and remember something and come forward. I just want to know who did this to me."
The man suspected of attacking Mr Windas is described as being white, between 20 and 30 years old and about 6ft. He is said to have been of "stocky, athletic" build and had short fair hair.
He was wearing a thin light grey jumper, possibly with a V-neck, and jeans.
He was accompanied by a white female in her 20s who was of slim, petite build and is believed to have been wearing a blue dress.
Police believe the pair walked towards the old Corn Mill Hotel in Holderness Road after the attack.
A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "This was an unprovoked assault on a man who was on a night out with friends in Hull and it is important that those people who know who did this come forward and speak to police.
"The ambulance crew have said it could have been a lot worse if the passers-by had not cared for the victim and made sure he stayed in the recovery position.
"The injured man was lucky not to have sustained more serious injuries and officers would like to thank those people who have already come forward."
Anyone with information should call Humberside Police on 101, quoting the reference number 1955777.
