A man found in an Inverness street was seen safe and well elsewhere in the city centre just 25 minutes before he was found with serious head injuries, police have confirmed.
The 52-year-old man is currently in a serious but stable condition in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
He was found injured at about 1.20am on Sunday morning near the petrol station at Morrison’s supermarket on Millburn Road.
Police have confirmed that he was seen safe on Inglis Street, linking Falcon Square and the High Street, at about 12.55am the same night.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with police urging anyone who was in the area at the time to make contact.
Officers are also studying CCTV of the city centre for clues.
Detective Inspector Mark Czerniakiewicz said: “CID officers are carrying out an investigation to establish how the man came about his injuries and whether any criminality was involved.
“We know that the town centre area was busy with people heading home and would specifically like to hear from anybody using Millburn Road between Falcon Square and Morrisons supermarket between 1am and 1.30am hours on Sunday, April 10 to contact us via 101 and ask for Burnett Road CID office.”
Police have described the casualty as being around 6ft tall and of large build.
When he was found he was wearing a black jacket, black dress trousers and black dress shoes.
He was found injured near the filling station by members of the public who assisted him before the emergency services arrived.
He was initially taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness before being transferred to Aberdeen for further treatment.
At the weekend police appealed to find the occupants of a blue Ford Fiesta who they said “may have been in contact” with the injured man.
Officers managed to make trace the car within hours and its occupants have been spoken to by police.
Police have appealed to anyone with information to make contact via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
