A youth was beaten with a baseball bat badly enough over the weekend that he needed to be airlifted from Nanaimo to a Victoria hospital.

Nanaimo RCMP issued a press release Monday, June 19, advising the public about the incident which happened at about 5 p.m. on Friday, June 16, on Bruce Avenue near Dundas Street.

鈥淲itnesses told police the suspect was seen approaching the victim wearing a mask and carrying a baseball bat,鈥� the release noted. 鈥淭he suspect then allegedly hit the victim with the bat and kicked him before fleeing on foot with a group of four to five youths.鈥�

Nanaimo RCMP, Nanaimo Fire Rescue and B.C. Ambulance Service all responded to the scene, where passersby had already started providing first aid to the victim. The 18-year-old male patient was transported first to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, then airlifted to a Victoria hospital with 鈥渟erious, life-threatening injuries,鈥� said police.

Officers haven鈥檛 yet made any arrests in relation to the incident, but have located and seized a vehicle 鈥渁ssociated to the assault鈥� for forensic examination.

鈥淭his was a vicious attack carried out in broad daylight that has shocked the community. We want to assure people that this is a priority investigation and that the investigators are focused on identifying who is responsible, and holding them accountable for their actions,鈥� said reserve Const. Gary O鈥橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, in the release.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP鈥檚 non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

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