A man was airlifted overseas after people smashed through his glass door and attacked him in his own home.

Neighbours said they were shocked when they woke yesterday to see large pools of blood at the entrance of the home, on Cobbs Hill, in Warwick.

They described James "Jay" Smith as "quiet" and said he has lived on the property for more than 15 years.

The Royal Gazette understands the 41-year-old is a hotel bellman.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he had heard suspicious noises around the time of the attack, on Monday.

"It was about nine [Monday night]," he said. "I heard a bang — like someone smashing something or breaking something."

The neighbour did not look out his window and said he did not realise what had happened until he saw Police there yesterday morning.

Mr Smith was admitted to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with serious head injuries at about 10pm. Staff were told he had been in a road accident.

But nearly six hours later a family member told Police about the Warwick resident's injuries and an investigation was launched.

Yesterday a Police spokesman said: "It now appears that around 9.50pm on Monday, a number of unknown men gained entry into a Cobbs Hill Road, Warwick residence by smashing through a glass door and assaulted the victim.

"He was subsequently airlifted overseas to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston USA for further medical treatment."

Mr Smith, who has not been named by Police, has two children according to one of his neighbours, but lives alone in the Warwick residence.

Neighbour John Silveira said he did not know the victim's name.

"He has always been polite to me," Mr Silveira said. "We say hello. He may not be nice to others, I do not know, but I have lived here for 15 years and I have never had any problems with him.

"I was sitting outside at 8.30pm [on Monday] and didn't hear anything. Then I shut my door and I didn't hear anything all night.

"When I woke up this morning I came out and there was Police tape around the house and I could see blood on the curtains."

Two men were boarding up the studio apartment when The Royal Gazette visited the neighbourhood. They said they did not know the man who was attacked but said there had been a lot of blood on the front steps when they arrived.

The Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit and the Serious Crimes Unit are investigating the attack. Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with any information to contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010 or the independent confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hot line on 800-8477.

At press time Mr Smith was in "good" condition, according to a spokesman for the US hospital.