vicious attack on a Nordic Empress crewman.

The attack happened early yesterday morning and although the crewman ran for his life to escape he was captured by his attackers before fellow crewmen came to the rescue. But before his rescue he was beaten and kicked by the thugs.

Police said they found the 25-year-old victim on the ground semi-conscious at about 3 a.m. yesterday morning with blood seething from a cut on his forehead.

Police said they were told that he had got into in an argument with a local man after dancing with one of his attackers' girlfriend at a nearby nightclub.

He was later confronted by the same man who this time had a large group of men with him. After the fight the crewmen fled on foot to Dundonald Street. Police eventually took him to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where he was detained for observation.

The primary suspect is described as being light browned skinned, approximately five feet six inches tall, with a stocky build and is believed to be in his early 20s, clean shaven having closely cut black hair.