A POOL player today spoke about the mystery brush with death which left him needing 55 staples in a head wound and an emergency operation to remove a blood clot from his brain.

Lucky-to-be alive Aaron Haine, 22, of Castle Street, Hapton, has an operation scar stretching from the back to the front of his skull.

Police believe he was injured making his way home from the pub where he had been playing pool. But he cannot remember the incident which left him requiring an operation at the Royal Preston Hospital.

PC Karen Hignett said it was not known whether he had fallen, been involved in an accident with a vehicle or had been the victim of an attack.

Aaron, a warehouse worker at Nelson, said today: "The last thing I remember about that night is playing pool at the Shakespeare Hotel in Padiham at about 10pm. The next I can recall is waking up at home the next day.''

He arrived home at about 1.30am bleeding from the mouth and with a loose tooth. His mum, Anne, said: "I asked him if he had been involved in a fight and he said he didn't know. He went to bed but was up all night being sick and vomiting blood.''

She added: "The doctors have told me how lucky he has been and that he could easily have died."

Aaron, who has now had the staples removed from the wound, said: "I don't know what happened but I realise how lucky I have been. I have had occasional headaches following the operation but I am OK. I have just been told to get plenty of rest and I have to go to the clinic on November 4."

Aaron had not been to Burnley on the night of the incident, as was originally thought.

He said: "I would normally walk the two miles or so home from the Shakespeare pub and whatever happened to me must have happened then.''

That night, Saturday/Sunday, October 2/3, Aaron was wearing a red and black coat, Manchester United T-shirt, blue jeans and black shoes.

Anyone who remembers seeing him or who has any information is asked to contact PC Hignett on 01282 425001.

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