POLICE are trying to solve the mystery of a pool player who "lost" two weeks of his life before waking up in hospital to be told: "You almost died."

Aaron Haine, 22, of Hapton, is recovering from a life-saving operation but can't remember how he was injured.

Officers are now appealing for help to explain the mystery of how Aaron came to suffer serious head injuries.

The last thing he can remember is playing pool at the Shakespeare Hotel, Wytham Street, Padiham, at 10pm on Saturday, October 2.

His next memory is of waking up following an operation to remove a blood clot from his brain at the Royal Preston Hospital two weeks later.

PC Karen Hignett said: "When he arrived home in Hapton at about 1am on Sunday, October 3, he was bleeding from the mouth and one of his teeth was loose."

Over the next two days his conditioned worsened with dizziness and headaches. After seeing a doctor he was taken to Burnley General Hospital where a scan revealed the blood clot.

He was transferred to Preston for the emergency operation.

He was allowed home on Monday this week and the following afternoon contacted the police at Padiham. PC Hignett said: "He has no recollection of what happened to him other than a feeling that he might have been assaulted. "There are basically three possibilities. He may have fallen, could have been involved in an accident with a vehicle or he could have been attacked.''

Mr Haine is still under medication and staples inserted after the operation are due to be removed this weekend.

Shakespeare Hotel licensee Paul Taylor said everyone at the pub had been concerned for Aaron who he described as a nice lad.

He said: "He plays in the pub team in the Padiham league and is a good player.

"That Saturday evening he was in with friends having a friendly game of pool before going off into Burnley. From what the lads have said he was assaulted somewhere in Burnley but that is just hearsay."

PC Hignett said: "We wanted anyone with information to contact police on 01282 425001."

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