Jesse Ryder, the New Zealand batsman, is in an induced coma in hospital after being assaulted twice late on Wednesday evening in Christchurch. Ryder, 28, is in intensive care after suffering a fractured skull. Christchurch Police believes the skull was fractured in the second of the two attacks.
The first took place about 12.30am outside the Aikman's Bar in a Christchurch suburb Merivale, where Ryder had been out with team-mates and friends following Wellington's loss to Canterbury. The second occurred minutes later at the entrance to the car park of a McDonald's across the road, where other Wellington players had been ordering food.
"An altercation has taken place on the footpath outside Aikman's involving Jesse and a group of at least two other males. The altercation was brief," Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer told reporters in Christchurch. "Following that incident, Ryder and two other persons walked across the road towards McDonald's, where his Wellington teammates had been purchasing some food. A second altercation has taken place at the entrance to the McDonald's car park, involving one of the males from the earlier group.
"In that incident it appears Jesse has been the victim of a serious assault and has suffered head injuries as a result. Ambulance and police were called about at 12.44am. Jesse was taken to hospital where he remains in intensive care.
"The hospital advise that Jesse is in a critical condition, he is in an induced coma as a result of suffering multiple injuries. He is still being assessed for a number of injuries and we are not prepared to discuss that any further."
Archer said that while police had "positive lines of inquiry", they had not yet identified Ryder's attackers. CCTV footage from Aikman's and McDonald's is being reviewed, he said. "We believe at least 10 or more people have witnessed some of the events, and we've been speaking to witnesses throughout the day," he said. "There are CCTV cameras in the area and we're going through the process of downloading at reviewing that footage.
"At the moment we have not identified the people involved in the incident, but we do have positive lines of inquiry, and we will be focusing on identifying and finding those people, and speaking to them.
"Although the Wellington players had been at a licensed premises during the evening, at this stage there is no evidence that alcohol was a contributing factor to the assault. We are asking any witnesses to contact police and calling for people involved to come forward and speak to us about it."
Ryder, who has played 18 Tests for New Zealand before going into a self-imposed exile from international cricket for the last year, had been due to join up with the Delhi Daredevils later this week, ahead of the start of the IPL season in early April. In January, he ruled out a return for New Zealand, despite his impressive domestic form.
"We are all shocked by what has occurred and extremely concerned for Jesse. New Zealand Cricket's thoughts are with him and his family," NZC chief executive, David White, said in a statement.
A post on New Zealand Cricket's official Twitter read: "Thoughts are with [Jesse] Ryder this morning."
New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor added: "Thinking of you mate [Jesse] Ryder." Ryder's manager, Aaron Klee, wrote on his Twitter page: "Thanks for the calls and msgs of support for Jesse. Just heading to [Christchurch] to see him."
White, Peter Clinton from Cricket Wellington, Heath Mills from the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association and Klee have arrived in Christchurch to assist.
Before embarking on his sabbatical from international cricket last year, Ryder was dropped from New Zealand's ODI side after breaking team protocols concerning alcohol. In 2008, again in Christchurch, he injured his hand when putting it through a glass window after a drinking session.
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Ryder in coma after dual assaults
