UPDATE | The man accused of dealing the fatal blow that killed a Gold Coast father has been arrested following a five-day manhunt.
The 24-year-old Hope Island man was tracked down at a home in Maroochydore on Thursday afternoon.
It came the same day victim Michael Hayes, 39, died in the Gold Coast University Hospital after spending several days in the ICU fighting for his life.
Police allege the younger man punched Mr Hayes in the face after a brief encounter outside a popular bar in Sanctuary Cove on Saturday night.
He fled the scene immediately after the attack and had been on the run before being taken into custody yesterday.
He has since been charged with one count of unlawful striking causing death.
He’s due to appear at Maroochydore Magistrates Court today.
EARLIER | A man critically injured in a one-punch attack on the Gold Coast over the weekend has died.
Police confirmed Michael Hayes succumbed to his injury at the Gold Coast University Hospital on Thursday morning.
It comes five days after he was placed on life support after being punched in the face by another man outside a popular bar in Sanctuary Cove.
Detectives say the 39-year-old was hit in the side of the head by an unknown man who fled the scene on foot around 9.20pm on Saturday, May 27.
The attack occurred during the busy Sanctuary Cove boat show, with police confident there would be witnesses and vision to help them piece together exactly what occurred.
They’re appealing for anyone with relevant dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone vision from the Sanctuary Cove and Hope Island areas between 9pm and 10pm on Saturday night to come forward.
Family and friends have since flooded social media, posting tributes to Mr Hayes following his death.
“Rest easy big fella. Always happy, always smiling, always willing to help, no matter what… The world has lost a legend today,” one person wrote.
Investigations continue.
