A have-a-go-hero was so badly beaten and covered in blood after he challenged a car thief that his family thought he had been shot . Danny Mason , 37 , was repeatedly punched in the face and left with a fractured cheek , broken nose and cut lip after he approached the would-be-thief in Blackburn , Lancashire . He had just left a family party at around 11.45pm on Saturday when he tried to stop the would-be-thief from stealing a number of cars . The 37-year-old , who now lives in Kidderminster , Worcestershire , was found slumped unconscious on the ground by family members and is now in so much pain that he can not sleep or work . Danny Mason , 37 , was repeatedly punched in the face and left with a fractured cheek , broken nose and cut lip after challenging a car thief . He said : 'It all happened so quickly that I did not have a chance to think about it . 'Looking back , I thought I was doing the right thing by speaking to this man , but now I am in so much pain that I can not sleep or work . ' He was taken by ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital before being transferred to the facial injury unit at Royal Bolton Hospital . Police have now released CCTV images of a white man around 6ft tall who they would like to speak to in connection with the incident . Mr Mason 's sister Sue Bannister said that the family have been 'deeply shocked and upset ' by the attack and asked anyone with information to come forward . She said : 'We had come to Blackburn for a family party and were having a really good time until the incident happened . 'Danny had gone outside for a cigarette when he spotted a man who looked like he was trying to break into vehicles . 'He spoke to him and asked him what he was doing and the man just started attacking him . ' A neighbour spotted what was happening and the man took off . He said that he had been punching him over and over . The 37-year-old ( before the attack , left ) was found slumped unconscious on the ground by family members and is now in so much pain that he can not sleep or work ( after the attack , right ) Police described the attacker as white , between 6ft and 6ft 2in tall , of an average to medium build with short light brown or dark blonde hair . 'Our cousin came outside to see where Danny was as he had been a long time and saw him slumped unconscious on the ground . 'He has been in a lot of pain and the whole family have been left deeply shocked and upset by the incident . 'We really want anyone who has any information to come forward in order to try and catch whoever is responsible . ' Councillor Jackie Slater , who represents the Fernhurst ward , described the attacker as an 'evil thug ' and said she was appalled by the assault . 'My thoughts are with Mr Mason and his family . It was such a brave thing for him to do and he has to be applauded in a lot of ways . 'It is just unfortunate that in today 's society , it is not a wise thing to do . ' I hope the police catch whoever did this quickly . ' He had just left a family party at around 11.45pm on Saturday when he approached the would-be thief and was viciously attacked in Parkes Way , Blackburn . Mr Mason 's sister Sue Bannister said that the family have been 'deeply shocked and upset ' by the attack . Police described the attacker as white , between 6ft and 6ft 2in tall , of an average to medium build with short light brown or dark blonde hair . Detective Inspector Eric Halford of East CID said : 'We are keen to identify the man in the CCTV images as we would like to speak to him as part of our on-going enquiries . ' I would appeal to anyone with information about the incident to contact us as soon as possible . We are determined to find whoever is responsible for this vicious assault . ' Anyone with information about the incident which happened at 11.45pm on Saturday should contact police on 101 quoting log number 1567 of February 28 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 .
WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT : Danny Mason , February 28 , challenged car thief . He was so badly beaten and bloodied his family thought he had been shot . Mr Mason had just left family party when he approached would-be-thief . He suffered a fractured cheek , broken nose and cut lip in the attack .