Man found bleeding and unconscious escapes serious injury

A man who was found unconscious in Pesega in the wee hours of Sunday morning is alive and well, this is despite photos going viral on social media showing him apparently dazed and his body smeared with blood. 

Police Commissioner Fuiavaili’ili Egon Keil told the Samoa Observer that the man was taken to the hospital and released.

The photos of his injuries, which this newspaper has chosen not to republished, was shared by 1700 people on Facebook. 

“According to our duty Officer, no one died over the weekend that we know of. The person’s photo (which is) circulating online is okay and has gone home," the Commissioner said. 

The man was found outside the O.S.M. building in Pesega by nearby residents who contacted the police. 

Despite the man in question lying unconscious and being covered in blood, the Commissioner said he only suffered “superficial injuries and alcohol is involved.” 

This newspaper visited Pesega and the people in the area said the man in the pictures is not someone from their village. 

A woman, who refused to give her identity, told this newspaper that the incident has everyone in their village asking for his true identity.

There was speculation that the man had been "dumped" in the area but this could not be independently confirmed.