Kings Head, Loddon, landlord describes attack outside pub

Neil McGibbon, who is in his 50s, fell and smashed his head on the kerb after being punched in the face near The Kings Head in Loddon at around 9.30pm Friday (November 10).

Mr McGibbon suffered a serious head injury and was taken by ambulance to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where he is in a critical condition.

He had been assisting the landlord, Phillip Taylor, along with other regular drinkers, in removing a group of men from the pub's smoking area.

Mr Taylor pictured in his home on Remembrance Sunday (Image: Bruno Brown)

He said: "I politely asked the group to leave and they responded with obscene language and were incredibly abusive and aggressive.

"They were calling me all the names under the sun, "What are you going to do old man?" So myself and a few other regulars ushered them off my premises and away.

"Eventually they left. Suddenly it all started to kick off further down the road. A man then charged over and punched Neil, who was nowhere near them.

"He fell and smacked his head on the kerb.

"A member of my staff and another person gave him CPR and attempted to resuscitate him for about 15 minutes until the ambulance arrived.

"It was an horrific, cowardly and shameful act."

Mr Taylor pictured outside of his home on Remembrance Sunday (Image: Bruno Brown)

Mr Taylor, 63, grew up in Loddon and has been running pubs for 27 years and took on the Kings Head in 2006.

He said in all that time he has never seen anything as bad as this.

"Neil was being a mediator, looking after me and helping in moving the chaos on.

"He is a proper lovely man, I have known him for years and am distraught this has happened to him. A true gentleman and a family man. 

“It makes me feel bad and a bit guilty as the landlord when he was just helping me.

"I am so sorry that this has happened, and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

Mr McGibbon formerly served in the military and works as a plumber.

He enjoys playing pool, playing the guitar, going to the gym and regularly visits Thailand on holidays.

The police cordon in Loddon (pictured) has now been removed (Image: Submitted)

Katherine Wilkinson, who works at the nearby Swan, said that when Mr McGibbon would come in he was always kind and polite.

She said: “He was a lovely guy, always very friendly and never any trouble.

"It is sad and very shocking that this has happened to him and we all wish him the best."  

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A large number of emergency services vehicles, including the air ambulance, were called to the scene on Friday night.

A cordon was put in place in the Loddon town centre and part of the pavement was closed off.

Loddon Kebab and Pizza, Happy Buddah and Limmy's Plaice takeaway were all closed off behind the cordon. 

The takeaways and the Kings Head pub are now all open again.

Five men in their 20s have been arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm and are being questioned at Wymondham Police Investigation Centre.

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to get in contact with DS Mike Cox at Broadland CID on 101 quoting crime reference 36/80074/23.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The group of men were removed form the smoking area of the Kings Head in Loddon (Image: Submitted)