Man critical after station attack

Mr Prasanna was airlifted to hospital

A man is in a critical condition after being punched in the face for treading on a young child's foot on Saturday.

Vipaul Prasanna, 41, from west London, was bending down to apologise when a man who was with the boy attacked him.

The victim fell to the ground and cracked his head on the pavement outside Wembley Park Tube Station in north-west London at about 1100 BST.

Police say Mr Prasanna was working in a shop and was sending money back to his wife and three children in Sri Lanka.

After he stepped on the boy's foot, the attacker, described as black and in his 20s, hurled abuse at the man after they left the station.

Unwarranted violence

After punching Mr Prasanna, he was seen walking off towards the Chalkhill Estate with the child, who was thought to be aged about 10.

A Met Police spokesman said the victim was found by officers and taken to hospital by air ambulance.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton said: "This appears to be a minor disagreement which has escalated into an act of violence against a total stranger.

"The violence was really not warranted given the situation."

Police said that Mr Prasanna worked in a shop in Brixton, south London.