The fiancée of a father-of-three who was seriously hurt in an “unprovoked” attack in Ipswich town centre says the culprit has “wrecked” her young family’s life.

Ipswich Star: Suffolk police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the attack.Suffolk police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the attack. (Image: Archant)

Daniel Buck, of Oulton Road, Ipswich, suffered a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain during an assault in the Old Cattle Market bus station.

Police officers took the well-known Saturday league footballer to the emergency department at Ipswich Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

The 32-year-old scaffolder was on a night out with fiancée Natasha Cuthbertson in Vodka Revolutions when he was involved in a verbal altercation with another man.

Miss Cuthbertson said the argument was resolved and they continued to have a good night before the suspect approached them again in a fish and chip shop outside the nightclub.

“The boy and his girlfriend came and started on Daniel and told him to get outside,” she added.

“Daniel believes he was hit with something, he fell straight to the floor. The suspect ran away.”

Suffolk Constabulary has released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the attack, which happened at around 3.30am on Easter Monday, and is appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Mr Buck and Miss Cuthbertson have three children aged three, six and nine, and the couple are due to get married in Cyprus next May after 13 years together.

“I just hope it never happens to another family again and for a couple to never go out and have it end like this, it’s just horrendous,” said Miss Cuthbertson, aged 35.

“I want the boy to know what damage he’s caused and make him think before he does it again – he’s wrecked our lives for the time being.”

Mr Buck, who was brought up in the town and attended Westbourne High School, yesterday underwent an MRI scan to assess how well his body is recovering after the attack.

“The children haven’t been able to see him all week, they don’t know the details, we just told them he fell over,” Miss Cuthbertson said.

“With a brain injury you don’t know how it will go one day to the next, we are lucky that it hasn’t progressed.

“He’s just slept, the last couple of days he has been more awake so hopefully things will look better, but there’s still a long haul ahead.”

Mr Buck – known to many as “Bucky” or “Danny” – has played football since he was seven-years-old and is a familiar face among grass-roots teams in Suffolk.

He is currently a defender for Crane Sports Football Club – part of Suffolk and Ipswich Football League – and has previously played for Ipswich Wanderers and Ipswich Valley Rangers.

Crane Sports Football Club has released a statement wishing Mr Buck a speedy recovery.

It said: “Our thoughts and best wishes go out to Crane stalwart and all round good guy Danny Buck, who currently is hospitalised after a sickening, unprovoked attack in Ipswich town centre over the Easter weekend.

“I am told the horrific injuries include a fractured skull and perforated ear drum which just goes to show the severity of the damage inflicted.

“Anyone who knows this guy will appreciate that he is a very pleasant and popular human being, a man who loves his family and lives by the morals of decency.

“To suffer this cowardly attack is criminal to say the very least. We very much hope that the perpetrator is traced and dealt with accordingly.

“Bucky…..get well soon my friend. Everyone at the club send their best wishes for a speedy recovery.”

East Bergholt’s manager David Goodchild described “Bucky” as “one of the nice guys in local football”.

Anyone with information that could help police with their investigation should call 101 quoting crime number 37/24876/16.