The family of a man seriously attacked in the early hours of this morning have revealed the full extent of his horrific injuries.

Jake McDonald, 25, was set upon near St Mary's Church in Dover, suffering a deep gash to his neck and leaving his ear "hanging by a thread".

Pictures posted on Facebook by his sister, Kirstie Godfrey, show his battered and bloodied face, with the swelling so bad he can barely open his eyes.

Ms Godfrey says he is in hospital and awaiting surgery to reconstruct his jaw tomorrow morning.

The 27-year-old says she burst into tears when she first saw her brother in hospital.

"I never cry but I couldn't help it when I saw him," she said. "His face was a mess and his head was still bleeding.

"When the doctors were telling us what injuries he suffered we thought they were never going to stop.

"He's also got a deep gash in his neck, chunks out of his arm and his hands have been cut badly..." Kirstie Godfrey

"His ear is hanging by a thread. It's pretty much been sliced off.

"He's also got a deep gash in his neck, chunks out of his arm and his hands have been cut badly.

"His teeth have been pushed back because his jaw is in pieces. They're going to reconstruct it tomorrow."

Mr McDonald is believed to have been attacked in Cannon Street at about 2.30am.

Police were called to the scene by paramedics, with the scene cordoned off by officers so forensics specialists could carry out investigations.

Ms Godfrey says her brother had been enjoying a night out at the The Duchess pub in Bench Street before the attack.

"He doesn't remember much and there's a chance he may have been spiked," she said.

"We don't know why he was attacked, but his money and phone were stolen."

Ms Godfrey says she has been overwhelmed by the support offered to her brother and the family in the aftermath of the assault.

"We'd like to thank everyone for getting in touch - it really means a lot," she said.

"Now we just want justice for what happened and for someone to be held responsible."

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault this morning and taken into custody.

Police have been asked for an update on the case.

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