A man could lose an eye after being brutally attacked in a suspected racial assault in the early hours of New Year's Day.
The 23-year-old and a friend were targeted by a gang as they as they walked down Lewes Road in Brighton, East Sussex, at around 3.25am.
A member of the public grabbed one of the attackers and flagged down a passing police car as the rest of the gang ran off.
Detective Inspector Miles Ockwell, of Sussex Police, said the victim is thought to have been subjected to a barrage of racist abuse leading up to the attack.
He said: "This was a very serious assault and the victim remains in the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he may lose an eye as a result of the attack.
"We believe that racist language was directed towards the victim and his friend before they were attacked and we are keen to establish the exact circumstances."
A 19-year-old man, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex, was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and possession of Class A drugs and cannabis, and was released on police bail until March 6.