A 48-YEAR-OLD man is continuing to fight for life in hospital as police step up their hunt for the person who bashed him outside a Fremantle bar.

Police said the father-of-three was from a small rural community and was visiting friends when he was assaulted on South Terrace about 11.20pm on Saturday.

His parents have travelled to Perth to be at his side in hospital, where he remains in an induced coma.

“The 48 year victim is a father-of-three, the youngest of which is just 10 years old,” the police spokeswoman said.

“She is struggling to understand why ‘daddy doesn’t wake up’.”

Two friends who were with the man were also assaulted but their injuries were not serious.

Fremantle detectives yesterday released a image of a man their believe can help their investigation and have appealed to witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers.