A man was refused bail to face court in Muswellbrook on Monday after an alleged altercation resulted in a woman undergoing emergency surgery and being placed in an induced coma at Merriwa.
Police officers attached to the Hunter Valley Police District were called to a Hampshire Road home at Merriwa, west of Muswellbrook, in the early hours of Monday morning after reports of a domestic violence related incident.
A 40 year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.
Police will allege that an argument broke out between the man and a 41 year-old woman around 1.30am. During the altercation, police said the man was struck and bitten by the woman. He then allegedly slapped the woman, causing her to fall backwards and hit her head, a spokesperson for NSW police said.
NSW Ambulance paramedics were called to the scene, where the woman was treated for head injuries before she was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.
The woman underwent emergency surgery and is expected to be in an induced coma for several days.
The man was also treated for a laceration to his hand and bruising to his cheek.
The man was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order.
He was refused bail to appear in Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday.
