Man charged after man is punched, leaving him in critical condition

A man is fighting for life on the Gold Coast after he was allegedly punched in the face and hit his head on a skip bin as he fell.

Police believe three people returned to their vehicle on Barney Street after fishing in a nearby waterway at Southport just after midnight.

The man is in a critical condition.Credit: Nine

As they put items back in the vehicle, an argument between a 33-year-old man from the group and a 45-year-old male resident from a nearby unit complex.

The resident then came outside to the driveway to continue the argument when the 33-year-old man then allegedly punched him in the face, causing him to fall backwards, hit his head on a skip bin and then onto the concrete.

The group called emergency services and police attended the scene. The 45-year-old man was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

A 33-year-old man has been charged with one count of grievous bodily harm. He is expected to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on October 19.