A fun-loving surfer who died after spending weeks in hospital following a brutal assault was likely murdered by someone he knew, police say.
Guy Haymes, or ‘Creature’ as he was known to his friends, was found by emergency services in a Manly unit with serious head injuries following a triple zero call about a disturbance at the complex earlier this year.
The 59-year-old man was treated at the scene but died in hospital a fortnight later.
People known to Haymes have been helping police, but there are gaps in the overall story of his death, police say.
After three months of investigations, his family and police are asking the public for more information in the hope of finding out who was behind his death.
Police have launched a public appeal for information after local surfing legend Guy Haymes (pictured) died in March from injuries sustained during an alleged assault at a unit in Manly.
The 59-year-old was well-known in the surf from Sydney’s northern beaches to Wollongong and had earned the nickname “Creature” (pictured, a young Mr Haymes).
Brother Mark Haymes said the mysterious death had left him empty.
“Guy was fun, sociable and got along with everyone,” he told reporters Thursday.
“With my children, he was always a very good guy, they loved him.
“Why anyone would really want to hurt someone as much as they did… that’s the hardest part to figure out.”
Haymes lived in Brookvale and may have previously been at the Manly unit where he was found injured.
Haymes learned to surf in North Sydney and is considered one of a small group of locals who started surfing at Avalon Beach, which is now one of Sydney’s surf hotspots.
The surfer’s family have asked anyone with information to come forward to help the investigation as they “can’t imagine” anyone wanting to hurt Mr Haymes.
“He is believed to have been there with friends and associates,” Detective Superintendent Patrick Sharkey said.
“So it wasn’t unusual for it to have been there.”
Police not only suspect that Haymes knew the person responsible, but believe that more than one person could have been involved.
Neighbors, friends and possible family members of the person involved who may have heard about the incident are urged to contact police.
Police are also appealing for any CCTV or dashcam footage from the Manly area from the night of February 27.
Haymes was well known in the surfing community in Sydney and beyond.
A paddle outing in his memory is being planned in North Avalon.
