The 21-year-old man was attacked around 4pm in Banbury National Park.
He was taken to hospital and is in “critical condition”.
Police have not yet arrested him.
The park has been closed since yesterday afternoon and police in the Thames Valley currently have a surveillance site.
Senior Investigating Officer Inspector Rob Platt, based at Banbury Police Station, said: “This incident happened in the middle of the afternoon and I know there would have been many witnesses to what happened.
“I urge anyone with any information to contact the Thames Valley Police on 101, quoting reference number 43220255119, or to report online.
“For anonymity, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“I want to thank the people who came to the aid of the victim. “Their actions are highly appreciated, as they provided emergency first aid to the victim before the arrival of medical specialists.
“I believe that this incident has caused concern in the local community, but I would assure the public that we are thoroughly investigating the circumstances and, although in the early stages of the investigation, we are making progress with these investigations.
“I would ask those who have camera footage of the incident not to share it online on social media, but instead, please contact the Thames Valley Police.
“There will be an increased police presence in the area while the investigation continues, and if you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to talk to one of our officers.
“I would also like to thank the community for their patience and understanding as we investigate this incident.
“The park is currently closed, but we will try to reopen it as soon as possible.
“Anyone affected by this incident can seek support by visiting the website of the police support services.
Anyone with any information should contact Thames Valley Police on 101, quoting reference number 43220255119, or make a report online.
–
This story was written by Rebecca Whitaker, she joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Rebecca covers education and news in Abingdon and Wantage.
Contact her by sending an email to: Rebecca.Whittaker@newquest.co.uk or by calling 07824524333
Follow her on Twitter @RebecWhitt
Message from our editor
Thank you for reading this story and supporting Oxford Mail.
If you like what we do, please consider getting an Oxford Mail subscription and in return we will give you unlimited access with fewer ads on our website than the latest news, investigations, features and sports.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok for more.
You can also join the conversation in our Facebook groups: stay tuned for traffic alerts here, stay up to date with the latest from the court here, share your favorite Oxford memories here, get your daily dose of celebrity news here and spend a little time with news that will make you smile.
If you have a story for our reporters, send us your news here. You can also list an event for free here.
Add Comment