A 58-year-old man who suffered serious head injuries in Katherine on Saturday night was found Sunday afternoon in the same location, with NT Police calling for the public’s help to determine how the man was injured so badly he needed to be airlifted to Darwin for treatment.

Police said they received reports around 1:25pm Sunday that a man had been located suffering head injuries on Callistemon Drive in Katherine by a passerby who took him to the Katherine Hospital for treatment.

The man was then airlifted to Royal Darwin Hospital for further treatment in a serious but stable condition.

Police said they believe the head trauma was inflicted on Saturday evening between 9pm and 9:30pm when the man was walking along Callistemon Drive.

“Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch are investigating and urge anyone with information or CCTV footage in the area to make contact on 131 444,” police media director Mark Wilton said in a statement.

“Please quote reference number NTP2500089547. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.”