Logan Anderson celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, despite being unable to blow out the 18 candles or eat his birthday cake.
The plumbing apprentice was attacked on Sunday morning outside Java Hair Studio, on the corner of Moray Pl and Lower Stuart St, and ended up with a broken nose, concussion, a black eye and several cuts and bruises.
"Not much of a way to spend your birthday," he said.
Mr Anderson was with two friends and was heading toward the Southern Break bar in Great King St about 2am on Sunday when "a Maori man" came up behind him.
"He asked me for a smoke. I told him I don't smoke. Then, just out of the blue, he head-butted me. After that, I don't remember much.
"My friends said he punched me a couple of times in the face until I hit the ground. I was on my hands and knees and then he kicked me in the face.
"I ended up with my face in the gutter and, then apparently, he stomped on the back of my head. I remember at the time thinking of that movie American History X where they stick that guy's mouth on the edge of the gutter and then stomp on the back of his head.
"I thought, this is it - I'm gonna die, just days before I reach my 18th birthday. After that, I don't remember [anything]."
Mr Anderson's friends said his attacker was with about five other people who were chanting and egging on the attacker.
"This guy's nothing but a mongrel. It's such a cheap shot. If you see it coming, at least you've got a chance to defend yourself. He should be put in jail."
Mr Anderson was taken by ambulance to Dunedin Hospital emergency department.
On arrival, he was bleeding from his mouth, nose and ears and and did not fully regain consciousness for several hours.
He had to have CT scans to make sure he had no serious brain or skull injuries.
Twelve hours later, he was released to recover at home and reflect on the incident.
He warned Dunedin residents not to walk around the city's streets alone after dark.
"I got separated from my friends - I was lagging a bit behind. The guy [attacker] thought I was on my own. By the time my mates looked back and saw I was in trouble, it was all over.
"I'll be much more aware of my personal safety when I go out now. People shouldn't walk alone in town now. It's not safe. They should always be with other people."
Police are seeking information about the random attack.
Detective Sergeant Chris Henderson said the alleged attacker was 1.76m tall, part Maori, of medium build, and with dark curly hair.
The group of young people watching and egging on the attacker was calling him Tahi.
There did not appear to be any gang connections to the incident, Det Sgt Henderson said.
