Vancouver police say alcohol and bravado appear to be fuelling a disturbing — and sometimes deadly — trend of one-punch attacks.
Const. Brian Montague says there have been at least 10 incidents this year where people were hit once in the head and have fallen to the ground unconscious.
Three people have died from their injuries.
Montague says in an case last month a 34-year-old man and his wife were heading home from a night out at a comedy club when he was attacked.
The man was walking past two groups of men who were arguing when he was sucker punched and Montague says the man was seriously injured after falling and hitting his head.
Montague says it appears the man had no interaction with either of the groups before the attack and that many victims of these "one-punch" incidents are innocent bystanders.