A professor left for dead on a Sussex beach after being smashed in the face by a rock said today: "The thugs who did this have ruined my life."

Alain Presencer, who is 61, suffered a major heart attack after the unprovoked late-night assault on Worthing seafront.

Speaking from his intensive care bed at Worthing Hospital, Prof Presencer, a professor of anthropology and an expert on Tibet, said: "This mindless act of hooliganism has virtually destroyed what I have built up to be a decent and respectable life.

"I am devastated and so is my family.

"I had a very traumatic experience and it almost killed me.

"It was only through the skill and dedication of the trauma team at Worthing Hospital that I was saved.

"They brought me back from the dead."

Police have only just released details of the attack, which took place near the beach chalets east of Splash Point at 11.20pm on Monday.

Prof Presencer was walking his dogs, Jack Russell Tiger and a blind diabetic mongrel, Boris, when a rock was thrown into his face and he collapsed unconscious.

He said: "I fell to the ground and lay on the path by the stones for up to 25 minutes. Fortunately, both my dogs stayed by my side.

"When I came to I was covered in blood.

"My mouth and nose had been badly walloped and I thought my arm was broken.

"I staggered back home and cleaned myself up.

"After about half-an-hour I called a friend, who took me to the hospital.

"While I was waiting to be treated I had a massive heart attack.

"There is no history of heart disease in my family. I have never had a single day off sick in my life.

"It seems the shock to my system triggered the attack.

"This has almost destroyed the life I have been living. I can no longer drive and I cannot walk more than 25 yards.

"I am going to have to change the entire pace of my life and this has caused me great distress."

Prof Presencer, of Brighton Road, Worthing, said he did not see the rock coming or the person who threw it, although he heard a cackle of laughter as he fell to the ground.

He said: "Somebody must have seen me lying there.

"Maybe they thought I was a drunk. Perhaps they saw some kids running away."

Prof Presencer's wife, Sheila, was visiting her mother in Canada at the time of the attack and caught an emergency flight home to his bedside.

She was joined by their sons Lohan, who lives in London, and jazz trumpeter Gerard, from Diss in Norfolk.

Prof Presencer, who has lived in Worthing for five years, said: "If we had a stronger police presence in Worthing at the time the pubs are let out, there is a chance of these people being seen and captured if they try to disrupt society."

Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should contact PC Christine Brown on 0845 6070999, ext 81241.