A MAN who died after being punched at a music festival in Heaton Park might have survived with better medical care.

That was the verdict of Manchester coroner Nigel Meadows at the end of a six-day inquest into the death of Robert Hart, who was attacked in Heaton Park last year.

Mr Hart, aged 26, from Macclesfield, spoke to a man at the Parklife Weekender event on June 7, 2014, after his girlfriend had been hit over the head with an inflatable toy.

The man, who is still being hunted by police, got into a scuffle with Mr Hart and knocked him to the floor with a punch.

Mr Hart was taken to North Manchester General Hospital and was kept there for a period of time before being transferred to Salford Royal Hospital on June 8 when his condition deteriorated. He died on June 11.

When the inquest concluded at Manchester Town Hall on Monday, Mr Meadows recorded a narrative verdict that Mr Hart was unlawfully killed by the man who attacked him at Parklife Festival, but that failure to provide timely and appropriate medical advice also contributed to his death.

Mr Meadows questioned why Robert was not taken to Salford Royal straight away where there are specialist staff and facilities for head trauma.

He also said that a CT scan at Salford Royal detailing a serious head injury was misinterpreted by medical staff and that, had a specialist been available, they could have give a greater insight into the scan and given Robert more effective treatment.

The inquest heard evidence from Robert's girlfriend Gemma Parry, Parklife revellers who rushed to his aid after the attack, and a number of medical practitioners.

After the inquest, Salford Royal's medical director Dr Pete Turkington said: "The review into Robert's care at Salford Royal highlighted that he did not receive the high standard of care we always pride ourselves on delivering and we have apologised unreservedly to his family for this.

"Robert's family have had the opportunity to fully express their concerns about his care at Salford Royal and we believe we have addressed these concerns.

Detective Superintendent Phil Reade, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "I would also like to commend Mr Hart's family for their patience and bravery during what I know has been a long and terribly traumatic process for them.

"However that process has not ended with the inquest verdict, and we remain utterly dedicated to identifying and tracking down the man responsible for this mindless attack."

“We are just as determined not only to find Robert's attacker, but also the people who seem intent on sheltering him from prosecution.

“The evidence in relation to his treatment at hospital has been known to detectives from very early on in the investigation, and it has in no way affected the determination of our officers to find the person responsible."

A £23,000 reward is still on offer for information leading to the conviction of Mr Hart's killer.