Man bashed by passenger on Gold Coast bus emerges from hospital

A 71-year-old man has been released from hospital after he was brutally bashed by a man aboard a bus on the Gold Coast last night.

Mehmet Hunturk was travelling from the Twin Towns Services Club at Tweed Heads to Southport at around 11.15pm, when a group of six men, aged in their 20s, boarded at Tugun.

Mr Hunturk said he asked one of the men to stop smoking, to which the man replied he “didn’t care”.

“Then I told the bus-driver, ‘Hey driver, they are smoking. That's no good’, and then the boy came and [attacked me],” Mr Hunturk told 9NEWS.

Mr Hunturk said he was repeatedly punched in the head and face by one of the men, and that his glasses were broken in the process.

He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital with serious head and facial injuries.

The group of men fled from the bus, near Palm Beach police station.

“I think bus-driver shouldn't open the door...let them go. He should lock door until security come,” Mr Hunturk said.

The main assailant is described as being Caucasian in appearance, 175cm tall with short blonde hair.

At the time, the offender was wearing a white jumper and beige pants.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.