Ferriday — A Ridgecrest man is in critical condition at the LSU Medical Center in Shreveport after being nearly beaten to death early Wednesday morning.

Joshua Barnes, 22, was pulled from his car at Concordia Apartments on Kyle Road in Ferriday and beaten, Police Chief Richard Madison said.

Barnes’ girlfriend Kellie Guillory was also in the car at the time of the incident.

About 15 people surrounded the car, she said.

“They stomped him, and they stomped his head,” she said.

“I had to hold his head just to keep him from drowning in blood,” she said.

Barnes’ right lung was collapsed by the attack, and he will need facial reconstructive surgery, Guillory said.

“We’re praying for that boy to recover,” Madison said.