Sgt. Steve Addison

Police say a Vancouver senior is "clinging to life" after being attacked by two men she believed were police officers.

Sgt. Steve Addison says the 78-year-old lives alone in her home and was attacked early Sunday when she opened her door to the men.

Addison says the victim likely lay injured in the home for several hours until police found her in response to a friend's request for a wellness check.

The woman remains in hospital with what are described as life-threatening injuries.

Police say the first suspect is white, six feet tall, with a long brown beard and a medium build, while the second man is the same height but might be Indigenous or Hispanic and has a heavy build with dark, balding hair.

Investigators have not said why the men, believed to be aged between 30 and 50, carried out the assault.

Addison says the department's non-emergency line can help concerned or doubtful residents identify officers before allowing them into a home.

"All VPD officers, whether in uniform or in civilian clothes, carry individualized police badges, ID cards, and have unique personal identification numbers," he says in the statement.