A 38-year-old man is recovering in hospital after being viciously attacked with a machete outside the Gateway SkyTrain Station in Surrey early Tuesday morning.

Transit Police said the victim was approached by a robber who struck him on the head with the blade and made off with his bag and phone.

He suffered a deep cut on his head and a possible skull fracture but is expected to make a full recovery.

Officers are searching for a suspect described as a six-foot-tall Asian man who was wearing a grey and black hoodie with a skull and two swords on it.