Baseball bat attack
UNPROVOKED ASSAULT: Teeth, nose smashed
A LARA teenager says he was brutally bashed with a metal baseball bat while out with friends early on Sunday morning.
Will Hawkes, 19, lost teeth and suffered a broken nose, concussion and bleeding on the brain during the alleged assault, which took place near Rennie St, Lara, about 3am.
Mr Hawkes said he and his friends were walking through the streets to meet another group of revellers when they were confronted by the man, who was brandishing a bat.
The resident allegedly accused the teenagers of “being up to no good” before physically lashing out at one of Mr Hawkes’ friends.
When the 19-year-old tried to intervene, he claims he was struck multiple times in the head — sustaining severe facial wounds.
“I just remember waking up covered in blood and seeing my family in hysterics,” he said.
“I’m thankful to be here because the outcome could have been a lot worse.
“My whole body was tingling and I was in so much pain — it was really disorientating.”
Mr Hawkes said he had been touched by the outpouring of support since the attack.
“Something like this makes you realise how much people care,” he said.
One of Mr Hawkes’ friends, Bailey Younger, was on Monday summoned by police to provide a statement about the incident.
Mr Younger said that he was also assaulted by the bat-wielding man, but was “spared” when Mr Hawkes intervened.
“The guy came out of his house with a baseball bat and started having a go at us for no reason — presuming we were doing the wrong thing,” he said.
“He (Will) stepped in after I’d been hit a few times to try and get him away and then he copped it to the face,” he said.
Mr Younger said a woman, armed with a wooden object, accompanied the man but she did not get involved in the altercation.
Geelong Police confirmed it was investigating the incident and said it had collected statements from several people involved.
It was the third case involving serious violence in Lara over the past fortnight, following a stabbing in the vicinity of Kees Rd.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crime stoppersvic.com.au