Brawls spark COVID-19 warning

GORDONVALE residents have been warned not to gather in the street to watch brawls after police were called following two “consensual” fights that left a man bleeding from the head.

Paramedics were called to Highleigh Rd in Gordonvale at 6.29pm on Saturday with reports of a man with a wounded ear. Police also attended the scene – and the story they painted was nothing short of bizarre.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said two 19-yearold men had engaged in a consensual fight that resulted in one of them being knocked to the ground while family members from both sides watched on.

The fight came to an abrupt end and the second-best brawler went home, only to return a while later on to engage in another consensual fight, police allege.

The man was again allegedly knocked to the ground but this time received a small cut behind the ear from the fist of his combatant, resulting in the ambulance being called.

Police said a neighbour, who was intoxicated but unrelated to either of the brawling men, heard the commotion and came out onto the street, thinking somebody was being beaten up.

Unaware of the alleged consensual biffo pact, the neighbour allegedly became involved in an altercation with the men’s families. That was the trigger for police being called.

The less skilled fighter was taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition for treatment and to check for concussion, since he had been floored twice in quick succession. Police received no formal complaints in relation to any of the fights.

However, they did speak to everyone involved about the COVID-19 directions on social distancing and warned they should not be gathering in the street to watch fights.

No infringement notices were issued at the time, but the reporting officer intended to return to the site yesterday to issue three people with public nuisance infringements.