BRAWLERS SLUG IT OUT
SCENES OF MAYHEM AFTER BIG FIGHT
TWO men are in hospital after a wild brawl broke out in the heart of Surfers Paradise following the ‘fight of the century”.
Police and ambulance were called to the Surfers Paradise Beer Garden about 3.45pm yesterday after reports a man had been stabbed.
Witnesses said the man was glassed and then stabbed in the neck during a melee in the tavern’s smoking area shortly after the Mayweather v Conor McGregor fight ended.
Punches were thrown as people jumped on to tables to escape the boozy brawl.
Witness David Baumann said a man started a fight with two brothers before his friends rushed over to join the melee.
“These two guys defended themselves after being attacked by five or six guys at once,” he said.
“It was a brawl. There was blood and there was glass and things flying everywhere.”
Witnesses said up to 20 or 30 people were “punching on” at the height of the melee.
By the time emergency services arrived, the brawl had spilt downstairs on to the busy street corner of Cavill Ave and Orchid Avenue.
Witnesses said a security guard at the scene was “covered with blood”.
Dozens of onlookers were caught up in the chaos as police fought to control the situation.
Ambulance officers treated two men at the scene before they were both transferred to Gold Coast University Hospital.
One man suffered what is believed to be a significant but non-life-threatening stab wound to the neck while another man sustained a head injury.
Police established a major crime scene and were still on site interviewing witnesses last night.
“It will be alleged that during the disturbance a 24-yearold man produced a knife and stabbed a 29-year-old man in the neck,” a police spokesman said.
“A 23-year-old man also taken to hospital with a minor head injury as a result of the initial altercation.
“A 24-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is currently assisting police with their inquiries.”
Inspector Jim Plowman said the incident was “drunken thugs having a bit of a dust-up and that’s it”.
Inspector Plowman said bystanders were caught up in the confusion when the fight spilt on to the street.
“Once again, you’ve got people with alcohol involved not knowing what’s going on,” he said.
Witnesses to either incident are urged to contact Policelink on 131 444.