Teen hurt in massive brawl

A blow to the head knocked a teenager to the ground in a street brawl involving 50 people in Tokoroa recently.

The 18 year old was taken to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition by ambulance after fights broke out at the party on Kelso St.

Four people were arrested after things started to spiral out of control about 9pm on Friday.

Police were called and found 50 people had spilled on to the street, Bay of Plenty police Senior Sergeant Malcolm Collins said.

Some were hurling bottles and cans during the fight, believed to have been sparked when a group of gatecrashers turned up to a gathering.

Soon after 9pm, the teenager was found unconscious on the road with head injuries.

‘‘He’s been punched, fallen to the ground and hit his head,’’ Collins said.

‘‘He’s gone and whacked his head and that’s put him unconscious.’’ Collins said the victim was awake and talking when transported by ambulance to Waikato Hospital.

Extra police units from Putaruru and Taupo were called in to quell partygoers. It took four hours to get things under control.

Collins said police had to clear partygoers from one house multiple times due to overflow from the party ’’looking for people - the troublemakers and instigators’’.