BRAWL IN THE PARK
Witness says 15 were involved in fighting
AN angler has told how he watched on in horror as a mass brawl broke out in a Newcastle city centre park.
The 19-year-old, who asked not to be named, was fishing in the lake at Leazes Park on Saturday night when he saw a fight erupt among a gang of around 15 people. Two people have been arrested and one man was taken to hospital.
The teenager, who regularly sleeps by the water in a tent, called police when the violent scenes began.
And he witnessed a couple of people suffer serious injuries and one man swim across the water onto an island to escape.
Yesterday morning there was still a heavy police presence at the park, which is behind the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
As investigations continue, the teenager has told of the dramatic scenes.
He said: “There was a big fight. There were about 15 people involved. It is very scary when you are sleeping here. It definitely wasn’t pleasant. I didn’t sleep well at all after that.”
The teenager, from Wallsend, regularly fishes overnight at the park and sleeps in a tent. The Leazes Park Angling Association member had noticed a group of people drinking nearby but thought nothing of it until the fighting started. “I have been here all night,” he said. “I don’t understand exactly what happened. “There were a group of them drinking and they all seemed to be getting on like a house on fire then all of a sudden it escalated to a fight. Then they all started running. “I was watching it and I phoned the police. It was mostly lads but there were a couple of females. “One went in the water and swam out to the island to get away. The police were here in about five minutes. There were search dogs and everything here last night.”
The teenager said it was the worst incident he had ever witnessed while angling at the park.
He said: “There’s regularly problems here but it’s never that bad. There’s been fights and people getting drunk but nothing like this.
“I have been part of the angling club for about three years and I’ve never seen anything like that.
“People that are fishing get a lot of trouble off drunks but it’s just part of fishing here.”
Large parts of Leazes Park were still cordoned off by police yesterday morning. Entrances to the park opposite the Royal Victoria Infirmary were blocked off with police tape while the cordon covered a stretch of pathway and grass.
Uniformed officers and a detective were at the scene long with a forensics van. Northumbria Police said two men had been arrested following the brawl.
Another man was taken to hospital but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said yesterday: “At around 8.14pm last night police received a report of a fight ongoing in Leazes Park in Newcastle.
“Emergency services attended and a cordon has been put in place. A man has been taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
“Two men have been arrested in connection with the investigation. Inquires are ongoing to determine the circumstances.
“Anyone with any information around the disturbance is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1097 of the 26/5/18 or call anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
“One went in the water and swam out to the island to get away Witness