Man in coma after alleged attack in Surfers Paradise

Brisbane Times

Kristian Silva

November 27,2015

Teenager in hospital after schoolies assault

Two New South Wales school leavers have been charged after allegedly bashing an 18-year-old man in Surfers Paradise early Friday morning.

Two NSW school-leavers have been charged after an alleged bashing in the Surfers Paradise Schoolies precinct overnight.

The 18-year-old Queensland school-leaver was placed in an induced coma after being taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

About 9.30am on Friday a hospital spokesman said the schoolie's condition had improved to "stable" and he had woken from the coma.

The alleged assault occurred about nine hours earlier on Cavill Avenue after an argument between the men, police said.

They allege a 17-year-old man punched the victim in the head several times, before his 18-year-old co-accused continued the attack and spat on him.

Police said the incident was captured on CCTV, with investigators using the footage to track the two alleged offenders.

The 18-year-old was charged with two counts of assault, while the 17-year-old was charged with grievous bodily harm. Police said charges for the second alleged offender may be downgraded because the victim's condition improved in hospital.

The two accused are in custody and are set to face Southport Magistrates Court on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Ambulance Service said 70 people in the schoolies precinct were assessed by paramedics overnight, with 11 taken to hospital.

There were 11 schoolies arrested and 36 issued with liquor infringement notices for drinking in a public place.

Police said nine non-schoolies, or toolies, were arrested on 12 charges including public nuisance, street and drug offences. Seven were issued liquor infringement notices.

The Queensland Schoolies week is set to finish on Saturday, the same day school-leavers from Victoria and NSW are expected to begin arriving on the Gold Coast for two weeks' of celebrations.