Coward punch victim dies
Herald Sun
Tiffany Kossen
April 18,2016
A YOUNG footy player who was allegedly coward punched on the weekend while trying to help a friend has died, his family has confirmed.
Patrick Cronin, 19, was enjoying a night out at the Windy Mile bar to celebrate his first senior game with the Lower Plenty Bears on Saturday in Diamond Creek when he was attacked from behind.
His family confirmed he had died in a statement this afternoon.
Coward punch victim dies and his brother Lucas on the same day of their first senior game together. Picture: Facebook.
“It is with the heaviest of heaviest of hearts that we have just said goodbye to our beautiful boy Patrick John Cronin,” said Mr Cronin’s father, Matt.
“We have been overwhelmed with the love our son, and brother, has shown and it proves to us that he has touched so many people with his wonderful nature.
“As with his whole life he has put others ahead of himself and leaves us an absolute hero and star. We take some comfort in the knowledge that Pat was able to donate his organs and help others in need.
“Our hearts are broken but he will forever be in our hearts and he will be the one to get us through this.
“All our love forever Pat.”
Police believe Mr Cronin was injured during an incident that involved up to 30 people, and said while no one had been charged homicide squad detectives continued to investigate.
An ambulance was called to the Windy Mile on Main St about 11pm but an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said police cancelled the call-out.
The Herald Sun understands Mr Cronin and a small group of mates walked home to a house in Happy Valley Rise in Diamond Creek after the brawl about midnight and went to sleep.
It wasn’t until later in the evening that his frantic mates realised something was seriously wrong.
An ambulance arrived at the Diamond Creek home at 1.18am and took Mr Cronin to hospital in a critical condition with head injuries.
Lower Plenty Bears president Grant Barden, who has known Mr Cronin and his “magnificent” family for years, tearfully said at the clubrooms yesterday he had just made a trip to the Royal Melbourne Hospital to say “goodbye”.
“He’s just an angel, that’s the only way you can describe a person as good as him ... He’s smart, kind, an amazing man,” Mr Barden said
“I’m disgusted this has happened to him and to his family ... they’re such good people. He was not involved in the brawl, just trying to help a friend up.”
Mr Cronin’s mother Robyn posted on Facebook yesterday: “Please everyone pray for our beautiful boy Pat who was cowardly assaulted last night and is fighting for his life.”
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Cronin’s brother, Lucas, changed his Facebook profile picture to one of the pair in their football jumpers.
Friends expressed their devastation on social media, describing Mr Cronin’s injury as “surreal” and “heartbreaking”.
It is believed at least one other man was seriously injured in the brawl.