Man, 20, seriously injured in alleged assault on Hindley St in Adelaide
Confronting video has emerged of a violent alleged assault on Hindley Street that’s left one man in hospital and another behind bars.
Police & Courts
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A young man is fighting for life after a sickening attack on Hindley St – the second violent incident near a licensed premises in just two days.
The moment a knockout punch was thrown and the 20-year-old man left unconscious and bleeding in front of shocked onlookers on Adelaide’s notorious party strip was caught on CCTV.
He was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with “serious life-threatening injuries” early Sunday morning with a Clearview man, 23, later charged with assault causing serious harm, police say.
The alleged attack came less than 30 hours after a 35-year-old Panorama man was also left fighting for life in a separate alleged assault at the Peninsula Hotel Motel in Taperoo.
Emergency services attended the Hindley St scene just before 5.30am on Sunday.
CCTV footage, acquired by 7News, shows the alleged victim arguing with a woman in the moments before the sickening attack.
It shows the alleged attacker running towards the victim who is then punched numerous times while being dragged along before he falls to the ground. The vision cuts off as the alleged offender jumps and appears to stomp on his head.
It then shows police and passers by looking over the man, followed by a number of paramedics attending to the man and placing him on a stretcher.
His injuries include a broken temple, crushed ribs and a brain bleed, according to Nine News.
A witness said they believed the altercation started over a young woman.
A Hindley St shop employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said there were two groups involved in a “big fight” about half an hour before the incident in which the man suffered serious injuries.
“Eight, nine police officers came and they just stopped (the earlier) fighting,” he said.
The man said he didn’t see the second altercation, which police say led to a man being knocked unconscious, but heard the subsequent commotion and came out to see what had happened.
“He was on the floor, the other guy was yelling and crying,” he said.
He said one person then fled through the arcade.
Police say they caught the 23-year-old accused attempting to leave the scene in a taxi, according to 7News.
Authorities are investigating whether the earlier fight was related to the brutal bashing, it reported.
The victim of the separate alleged Taperoo attack remained in a critical condition on Sunday.
Police said he was “punched to the head” just after midnight on Saturday and arrested a 29-year-old Exeter man who was charged with assault causing serious harm.
When asked about the dual serious alleged assaults, SA Police said: “both assaults are subject to ongoing investigations and are currently before the courts”.
In the aftermath of a brutal weekend on Adelaide streets Sammy D Foundation chief executive Brigid Koenig said the organisation was “extremely saddened” by the weekend incidents.
“Everyone has the right to live their lives free of violence and to feel safe in their community,” she said.
“It is unacceptable that we are still witnessing these acts of violence in our communities. Every incident is a stark reminder that there’s more work to be done.
“Our thoughts are with both the victims’ family and friends as they struggle to comprehend these senseless acts of violence, and the inevitability that their lives have been changed forever.
“Our thoughts are also with those who witnessed the events, the (alleged) perpetrators’ family and friends, the emergency services personnel who responded and the broader community. These impacts will be felt for years to come.”
Ms Koenig said the he anti-violence foundation which was founded in memory of Sam Davis, 17, who was killed by a one-punch attack at a party in 2008, believed youth violence was preventable.
Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Anna Moeller said: “this sort of shocking violence can’t be tolerated”.
The industry was “very much aware of the tragic consequences of this unacceptable and cowardly behaviour,” she said.
“We welcome the police investigations into each incident and the Hotel Association and its members all continue to work with SAPOL as to hope licence venues can assist in eliminating this appalling conduct, recognising, of course, whilst venues have security in place their jurisdiction is limited to the licensed premises itself.”
Ms Moeller said licenced premises in the CBD, which traded between 3am and 7am, were required to have CCTV systems. Areas in which they were required to be operating included all entry and exit points and the footpath immediately adjacent. CCTV also had to be in use for one full hour after closing.
Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said she was aware of the alleged assault.
“Any violent episode in the city is of concern but until we know the facts of the incident it is not possible to comment,” she said.
“I truly hope the young man recovers fully.”
Adelaide West End Association president Taren Hocking was also contacted for comment.
In April 2024 The Advertiser reported Hindley St would receive a makeover under a $15m Adelaide City Council plan which included improved CCTV.
Both the 29-year-old Exeter man charged with the Taperoo assault and 23-year-old Clearview man charged with Hindley St bashing are set to face court on Monday.
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