Man arrested after Brisbane Bullets’ Harry Froling hit in alleged attack
A 19 year-old has been charged after an alleged one-punch attack on the Brisbane Bullets’ Harry Froling in Wollongong left the NBL player with a brain bleed.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man has been charged after a NBL player sustained a fractured skull and bleed on the brain in an alleged one-punch attack in Wollongong.
Brisbane Bullets player Harrison “Harry” Froling was found unconscious on the footpath of Crown St, Wollongong about 2:40am on Sunday.
Police allege Froling was hit in the head before falling to the ground.
Hospitalised in the wake of the attack, Froling apparently discharged himself the next morning, flew home to Brisbane, and then attended hospital there after complaining of headaches.
It was there that the extent of his injuries became clear, and he had immediate surgery.
It is understood Froling remains hospital in a stable condition.
On Tuesday afternoon police arrested a 19-year-old man who had walked into Wollongong Police Station.
He was then charged with affray and reclkessly inflicting grievous bodily harm later on Tuesday evening.
The 19-year-old was refused bail and will appear in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday January 25.
Froling was in Wollongong after a match against his brother, Sam, who plays for the Wollongong Hawks.
Police sources say Froling was drinking with other players after the game then later removed from a nightclub about 2am by marshals after “showing signs of intoxication”.
Sources close to Froling say they don’t believe he was intoxicated at the time of the alleged attack or that he was asked to leave the venue in the hours before the alleged attack.
POST-NIGHTCLUB ATTACK
Froling is seen on CCTV footage walking down Crown St shortly after.
The footage captured him talking with a number of unknown females on the northern end of Crown St, opposite Attchison St.
It shows an unknown male stand up and join the group a few moments later, and punch Froling in the face
The NBL star falls back heavily, landing on his back, hitting his head.
The male and females headed south on Crown St.
Remaining bystanders assisted and placed him in the recovery position.
Sources say members of the public saw him unconscious, with blood coming from his ears.
Police and ambulance were called about 2.40am and Froling was taken to Wollongong Hospital.
He was treated by staff and required to undergo a head CT scan however, but refused the procedure at 7am.
About an hour later medical staff checked on Froling and found he had removed the intravenous drip and self-discharged from hospital.
He returned to Brisbane by plane with the rest of the Bullets, but soon after complained of headaches.
At Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital, scans revealed he had sustained head injuries.
Froling remains in hospital in a stable condition, after doctors operated on his fractured skull and brain bleed.
Froling returned to the Bullets this year after a season playing with his brother Sam in Wollongong at the Hawks.
He set an NBL22 League season high 8-from-10 three-pointers against the 36ers in new career high 27-point show in round eight.
Froling was named as NBL’s Rookie of the year in 2019 and has spent the 2022 winter being a winning member of the NBL1 South Champions Hobart Chargers.
In a statement on Tuesday the Brisbane Bullets said they were “working closely with NSW Police and NBL Integrity Unit as they investigate the circumstances surrounding an alleged assault on Harry Froling”.
“Harry is currently recovering from an incident that occurred following the team’s away game in Wollongong and will miss the remainder of the NBL23 season,” the statement continued.
“As an investigation is under way, the club is not in a position to make any further comment, other than to say the players, coaches and staff all send their well wishes to Harry, and his family.
“The club respectfully asks for privacy for the Froling family at this time.”
Originally published as Man arrested after Brisbane Bullets’ Harry Froling hit in alleged attack
Threat left at Jewish bakery owned by celebrity chef
A Jewish bakery owned by TV chef Ed Halmagyi has been attacked with terrorism graffiti and a threatening note left under the door.
Read more
Exemptions for 11,000 students as HSC set to begin
70,000 students are set to begin their HSC exams, with an expected 11,000 of those to be given some kind of exemption by education authorities. Here’s why the number has increased in the last five years.
Read more