‘I can’t breathe, please’: Boy put in headlock and bashed by bullies

Shocking video has emerged of a young teen begging to be released from a headlock as he was punched repeatedly and surrounded by a gang of teens at a kid’s park. DISTURBING VIDEO

Shocking video has emerged of a young teen being bullied and begging to be released from a headlock as he was punched repeatedly and surrounded by a gang of teens at a Gracemere kid’s park, south of Rockhampton.

Although he is released after saying “I can’t breathe, please”, other teens chant “get him” and the beating begins again.

The area’s long-time councillor for Rockhampton Regional Council, Ellen Smith, condemned their behaviour and said there needed to be more programs for local teens.

Earlier this week, Conaghan Park was also targeted by vandals, burning something at the playground and causing damage to the ground.

Shocking video has captured a group of youths fighting at a Gracemere park.

Ms Smith is continuing to push for a PCYC and high school for Gracemere after many years of advocacy.

“I think a lot the kids are just bored, they need more stimulation,” she said.

“Their parents are at work.”

Ms Smith said there had been youth programs from time to time in the past, but it was mostly the community working to solve the issue right now.

She said the local Bahá‘í Faith group were leading the charge for a community garden which would help local children.

“The want to start the community garden at Ted Price Park,” Ms Smith said.

“They will be starting as soon as they application process is approved by council.”

Photos have shown vandalism at Conaghan Park at Gracemere.

Ms Smith said it was “very disappointing” the park had been targeted.

“When you get vandalism it costs everybody, ratepayers have to foot the bill,” she said.

“We do have a certain budget for fixing these things, but sometimes it’s exceeded by the vandalism we have.

“It’s very, very disappointing and I urge the public to look out for anything suspicious, if you suspect someone is going to vandalise something, report it.”

Councillor Ellen Smith. Picture: RRC

Ms Smith said a lot of vandalism had been reported across area in recent months.

“We get a lot of vandalism in that area, the community hall gets windows smashed,” she said.

“Vandalism is a constant worry in our community.

“We tend to see less vandalism in areas where there are lots of people ... Conaghan Park is fairly quiet and it’s a nice country setting.

“I think that’s why people target it ... the playground is set back from the road a bit and at night time people can’t really be seen doing it (vandalism).”

It is understood the video of the boy being beaten taken has been reported to police.

Queensland Police Service was contacted for comment.

It appears the teens in the video at the park knew one another.

The group can be seen taunting the youth until he empties his pockets and hands something to one of the other teens in the group.

After it is passed backed to him, an older teenager then comes up behind the boy and puts him in a headlock while another teen starts punching him.

The boy eventually ends up on the ground and walks away, with the group following him before the video ends.

“That is absolutely disgusting behaviour I hope their parents see this and are sickened by this,” one comment on the video, posted on social media, said.

“Absolutely disgusting and my kids wonder why I won’t let them attend a park alone my kids have been trained to fight but this behaviour is sickening and down right wrong,” another said.