Cannonvale man granted bail as he faces grievous bodily harm charge in Bowen court

A Whitsundays man has fronted court after he was charged with assaulting a Cairns man at a licensed premises in Airlie Beach and left him fighting for life.

Travis Allan Rickard applied for bail in Bowen Magistrates Court after being charged with grevious bodily harm. Picture: Contributed​

Police have fought to keep a Whitsundays region man locked up on remand after he allegedly assaulted a Cairns man and left him fighting to survive.

Cannonvale man Travis Allan Rickard, 21, faced Bowen Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm after the alleged incident at a licensed premises in Airlie Beach on Tuesday.

Mr Rickard, with a group of other men, had allegedly approached a 23-year-old Cairns man as well as another man at the premises on Shute Harbour Rd about 3.10am when an argument broke out.

The court heard Mr Rickard allegedly assaulted the 23-year-old, causing him to fall to the ground.

He required transport to Townsville Hospital where he remains in critical condition, according to a Townsville Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors opposed Mr Rickard’s bail application, telling Magistrate Michelle Howard this was an “extremely strong crime case” as the alleged victim was in a life-threatening situation.

She told there was a high risk Mr Rickard could reoffend based on the fact he was placed on probation on July 12 this year for stealing and drug-related offences.

Sergeant Myors added there was an “unacceptable risk” he could interfere with eye witnesses, since he knew some of them.

PD Law defence solicitor Peta Vernon said she believed the risks could be mitigated, adding there had been “a certain level of provocation in relation to his (Mr Rickard’s) actions”.

Ms Howard granted bail starting from August 16, providing Mr Rickard would not contact any of the eight eyewitnesses.

Mr Rickard was also banned from attending the Airlie Beach Safe Night precinct between 6pm to 6am.

The matter will next be heard in Proserpine Magistrates Court on October 23.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information, or witnessed the incident, including those with dashcam or CCTV footage of Shute Harbour Rd around the time of the incident, to come forward.

You can phone the Whitsunday police station on 07 4948 8888, quoting reference number: QP2301343319.