Mums’ group coronavirus argument leads to violent brawl
An argument in a Sydney mother’s group chat about coronavirus has ended in a violent brawl, after two women decided to “resolve their issues in person” before both ending up in hospital.
NSW
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A woman is set to be charged with serious assault after an online argument in a mothers’ group chat room about coronavirus degenerated into a violent street brawl.
The wild fight outside a home at Brookvale, on Sydney’s northern beaches, ended with both women being taken to hospital.
The women, who know each other, but are not related, had a heated online argument on Tuesday about the potentially deadly virus and its effects.
One of the women, 33, from Dee Why, then asked for the other woman’s address at Brookvale so they could talk face-to-face.
At 8.10pm, shortly after the woman arrived at the house in Consul Rd, the argument became physical.
Northern Beaches Police were told that the brawl involved pushing, slapping and hair pulling and that both woman sustained a number of scratches and bruises.
The Brookvale woman, 36, received a knock to the forehead and became light headed.
Friends and relatives of the women were forced to intervene to separate them.
One ambulance was called to the address and took both women to Northern Beaches Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The 33-year-old woman was released later that night after receiving treatment for a sore shoulder and minor lacerations.
The Brookvale women was treated for the bump on her forehead, a shoulder injury and a cut to her arm. She was released from hospital early on Wednesday morning.
Police took statements from the two women and witnesses to the fight.
Detectives are still inquiring into the matter, but it is understood the woman from Dee Why will be charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Hundreds of Facebook users were quick to flood the comments, with several saying the women were not setting a good example for their kids.
“Bloody hell. How dumb can people be. Let’s hope that both of them knocked some sense into each other because that’s appalling behaviour. Now I know why I avoid mothers’ groups,” Christina Vella wrote.
Allison Grundy added: “Well this is an incident I hope they’re not proud of.”
Police have taken out a Personal Violence Order for one woman against another female as investigations continue.
The deadly virus has already created fear, panic and hysteria — both online and offline — with some people seeing both racist and xenophobic conversations about Chinese people in particular.
Anxious Sydneysiders have been flooding into stores like Chemist Warehouse to buy masks and hand sanitisers, which have been sold out at some places.
Coles supermarkets also experienced a shortage of hand sanitisers as customers rush to buy up the product to protect against the spread of coronavirus.
This is despite guidance from chief medical officer Brendan Murphy that there is no need to wear the mask.
Fake warnings about avoiding certain areas and foods in Sydney due to the coronavirus were slammed by NSW Health earlier this week, with people urged to follow official advice.