Oxford St brawl: Tributes laid as Evander Tuala’s family remember 23yo after hospital death

The family of Oxford St brawl victim Evander Tuala have broken their silence as floral tributes were laid today following the young man’s death in hospital.

The family of Oxford Street brawl victim Evander Tuala have spoken out following the 23-year-old’s death in ICU on Monday night- as a shrine of tributes for the young man began to form at the site of the incident today.

In a media statement released by St Vincent’s Hospital, the Tuala family thanked hospital staff and emergency services including NSW Ambulance and NSW Police, for the care and support they provided Mr Tuala and the Tuala family.

Evander’s mother, Claudia, shared insight into her son’s character and “selfless” nature.

“Evander was an extraordinarily outgoing, highly spirited and selfless person who touched many people’s lives. He was a beautiful soul and loved by everyone who had the opportunity to know him during his short life. As a mother I was truly blessed to have him as a son. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.”

“Our family also request that our privacy be respected at this time,” said Claudia.

Evander Tuala, who was critically injured after a fight outside the Oxford Hotel on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

It comes as a shrine of floral tributes was set up on Oxford St on Tuesday following the news the 23 year-old’s life support had been switched off.
An array of dozens of flower bouquets and several balloons were lain beneath three framed pictures of Tuala and a plaque reading “In loving memory … ‘Woody’ Evander Tuala” at the site where he was fatally injured over the weekend.

Tributes for Evander Tuala on Oxford St in Darlinghurst after he passed away last night at St Vincent's Hospital. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“To Uncle Evander, I love you so, so much and I wish I could of had just two minutes with you,” one hand-decorated silver balloon read.

“Dear Uncle Evander, I miss you,” another read.

A bottle of Jim Beam inscribed with multiple tributes read: “My brother forever … love you always.”

“See you on the other side … fly high.”

A tribute to Evander Tuala on Oxford St. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The statement from the Tuala family said they wanted to also thank the members of the community, their friends and family and express their gratitude for the overwhelming love and support they have received.

The Tuala family have urged any witnesses of the brawl to come forward to assist Police in their investigations.

“We thank everyone for their extraordinary support and kindly request anyone with information that may assist police with their investigations to come forward,” said Claudia.

Family and friends of Evander Tuala gathered at St Vincent’s Hospital on April 11. Picture: Julian Andrews

Police investigators were advised that Mr Tuala had died at around 7:30pm on Monday.

Police first responded to the fight in Darlinghurst at around 12.35am on Saturday where they discovered Tuala had suffered critical head injuries after allegedly being punched, knocked unconscious and falling to the ground.

Mr Tuala was transported to St Vincent’s Hospital with critical injuries and was placed on life support.

Oxford St punch victim Evander Tuala's cousin Dietrich Roache who plays rugby 7's for Australia and had his name written on his wrist band when he played in Singapore last night.

Australian Rugby Sevens representative and cousin of Evander Tuala, Dietrich Roache, sent an emotional final farewell from Singapore.

Tuala’s cousin, Australian Rugby Sevens representative Dietrich Roache, wrote his family member’s name on his wrists during Australia’s match against Ireland at the Singapore Sevens tournament on Sunday.

Roache was seen pointing at his wrists where “RIL Woody” was written, as the Olympic representative scored a try for the Australian side.

Mr Tuala’s Aunt, Niu Tuala, shared a picture of the Rugby Sevens representative’s tribute on Facebook.

“Evander’s Olympic Wallaby little cousin Dietrich Roache sends his final farewell from Singapore. RIL WOODY from Aunty Martha Lam-Roache, uncle Kruger Roache and younger cousins,” Ms Tuala said.

A Facebook post from Evander Tuala’s aunty Niu Tuala showing the Rugby Sevens player’s tribute.

Police sources said part of their investigation was focusing on an incident inside the pub that involved “some pushing and shoving” and resulted in security moving a large group of people out onto the street.

It’s alleged the issue escalated outside where Tuala was punched and Keidan Donovan-Phillips, 20, and Byron Brown-Yeo, 19, were arrested.

Donovan-Phillips has since been revealed to be the brother-in-law of Brisbane Broncos captain Adam Reynolds.

Tuala’s devastated aunt penned an emotional tribute to the young man nicknamed “Woody” on social media, saying he was a “sweet boy” who had been “stolen” from her family.

“You came into this world and brought so much love into our family,” Niu Tuala wrote.

“Now you’ve left us broken. You were stolen from us like a thief in the night.”

Donovan-Phillips and Brown-Yeo remain in custody after their lawyers made no application for bail at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

The Daily Telegraph understands Brown-Yeo has hired high-profile criminal solicitor Bryan Wrench to defend him.

Tuala who is from Fairfield, had come into the city with friends from the western suburbs. Donovan-Phillips and Brown-Yeo had made the trip to Oxford Tavern with mates from the city’s eastern beaches.

A punch is thrown during the brawl on Saturday morning.

Footage captured by a patron at the popular pub shows the moment a handful of men start swinging punches at each other outside the venue. A group of at least six men are seen in the violent brawl, with one shirtless man landing blows to another man’s face.

One man in the brawl ­appeared to punch multiple people in the face, chest and the head. Security stepped in to break up the fight, but not ­before the 23-year-old was critically wounded.

Security and bystanders attend to a man lying prone during the violent altercation.

One man wearing a hood and face covering appeared to intimidate security before giving up, and the group retreated down Oxford St.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent John Duncan said the brawl broke out after patrons were told to leave the pub.

“At the moment I’m calling for witnesses after a serious assault that occurred in the early hours of yesterday morning at Surry Hills,” he said.

“A young man came out of a licenced premises with another young man who had been ejected for a very minor incident at a hotel, as a result of that a brawl broke out.”

Detectives from the Homicide Squad are also assisting with the investigation.

On Saturday morning a group of young men and two women were gathered outside St Vincent’s Hospital in tears waiting for updates on the man’s condition.

Local resident Rose Dol­renzo said violence on Oxford St was getting worse since lockdown ended.

Police guard the area where a brawl took place outside the Oxford Tavern in Paddington. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“This is the first extreme situation but the square does entice users of drugs and ­alcohol,” she said.

“I’ve been in the area for 12 years and it improved significantly, but since lockdown you do get instances occasionally.”

A local mother who asked not to be named for fear of ­retribution said she heard screaming and shouting in the early hours of the morning.

“It’s very scary especially when you live here and have children,” she said.

Locals reacting to the trag­edy yesterday suggested a mobile police unit needed to return to the area. It was previously at Taylor Square, near the brawl.

The brawl on the glitter strip is believed to be the most serious incidence of violence in the CBD and King’s Cross nightclub area since the alcohol-fuelled altercations which left two young men dead and that led to NSW’s controversial lockout laws.

The laws followed the fatal New Year’s Eve bashing of teenager Daniel Christie and Thomas Kelly eight years ago.