Man bashed, set on fire in Newcastle West

A man has been rushed to a specialist burns unit in Sydney after an horrific pre-dawn attack on a Newcastle street – where two men bashed him before setting him on fire.

The intersection of National Park and King streets in Newcastle West where a man was bashed and set on fire on September 28, 2023. Picture: Dan Proudman

A man who was bashed and then set alight on an inner-city Newcastle street has been flown to a specialist burns unit as detectives continue their hunt for those responsible.

The victim, 23, was punched to the ground, kicked and then set alight with the use of an accelerant next to a building site on the northern side of King St, near National Park St, at Newcastle West about 3.20am.

Despite suffering severe burns to his upper body, the man has been able to stumble down King St and enter an open McDonalds where he has asked staff to call paramedics.

He was stabilised at the scene before being rushed to John Hunter Hospital. He was later flown to Royal North Shore’s specialist burns unit in a serious but stable condition.

The motive for the horrific attack is still unclear.

Police at the intersection of National Park and King streets in Newcastle West where a man was bashed and set on fire adjacent to a building site across the road from Anytime Fitness. Picture: Dan Proudman

But what detectives do know is that the man was involved in an altercation with two men adjacent to the building site on King St and across the road from Anytime Fitness about 3,20am.

He has been being punched to the ground and kicked before he was engulfed in flames.

Police were canvassing Newcastle West businesses on Thursday morning. Picture: Dan Proudman

The attackers ran from the scene as the victim attempted to put the flames out, got to his feet and stumbled the 200 metres to King St McDonalds.

The intersection – one of the busiest in Newcastle and across from the busy Marketown Shopping Centre – was shut to morning peak hour traffic and specialist police combed the area for clues.

Several items of interest are believed to have been taken away for further forensic analysis.

Police continued to doorknock businesses as they opened for the day’s trade looking for security vision of the incident or of the men walking towards or away from the scene.

Wednesday nights in Newcastle are notoriously busy for partygoers and police will also be speaking with owners of nearby licensed premises and viewing footage as part of their investigations.