Gold Coast Crime: Southport man critical after punch to the head in Surfers Paradise

A man critically injured in an alleged one-punch attack in Surfers Paradise remains in intensive care after surgery, while the man police accuse of hitting him has been remanded in custody.

A woman calling out a teenager for an unprovoked assault on a stranger has ended with her boyfriend fighting for his life in hospital after two attacks, police allege.

It will be alleged Amerika Robert Uili, 19, left Sin City Nightclub around 1am on Thursday morning, when he approached James Martin, a complete stranger, and forced him against a seat in Orchid Ave, before “physically lifting him off his feet,” according to court documents.

“The defendant then throws the victim Martin to the ground in a ‘rag doll’ fashion before standing over him in an intimidating manner,” documents tendered to the court said.

Amerika Uili has been charged with grevious bodily harm and common assault.

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Uili sat with crossed arms and stared straight ahead when he appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday where he faces charges of grievous bodily harm and common assault.

Police will allege, the girlfriend of 34-year-old Liam McNeilly, went to the aid of Mr Martin and confronted Uili over his alleged actions towards Mr Martin.

Police will allege Uili fled Orchid Ave, before approaching Mr McNeilly, who was talking with his girlfriend in the driveway of the Hilton Hotel, where she has once again confronted Uili.

It will be alleged friends of the accused tried to pull him away, before he lashed out for a second time in a matter of minutes.

“… the defendant lunges at the victim McNeilly and strikes him with great force in a ‘coat hanger’ fashion with his right arm,” the court documents said.

It is alleged Mr McNeilly, 34, has fallen back and hit his head on the concrete leaving him unconscious.

Uili allegedly left and was arrested by police a short time later.

Mr McNeilly, spent most of Thursday in surgery to release pressure on serious brain swelling, with sources telling the Bulletin the surgery went well, although he wasn’t out of danger yet and was expected to remain in the ICU for the next 72 hours. He remains in a critical condition.

The court heard Amerika Uili had visited Sin City nightclub. Photograph: Jason O’Brien.

Queensland Ambulance Service Senior Operations Supervisor Jayney Shearman said paramedics who attended the scene found Mr McNeilly had suffered critical head injuries, mainly to the back of his head.

“He was unconscious and it was alleged that he suffered a head injury … he had a very significant closed head injury. He was treated on scene and transported with a critical care paramedic on board through to Gold Coast University Hospital,” Ms Shearman said.

“He has suffered a significant injury to his head. The area of the skull has actually stayed intact, but the injury has occurred within the brain itself.

“If he hadn’t been managed on scene there was a high potential that he could have died on scene.

“He had sustained critical injuries from the impact … the full investigation of the injuries will be carried out at the hospital, but from a Queensland Ambulance point of view he had significant head injuries to the back of his head.”

Magistrate Maryanne May denied Uili bail yesterday, saying it was a very serious assault.

“This victim is currently in the Gold Coast University Hospital in an induced coma,” she said.

“That’s a very serious assault … he may well die.”

The matter will return to court on July 9.