Burleigh Heads assault: Man left with broken jaw after ‘coward punch’

Another brutal assault has happened in the same beachside Gold Coast suburb where a young man was allegedly fatally bashed, and the latest victim’s family is calling for urgent action to stop a rising tide of violence.

Burleigh bashing victim Ethan Burgess with his uncle Glen (left) and father Anthony.

Another brutal assault has happened in the same beachside Gold Coast suburb where a young man was allegedly fatally bashed last month – and the latest victim’s family is calling for urgent action to stop a rising tide of violence.

Currumbin Waters man Ethan Burgess, 25 – nephew of former St George Dragons rugby league star Glen Burgess – was left with a badly broken jaw after being “coward punched” by a stranger as he got into an Uber car at Burleigh Heads last week.

The attack happened just weeks after 22-year-old Cameron Duce died in hospital from horrific head injuries after an alleged vicious assault in Burleigh.

Mr Burgess and a mate were getting into the rideshare Tesla outside the Burleigh Heads Hotel early last Friday when a young man with “dirty blonde hair”, who had also been drinking at the pub, launched the unprovoked attack.

Burleigh bashing victim Ethan Burgess was left with a broken jaw.

“I remember him sprinting at me from about 30m away,” Mr Burgess, who can still barely talk after having his jaw wired in Gold Coast University Hospital, told police in a statement.

“He sprinted to me and the last thing I remember is that I put my arm out in front to stop him.”

Mr Burgess said he had “very little memory” of what happened next, except feeling blood on his face.

“My entire jaw was sore,” he told police.

He was taken to Kingscliff Hospital before being transported by ambulance to Gold Coast University Hospital for surgery.

Mr Burgess’ father, Anthony, and uncle Glen, said the attack was “sickening” and could easily have ended in tragedy.

“We could have had two dead kids in the space of a few weeks,” Glen said.

“It’s as scary as you get.”

Anthony said the attacker and his mates had been thrown out of the pub and it was clear he was spoiling for a fight.

“From the get-go, there was something off with him – he was aggressive straight up,” he said.

“His mates tried to calm him down and took him across the road towards the lifeguard centre. Ethan says he just had evil in his eyes.”

Cameron Duce, who died after an alleged assault in Burleigh on September 22.

Ethan’s father and uncle said they were concerned the police investigation could be left with a young Palm Beach constable who took the statement rather than Burleigh Heads detectives.

“Catching this grub should be a matter of urgency for the police,” Anthony said.

“He’s still out there on the streets and we don’t want this happening to anyone else.”

Queensland Police Service has been contacted for comment.

Burleigh has been rocked by alcohol and drug-related violence and anti-social behaviour in recent years after emerging as the Gold Coast’s new night-life hotspot.

The situation has become a state election issue, with Burleigh LNP candidate and former Gold Coast City councillor Hermann Vorster unveiling a $4.1m “community safety plan” including a new police station, increased CCTV cameras and local liquor accord.

Coast Mayor Tom Tate has pledged 40 extra CCTV cameras when the light-rail extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh opens next year.

Mr Duce’s family have also started a #Justice4Cam campaign to lobby for improved safety in Burleigh.

Originally published as Burleigh Heads assault: Man left with broken jaw after ‘coward punch’