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A teenager has been left with a broken nose after a savage attack at Craigmore High School

A teen navigating school with autism has been left petrified after a savage schoolyard attack – with the victim’s head stomped on multiple times.

Tyrian Vonalpen (bottom left) has been left traumatised after an unprovoked attack at Craigmore High School. Picture: Supplied
Tyrian Vonalpen (bottom left) has been left traumatised after an unprovoked attack at Craigmore High School. Picture: Supplied

An Adelaide teen with autism has been left petrified, after he was brutally attacked at a northern suburbs school.

Tyrian Vonalpen was punched in the face during lunch time at Craigmore High School on June 20.

The attacker then allegedly stomped on the 15-year-old’s head several times, as other students reportedly watched on.

The unprovoked attack left the Year 10 student – who is highly autistic – with a bloodied face, cuts all over his head and a broken nose, which will require surgery.

He is now struggling with breathing problems and cartilage damage, with doctors telling his family he will have to wait six weeks for the swelling to go down, before they can reset his nose.

Tyrian Vonalpen was punched in the face during lunch time at Craigmore High School on June 20. Picture: Supplied
Tyrian Vonalpen was punched in the face during lunch time at Craigmore High School on June 20. Picture: Supplied
The 15-year-old who has autism also had his head stomped on. Picture: Supplied
The 15-year-old who has autism also had his head stomped on. Picture: Supplied

“I rushed straight down to the school and his nose was completely broken, he was p***ing out blood and they had an ambulance on the way,” his mother, Kerryn, said.

The attacker has been suspended from the school. Picture: Supplied
The attacker has been suspended from the school. Picture: Supplied

“His head was stomped on five, six, seven times and he had lacerations all over his head.

“There were a bunch of people standing around watching.”

Tyrian is enrolled in the school’s disability program – known as the Banksia Unit – where he is given additional care.

But on the day of the attack, she says he was given permission from a teacher to enter the main school to visit some friends.

It was then when he was set upon by another child.

The mother of four says his physical injuries pale in comparison to the psychological damage.

“The first thing he said to me when I got there was ‘Please don’t make me go back into the mainstream again’,” she says.

“He’s petrified of that part of the school.

“I don’t understand how he was left unsupervised for so long that someone could do that to him.”


An Education Department spokesperson said the student has been suspended and is expected to be excluded from the school.

“This was a serious and unacceptable incident which was immediately reported by the school to the injured student’s parents, and to the police,” they said.

“Wellbeing support is being provided to the injured student, and their family.

It is expected this support will be ongoing and particularly focused on supporting his return to school when he’s able.”

SA Police are investigating the incident, with no one charged at this time.

Originally published as A teenager has been left with a broken nose after a savage attack at Craigmore High School

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/south-australia/a-teenager-has-been-left-with-a-broken-nose-after-a-savage-attack-at-craigmore-high-school/news-story/a6a3477bbe7a4dfc2db37c75df0d12d8