Coward punch: Brisbane teen assaulted in Fortitude Valley

A TEENAGER was hospitalised overnight after he was allegedly coward punched while trying to break up a fight in Brisbane.

Coward punch teen tried to stop fight

FOOTAGE has been released of the moments a teenager was allegedly held in a headlock and repeatedly punched in the head in Fortitude Valley last night.

Police alleged the 19-year-old man from Hamilton tried to break up a fight between two groups at an Ann St taxi rank when he was assaulted.

The dramatic footage shows one offender punch the teen multiple times in the face while the other holds his head.

The second man then steps in and punches the victim in the face, causing him to fall onto the cement cradling his head.

The victim lost consciousness and was transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for treatment to non-life threatening head and facial injuries. He has since been released from hospital.

A 21-year-old New Farm man was arrested by police and is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court this morning. Police are seeking assistance to identify and locate the second man involved.

The assault comes a day after the funeral for Cole Miller, 18, who died after an alleged one-punch assault, also in Fortitude Valley, earlier this month.

But speaking to media this morning, and reported by the ABC, Acting Superintendent Aitken said last night’s incident was unlike the attack that killed Mr Miller.

“The circumstances behind these two incidents are very, very different,” he said.

He said it was not for police to say whether the attack was a so-called coward punch, but warned any form of violence would not be tolerated.

Police investigating into this incident are continuing.

Originally published as Coward punch: Brisbane teen assaulted in Fortitude Valley