22-year-old critical after brutal Burleigh assault

Police are hunting for five people after a 22-year-old man was kicked in the head in a Burleigh street, leaving him in critical condition with a serious head injury.

Police have issued another urgent appeal for public assistance over a brutal bashing at Burleigh Heads that has left a man in hospital fighting for life.

The 22-year-old victim remains at Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition after he was kicked in the head in a brawl between two groups along First Ave around 2.30am on Sunday.

He has since undergone surgery for a bleed on the brain.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or captured dashcam or CCTV footage from the area to urgently contact police.

On Monday, Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said police were hunting five men in relation to the attack.

The five are all believed to be males aged in their late teens or early twenties.

They fled from the scene in a white four-wheel drive after the assault.

First Ave in Burleigh Heads. Picture: Google Maps.

“Police are investigating the matter,” Chief Supt Hanlon said. “We know that there were five people in the group and they exited the scene immediately after this young fella was kicked.

“The person who kicked the young male is described as in his early 20s, of Islander appearance, solid build and about six foot tall.

“Whilst we know it happened about 2.15am on Sunday morning we’re hoping that people may have been around the scene and if they can they can provide us with some information.”

It is understood the injured man’s head bounced off concrete after he was kicked.

The two groups involved in the brawl were not previously known to each other, with police – who have recovered CCTV from the area – investigating the events leading up to the altercation.

“We do know that one person kicked the young boy but we want to know what involvement everyone had from both sides to ascertain exactly what happened, how the incident started and what was the actual involvement of each and every one of those people,” Chief Supt Hanlon said.

“ ... The actions of all members leading up to the disturbance is forming part of our investigation.”

Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

The incident comes after police had in recent months revealed they had increased resources in the Burleigh area on Friday and Saturday nights as a result of increased calls to service.

“Recently we deployed extra staff to Burleigh particularly to go into those licenced premises and to make sure people there are safe,” Chief Supt Hanlon said.

“Officers from the southern police stations as well as RAP (Rapid Action and Patrol officers) will go to Burleigh every Friday and Saturday.

“It’s about making sure that people are safe, but also feel safe, and making sure that people can get home safely.”

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Originally published as 22-year-old critical after brutal Burleigh assault