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Man’s hand chopped off in alleged Coffs Harbour assault

A man has lost his hand in an alleged brutal assault at a popular Aussie beach city.

Bird of Dawning stranded on Coffs Harbour's Jetty Beach.
NewsWire

An 18-year-old who was allegedly found with a machete in his vehicle has been charged after another man’s hand was severed in an alleged assault.

Police were called to a home on Toormina Place, Coffs Harbour at about 6.45am on Wednesday, following reports a man’s hand had been cut off in an alleged assault.

The 59-year-old man was treated at the scene before being flown to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Two women, aged 58 and 80, were at the premises at the time of the alleged melee and were not injured, police said.

The location of Coffs Harbour in NSW. Picture: Google Maps
The location of Coffs Harbour in NSW. Picture: Google Maps

NSW Police say investigators were told the man had allegedly been assaulted by two assailants who forced their way into the unit.

It was reported on Wednesday that police believed one of the two men allegedly involved was known to the 59-year-old.

An 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with the alleged assault on Wednesday night.

Officers were patrolling in South Grafton when they spotted a vehicle without registration plates, then gave chase when the driver allegedly failed to stop.

The vehicle soon got bogged on playing fields and the 18-year-old was taken into custody.

Police allege a machete was found in the vehicle.

The 18-year-old has since been charged with special aggravated break enter commit serious indictable offence, cause grievous bodily harm with intent, police pursuit not stop, and possess a prohibited drug.

He was refused bail to appear in Grafton Local Court on Thursday.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Duncan Evans
Duncan EvansReporter

Duncan Evans is a reporter for News Corp’s NewsWire service, based in Adelaide. Before NewsWire, he worked as a resources and politics reporter for The Daily Mercury in Mackay, Queensland and as a reporter at CQ Today, an independent newspaper based in Rockhampton. He was raised in Emerald and Brisbane and studied English Literature and American Studies at the University of Sydney. He began his career in journalism working for the Jakarta Post in Indonesia for over two years as an editor, translator and writer. He is fluent in Indonesian.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/mans-hand-chopped-off-in-alleged-coffs-harbour-assault/news-story/836a3889e1f1b89b2861a570535af0a0