Four Victorians sustain horror injuries after illegal fireworks displays
Several Victorians have been badly injured during botched illegal fireworks displays as thousands stayed home for New Year’s Eve amid the latest COVID outbreak.
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Four Victorians have suffered horrific hand and facial injuries after illegal fireworks displays went wrong on New Year’s Eve.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said two people sustained their injuries in Lorne and the other two in Gippsland.
“Every year we have the issue of illegal fireworks and this year was no different,” he said.
He said police received 10 reports of illegal fireworks and three people were arrested over fireworks matters.
Victorians were praised for their behaviour on New Year’s Eve with Deputy Commissioner Nugent describing the night as the “quietest NYE celebrations for decades” in terms of movement and public celebrations.
“It’s pleasing to see majority of Victorians behave and celebrate safely,” he said.
He said many chose to celebrate privately amid concerns about the latest outbreak associated with a Thai restaurant in Black Rock.
“It’s clear no one within the community wants to go back into a hard lockdown.”
A small number of Victorians did do the wrong thing, with 17 arrested for being drunk in a public place, 25 on drug offences, five related to weapons and 15 arrested over alleged assaults at NYE events.
This included one serious incident in Cranbourne where several individuals gatecrashed a party and allegedly assaulted three people, leaving one fighting for life.
Officers said three men were outside a home on Push-Pea Way when they were confronted by a group of men who allegedly tried to barge their way in.
Other members of the group are accused of assaulting three victims before fleeing the scene on foot.
Some of the men attempted to enter the address, while the others allegedly started assaulting the three victims.
After failing to access the address, the entire group fled on foot.
One of the victims, a 48-year-old Cranbourne West man, was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
A 41-year-old Noble Park man and a 30-year-old Narre Warren man were also taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Police arrested two men allegedly hiding in nearby bushes and another two a short time later.
A 21-year-old Traralgon man and three Pakenham men, aged 19, 21 and 22, are being questioned by police.
Detectives are still searching for up to four other people, all believed to be African males.
Move on orders were also issued at St Kilda beach where more than 100 partygoers gathered despite COVID restrictions.
Originally published as Four Victorians sustain horror injuries after illegal fireworks displays
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