Man In Critical Condition After Coward Punch In Newtown

Man In Critical Condition After Coward Punch In Newtown
Image: Enmore Road and King Street in Damun/Stanmore Ward is one of the inner west’s most vibrant retail and entertainment cultural precincts. Photo: Wikipedia Commons.

A man is fighting for life after he was hit with a coward punch last night in Newtown.

The 26-year old was on Enmore Road at around 11pm on Wednesday when he was attacked by a group of people, police were told.

A witness said members of the public gave CPR to the man for several minutes before paramedics arrived. A Triple 0 caller reported that the man had been coward punched.

When paramedics arrived, they found the man with significant bleeding to his head. He was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.

Police established a crime scene and an investigation into the incident is underway.

“Officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command were told a 26-year-old man was assaulted by a group of people – believed to be more than two,” a police spokesperson said.

“A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the incident has commenced.”

Locals, onlookers shocked after attack

Although Enmore Road has become a nightlife hot spot over the last five years, the area hasn’t seen a significant level of violence.

The incident has come as a shock to locals, with one witness in tears as the man was loaded into the ambulance last night.

Coward punch attacks attracted significant media attention between 2012 and 2014, after the deaths and serious injuries of several young men.

Known more commonly at the time as a “king hit”, a dedicated social campaign changed the name to better reflect the character of those behind the attack.

The shocking violence of the coward punch was a significant motivator behind Sydney’s lockout laws, with politicians linking increased nighttime violence to alcohol consumption.

The laws gutted Sydney nightlife, and led to a steep decline in live music and entertainment, with many small businesses forced to close.

Enmore Road was announced as a Special Entertainment Precinct in  June 2024, which allows relaxed policies regarding live music venues, restaurants or bars.

After its success, the Inner West council announced more SEPs in Balmain, Dulwich Hill, Leichhardt, Marrickville North, Marrickville Town Centre, and Rozelle.

Comments are closed.