'Extreme' level of violence stuns cops

Ambulance staff asked for a police escort to get to this fight victim in Massey. Picture / Bradley Ambrose

A 20-year-old man bashed by partygoers during a large-scale brawl in West Auckland was unconscious when the majority of injuries were inflicted on him.

The attack was an example of the "extreme levels of violence" now common in assaults, police said.

The man suffered head fractures and was yesterday expected to undergo surgery for a broken jaw that would require a metal plate.

Police have seized several items, including a metal pole, from the Waimumu Rd, Massey, address where more than 50 people became involved in fighting, damaging cars and throwing bottles overnight on Saturday.

Ambulance staff had to call for police to escort them through the street rampage and worked on the victim for 45 minutes before he was taken to hospital. He was in a serious but stable condition yesterday.

The out-of-control party involving dozens of intoxicated people was one of two dealt with by police in West Auckland over the weekend.

They expect similar large gatherings over the summer.

An officer was knocked unconscious when a bottle struck him on the forehead as police tried to close down a party attended by more than 100 youths in Green Bay on Saturday night.

He received stitches to a deep gash and is off work.

Police say the extreme violence involved in the Massey attack was not uncommon.

The victim had been at the party and was unconscious from an assault before he sustained the majority of his injuries, said Detective Sergeant Peter Litherland, of the Henderson CIB.

"What we are noticing is once upon a time you would get the large parties [with] general disorder [but] a lot of the violence was often targeted at the police. But now we're getting extreme levels of violence against people and it's the degree of violence that's involved in these assaults that is the extremely concerning part."

Six people were arrested at the party and face various charges, including assault. Some will face more serious charges and more arrests would follow, Mr Litherland said.

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man who suffered a heart attack during a brawl outside an Auckland city bar over the weekend has spoken to police but remembers little about the fight.

The man had been thrown to the ground and had a knee placed on his chest during a fight between 10 people outside the Supper Club in Beresford St at 8.15am on Saturday.

He was revived at the scene by ambulance staff.

The man was taken off life support on Sunday night and his condition stabilised after initial concerns he might not survive.

Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Beard said it was not known if the man would regain any memory of the incident. Several witnesses had been interviewed but had given varying accounts of what happened.

Mr Beard has appealed for anyone who took photos or filmed the fight on mobile phones to contact Auckland police.

The weekend of violent assaults also included a tomahawk attack on a teenager in Manurewa.

Counties Manukau police are waiting to speak to the victim, who was struck in the head with the blunt end of the weapon at 2am on Saturday.

The attacker fled in a black Subaru Forrester vehicle.

The teen suffered a fractured skull and was taken to hospital by friends.

Police said the victim and his attackers were aged 16 and 17 and had associations with youth gangs.