Man remains critical after 21st birthday brawl

Staff examine the scene of the brawl, which left the man near death with brain injuries. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A young man with severe brain injuries remains in a critical but stable condition after a huge brawl - possibly sparked by gatecrashers - at an Auckland 21st birthday party last night.

At least 50 people were involved in the street fight, and police were yesterday treating it as a homicide inquiry.

They had arrested eight people but had yet to lay any charges over the 22-year-old's head injuries. Inquiries were continuing last night.

The mob - many armed with pieces of wood - smashed car windows and fought one another outside the New Lynn party about 2am.

At least six people were taken to hospital.

The 22-year-old had surgery yesterday and remains in a critical condition in Auckland Hospital, said a hospital spokesperson.

Police were called to Riverbank and Binsted Rds, where dozens of people were reported to be fighting.

A neighbour who saw the brawl described the scene as terrifying.

"It just erupted, totally. People were running down the street with bits of timber, smashing everything, overturning rubbish bins.

"It was a destruction. There were about eight cars with smashed windows outside this morning."

The neighbour, who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions, said about 50 people - many who seemed to be teenagers - were involved.

"They just kept coming and coming. When the police came, they [the fighters] were hiding behind our properties, using the outside taps to wash blood off themselves.

"The noise was so loud. It was like football crowds at the stadium - yells and screams."

Earlier, crowds arrived at the party carrying boxes of alcohol, with music blaring, the neighbour said.

Police said they had been told up to 200 people were at the party.

Another resident said his wife rushed to the bedroom when she heard screaming and yelling coming from outside.

"She was so afraid ... We called the police straight away."

Another resident, Alex Fu, said: "I heard police come and use a loud hailer and then it went quiet."

Both streets were closed for much of yesterday, as forensic teams gathered evidence.

Shattered glass was strewn on the road, and at least five vehicles were still there with smashed windows.

Officers at the scene were placing items in large brown paper bags.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stan Brown of the Waitakere police CIB said no one had yet been arrested for the serious assault.

"He [the 22-year-old] has got severe head and brain damage. There's been a few sticks around, so we think obviously he's been beaten.

"But he was also on the ground, so he could have been trampled on."

Mr Brown said police were investigating the possibility that the brawl was the result of people gatecrashing the party.

"We've got several stories and that's one of the stories, that there were gatecrashers.

"We've got a lot of people to talk to, and we've spoken to less than 10 per cent."

Adam DeBeer, of security specialists Red Badge Group, said yesterday that it was important to have a "security plan" in place when organising events such as 21st birthday parties.

"It is important to have a list of those who have been invited to the party, and someone to screen it at the entry.

"You don't need a professional security [guard], but maybe getting a parent or a responsible adult to do it. Having someone in charge of security will act as a deterrent for would-be gatecrashers or troublemakers," Mr DeBeer said.

Party fights, fuelled by alcohol, happened, but it was rare for them to result in someone fighting for his life.

In 2007, Auckland Grammar School student Augustine Borrell, 17, was stabbed to death at a party in the inner-city suburb of Herne Bay.

Trouble started after gatecrashers arrived.

Eighteen-year-old Haiden Davis was convicted of murder last year.

- with NZ Herald staff