Woman loses sight in eye after glowstick prank

A young woman has lost sight in her left eye after being hit with a glowstick at a birthday party.

Mount Maunganui kiwifruit worker Paul Michael Keith, 19, pleaded guilty in Tauranga District Court yesterday to a charge of wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of others, The Bay of Plenty Times reported.

Keith and the victim were at a birthday party at Pikowai Beach near Matata on February 6. He picked up a glowstick - a plastic tube about 15cm long filled with luminescent liquid - and threw it at the victim's group, hitting her in the left eye.

She taken to Tauranga Hospital and treated for a ruptured cornea in her left eye.

She lost all sight in the injured eye and still needs medical treatment. The long term prognosis for the return of vision in the eye is poor.

When spoken to by police Keith said while he had not intended to harm anyone and it was a "stupid mistake".

He was released on bail. He will be sentenced on July 30 and there may be a restorative justice meeting with his victim.

- NZPA