Man's finger amputated after attack with bedpost

A young man has had part of a finger amputated after being attacked with a bedpost.

The 20-year-old from Papakura was yesterday operated on at Middlemore Hospital to have the top half of his left index finger cut off.

In the early hours of yesterday morning, police and emergency services were called to a property in Marybeth Place in Rosehill, Papakura, where a fight had broken out.

Police said an 18-year-old male attacked the victim with a bedpost after he was seen talking to a young woman believed to be the 18-year-old's girlfriend.

The man suffered injuries to his hands as well as a fractured skull after being struck on the head.

A neighbour said a group of young people - aged in their late teens to early twenties - had been having a small party in the garage earlier in the evening.

Another fight had broken out at about 5.30pm but police were not called.

"They just had loud music on and a fight broke out - but it's normal for them," the neighbour said. "There were two groups, about 10 of them altogether."

Asked if there were any young women caught up in the fight, the neighbour said: "No, the girls stayed out of the way."

Counties Manukau District Health Board spokeswoman Lauren Young yesterday confirmed the 20-year-old was in theatre and would be admitted to a ward after surgery.

The man was expected to make a full recovery, she said.

A spokeswoman for the Counties Manukau Police said the 18-year-old offender was not yet in police custody but he would be charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.