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Students suffered head injuries, with one now avoiding campus and suffering ongoing effects, after being hit by bottles thrown from a neighbouring house party.
At least five students, from the University of Canterbury, ARA Institute of Canterbury and the University of Otago, were left with serious wounds after severalbottles were thrown between two neighbouring flat parties on Hanrahan St in Riccarton.
The students were enjoying gathering ahead of the Electric Ave music festival late last month, which attracts university students from across the country to Christchurch, coming at the start of the academic year and Orientation Week.
“We didn’t really know that [throwing bottles] was a thing. Otherwise, I think we would have gotten out of harm’s way,” said 21-year-old Jade Holmes, who had travelled from Dunedin for the festival.
Jade Holmes suffered a nasty gash in the bottle-throwing incident at a Christchurch student party. Photo / Supplied
She was talking to a friend at the party when she was suddenly hit just below her right eye.
Holmes does not recall being in immediate pain, but began to freak out when she saw the blood.
“This shouldn’t be happening at an Electric Ave [pre-party]. I shouldn’t be belted in the face with a bottle, because this is supposed to be fun and, instead, I am having to be worried about my wellbeing,” Holmes said.
She has suffered migraines and vision impairment and is concerned she may also have sustained her second concussion.
“If this is another concussion, or if this is going to affect my studies, then it’s just like these boys [throwing bottles] just don’t see that they’re harming innocent people.”
She has received several questions in public about her injuries.
“I didn’t really want to go to uni, and actually I was being approached by people asking about my eye at the supermarket, even The Warehouse. It made me feel really uncomfortable.”
She has a general description of one of the bottle throwers and has attempted to contact members of the other flat herself, but was denied information about their identity.
The lack of justice has been frustrating, the students say.
“I definitely am still angry. I feel like all of them got off scot-free because we never found out who it was and none of them were affected, whereas like me and the others who were struck, it was quite scary, like if I lost my vision, it would’ve been really s***.”
Michaela Deegan, a 20-year-old ARA Institute of Canterbury student, who was at the neighbouring student flat party, was attempting to get out of harm’s way when she was struck on the top of her head.
The severe bleeding of her wound left her unrecognisable to her friends.
ARA Institute of Canterbury student Michaela Deegan’s head wound the following day, cleaned and medically glued, after being hit by the neck of a glass bottle. Photo / Supplied
Deegan said many were unaware that those on both sides of the fence were throwing bottles and being injured.
“Both sides of the fence thought they were getting the worst of it,” Deegan said.
She has previously been concussed and said that since the injury, she has experienced similar symptoms.
“The first time back at the gym after it happening, I was vomiting in the bathroom,” she said.
Holmes and Deegan were both grateful their injuries were not more severe.
“Thank God it’s not worse ... people die from brain injuries, and it’s just irresponsible for people to be throwing s*** that does not need to be thrown ... that kind of behaviour is so preventable,” Deegan said.
Police were informed at the time of the incident, the students say, but both Holmes and Deegan had left before officers arrived.
