A 15-year-old North Shore schoolboy was brutally beaten and had his head repeatedly stomped on in a group attack. Photo / Supplied
Warning: This article contains descriptions of violence.
A local councillor is “appalled” after a North Shore schoolboy had his head repeatedly stomped on in a group attack and swam out to sea in a bid to escape his tormentors.
The Herald spoke to a family member of the 15-year-old victim, who shared a video of the incident that occurred about 8.30pm on Saturday, March 14.
The relative said the attack involved about 20 young people, and some were allegedly carrying knives.
“They literally surround him like a pack of dogs ... I shouldn’t say that because dogs are lovely, like a pack of animals,” the family member who wished to remain anonymous said.
The incident took place at a small cove at the foot of Maungauika/North Head, which is a secluded beach tucked around the corner from nearby homes.
Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chairwoman Trish Deans said she was appalled at the severity of the attack.
“This is a violent attack where a mob who are out of sight decide they can single out a teenager, a cowardly action,” she said.
Deans said she has lived in Devonport for 30 years and raised a family without concern for her three teenagers’ safety.
“I have walked around the cove area and have never witnessed any form of aggression,” Deans said.
She said the gates at the entrance to Maungauika/North Head are closed in the evening. There are ways for pedestrians to enter but this has never been a problem.
“Our community is shocked that a random brutal attack can happen in our neighbourhood,” Deans said.
Police said investigations are continuing after a report of an assault involving a group of young people.
Police have spoken to two people so far, with one referred to Youth Aid Services and the second due to appear in the youth court today charged with assault with intent to injure.
Inquiries are continuing as police identify others involved.
The victim’s family member said that not long after the teen arrived for a planned bonfire, he realised he was about to be attacked.
She said she understood he knew some of the young people who attended, but not all of them.
He then attempted to leave and managed to text a family member for help.
“He said, ‘I’m about to get jumped. I think I’m going to die’.”
The family member said the alleged offenders then came at the teen from the front and the back.
What occurred next was captured on video, which was later sent by a member of the public. The violent clip was also sent to the victim after the attack.
The family member said the teen went into fight or flight mode as the alleged perpetrators stomped on his skull.
“The whole time, he has his hands covering his head. Thank goodness, because his skull probably would have been crushed in that,” she said.
The family member said other people in the group later had to pull one of the individuals off the victim.
“They had to stop him. The actual attackers had to stop that attacker from continually stomping on his skull,” she said.
She said that as the video continued, the victim then jumped off a bank to escape.
“He’s jumped off a bank, run into the sea, swam out to sea to get away from these animals, sat in the sea for 20 minutes because they were going up and down the shoreline,” she said.
The family member said he then swam around the rocks and ran to a house.
“[The people in the house] put him in a hot shower because he’s shivering and they’re worried he’s going to get hypothermia, put him in dry clothes, and then rung him an Uber,” she said.
She said about five family members then arrived at the beach to find him after his earlier call for help.
While they were searching, she said they were told by other partygoers that some of the alleged assailants were armed with knives and were still looking for the victim.
“They weren’t finished. They weren’t finished with that child,” she said.
After the attack, the victim still refused to talk about the incident and a doctor said it was a “miracle” he wasn’t badly injured.
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