Gang Fights

[Ren Blade]

http://news.com.au/common/story_page...5E2862,00.html

Hand cut off in gang fight
By KELVIN HEALEY and SHANNON McRAE
February 29, 2004

A MAN's hand was hacked off at the wrist during a gang clash in Fitzroy Gardens last night.

A team of microsurgeons was working overnight to re-attach the hand, believed to have been severed by a Samurai-style sword.

Police said up to 40 youths had been involved in a "running battle" through the park when the attack occurred.

Witnesses said it had been a clash between two Asian gangs. But by the time police arrived, the youths had fled.

The man, 21, missing his left hand and bleeding heavily, staggered into St Vincent's Hospital shortly after 7pm. It was 30 minutes before police arrived with his hand, which they found after scouring the gardens.

A large sword discovered in a bush was believed to have been used in the attack. Several knives also were found.


Evidence: The sword discovered in undergrowth.
Picture: Tony Reddrop

The park was sealed off for several hours last night as police searched for evidence.

Sergeant Greg Baker, of the Melbourne criminal investigation unit, said it was not known what had sparked the violence or whether anybody else was hurt.

"There was a bit of a running battle through the park," he said.

The victim made his own way at least 500m to the hospital.

St Vincent's spokesman Mike Griffen said two teams of microsurgeons and nurses had been called in to re-attach the hand. Surgery was expected to continue through the night.

Mr Griffen said one team was working on the hand, another on the wrist. Surgeons were tagging major arteries and nerves before re-attaching the hand.

The team was hopeful of success.

"The patient and the hand arrived within a reasonably short time following the incident, which significantly improved the outlook for the operation," Mr Griffen said.

Albert St was blocked to westbound traffic between Clarendon and Landsdowne streets for several hours.

A Metropolitan Ambulance spokeswoman said an ambulance had been called, but was cancelled when police arrived and could not find anyone injured.

In similar circumstances on Friday night, an ambulance was called to the corner of nearby Victoria St after a report of a machete attack, but no one was at the scene when they arrived.