Reports

Swimmers evacuated after violent brawl erupts at a Melbourne aquatic centre

A violent brawl between a group of teenagers has erupted at an aquatic centre forcing swimmers to evacuate just weeks after a teen lifeguard was attacked.

The brawl broke out at Casey Race Aquatic Centre in Cranbourne East, 43km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, about 4.45pm on Sunday. 

Witnesses claimed the fight started after parents asked the group of teens to stop performing dangerous stunts such as flips and bombs near swimmers. 

A video of the brawl shared to social media showed at least 10 young people kicking and punching each other while a girl tried to break up the fight. 

Swimmers were told to exit the pool and the centre was evacuated. 

The swimmer who filmed the brawl said the offenders had jumped over the fence during the evacuation and fled the scene before police arrived.   

‘On police arrival all parties involved had left the scene,’ Victoria Police confirmed. 

‘There were no reported injuries.’

Footage captured the moment a brawl broke out between about 10 teenagers at Casey Race Aquatic Centre in Cranbourne East on Sunday afternoon (pictured)

Locals have called for the group of offenders to be banned for life from the centre (pictured)

Locals have called for the group of offenders to be banned for life from the centre (pictured)

A police investigation into the fight is ongoing.  

Outraged locals called for the teens to be banned for life to ensure the safety of other swimmers and avoid similar incidents in the future. 

‘Don’t ever let them back in! If they can’t behave like normal humans and enjoy public pools then ban them for life,’ one angry local wrote on the Casey Crime Facebook page. 

‘Should be banned from entering the centre again they are going to lose a lot of members if they don’t do something too keep people safe,’ a second agreed. 

‘They need to be arrested and banned from all government swimming facilities,’ a third commented. 

Victoria Police said officers were unable to determine if the group was linked to the violent attack on a lifeguard last month.  

The 19-year-old lifeguard was on duty at the Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre pool in Narre Warren when he was attacked about 5.50pm on January 19.

It’s understood he had previously told off about eight teenagers for performing flips and other stunts that might endanger other swimmers.

Victoria Police released these photos of a group they wish to speak to over an incident where a  lifeguard was viciously attacked at the Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre on January 19

Victoria Police released these photos of a group they wish to speak to over an incident where a  lifeguard was viciously attacked at the Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre on January 19

The lifeguard was taken to Dandenong Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, including bruises, cuts and scratches on his upper body (pictured, the injured lifeguard's shirt)

The lifeguard was taken to Dandenong Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, including bruises, cuts and scratches on his upper body (pictured, the injured lifeguard’s shirt)

The group headbutted, kicked and punched the lifeguard, whose uniform was splattered with blood. He was taken to Dandenong Hospital to be treated for cuts and scratches to his upper body.

The offenders fled the scene and remain on the run, with police releasing images of the group and appealing to the public for help in identifying them. 

Julie Thorne Pemberton said her son attempted to help the embattled lifeguard. 

‘That’s my son in the black vest taking the chair away that they were using to slam into the young lifeguards face,’ she wrote on social media.

‘He pushed into the group to help. I’ve seen footage that his girlfriend had & it’s pretty full on and disgusting.’

Ms Thorne Pemberton said the lifeguard had just been trying to do his job. 

‘He asked them to stop doing dives & backflips into the pool. They had already been told & had a timeout period but kept going anyway,’ she said.

The attack came just weeks after a national campaign was launched to try and stop mindless violence against staff at aquatic centres.

Royal Life Saving data shows there are about 2,000 incidents of abuse, violence, and aggression directed at staff working in aquatic facilities in Australia every year.

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  • Source of information and images “dailymail

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