NRL star stabbed in brawl, brother critical
Sunday Feb 18 07:15 AEDT
New Zealand rugby league international and Penrith Panthers star Frank Pritchard has undergone emergency surgery to a severed thumb and his younger brother is fighting for his life after a street brawl early on Saturday.
Thomas Pritchard, 20, was in a critical condition in Liverpool Hospital after being stabbed in the heart and chest during the fight in south-western Sydney, believed to be over noise from a late-night party, newspapers report.
Police are preparing to charge 18 people, including the 23-year-old NRL second rower and at least two members of his family, over the street battle, The Sunday Telegraph reports.
The brothers are believed to have received a phone call that morning from their sister, who said neighbours in her apartment building had threatened her with a knife after she complained about loud music, The Sun-Herald reports.
Several members of the Pritchard family and 10 men of Asian appearance fought at the corner of Lachlan and Bigge streets, in Liverpool, about 3.30am after a dispute over loud karaoke music.
Frank Pritchard had surgery to his thumb while his cousins, Johnny and Alfred, were treated for stab wounds to the abdomen and shoulder, respectively.
The Penrith star is likely to be forced out of the opening rounds of the NRL premiership.
Police detained 14 people after the brawl, some wielding knives and tyre levers. Pritchard, his brother and two cousins were not detained as they were hospitalised.
All 18 will be charged with offences ranging from malicious wounding to malicious damage and affray, police said.
Police Superintendent Mick Plotecki told The Sunday Telegraph the brawl "seems to have been sparked by a noise complaint".
Describing the scene as a "carnage", he told the newspaper: "There was a lot of blood, knives everywhere, tyre levers and smashed car windows."
Thomas Pritchard underwent open heart surgery at Liverpool Hospital on Saturday.
"He was stabbed twice in the heart and once in the chest," his aunt, Ruta Mapusua, said.
"It's very sad - the family is very worried."
