Gold Coast mechanic Michael Hayes dies after coward punch
A mechanic who was coward punched on the Gold Coast has lost his fight for life.
Thirty-nine-year-old Michael Hayes was assaulted after leaving Destino Wine and Bar — at Sanctuary Cove on Hope Island — on Saturday evening when he was allegedly approached by a man dressed in black and attacked.
He died on Thursday morning. Police are now treating his death as a homicide.
Mr Hayes had been on life support at the Gold Coast Hospital since the attack and was not expected to survive.
Family ‘shattered’
Close friend Nik Toolios told the Gold Coast Bulletinhe had to say his last goodbyes to his mate on Sunday.
“We all rushed to hospital,” he said. “He woke up the next morning very briefly and then just deteriorated due to brain damage”.
Mr Toolios said Mr Hayes was a “loving father” who was going to leave behind two children, aged four and 10.
“He is a hardworking mechanic, loved his cars and loved his family,” he said.
“He is a light in the room and was never shy to meet new people.
“The family are shattered.”
On Thursday morning Mr Hayes sister, Lynda Blanch posted to Facebook and said “today’s the day little brother”.
“#forever39,” she wrote.
“Pinch ‘n’ punch for the 1st day of the month.
“Rest easy now. We love you.
“Forever in our hearts.
“Justice will be served. My Twin.”
Ms Blanch posted three photos of her holding Mr Hayes’ hand while he laid in hospital.
Tributes flowed from friends and family on her post.
“So sorry to hear this Lynda,” Liesl Ware commented.
“Deepest condolences to you and your family. May your brother rest peacefully.”
Old friend Becky Flint said she was “devastated” by the news.
“I’m in tears reading this,” she said.
“I will be thinking back today on all our good time together.
“I still have all the little pressies that Michael gave me back in the good old pony club days.”
Another wrote: “No words will help at this time. I feel this so much for you all.”
Too many deadly attacks
A coward punch is a strike to the head or neck that is unprovoked and delivered without warning, often from behind. It often knocks the victim unconscious, with further risk of head trauma when hitting the ground.
More than 170 Australians have been killed by them since 2000 with most assault occurring between midday and 3am from Friday to Sunday.
Ninety per cent of victims are male.
The term king hit, believed to date back to the late 1800s in Australia, refers to a single, unfair blow intended to knock someone out quickly.
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The push to refer to king hits as coward punches gained momentum in Australia in 2014 after the assault of 18-year-old Daniel Christie at Kings Cross.
As he lay in a critical condition in Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, his family said in a statement: “We don’t agree with the popular term king hit.”
“We have heard it referred to as a coward punch, which seems to be more appropriate.”
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