A 15-year-old boy has been charged after another teenager was allegedly stabbed at Terrigal on the New South Wales Central Coast, prompting police to renew warnings about young people carrying knives.
Emergency services were called to Painters Lane at about 9:45pm on Friday after an injured 15-year-old approached a nearby home seeking assistance. The resident called Triple Zero and provided immediate help before paramedics arrived.
The wounded boy was treated at the scene for what police described as a single stab wound to his left side. He was taken to Gosford Hospital in a critical condition and underwent surgery. Police said he remained in a critical but stable condition as the investigation continued.
Teenager charged after police inquiries
Police initially established a crime scene in Painters Lane and spoke with several teenagers believed to have been in the area. Later on Saturday, a 15-year-old boy attended Gosford Police Station and was arrested.
He was charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Police refused bail, with the teenager due to appear in a children’s court on Sunday. The charge is an allegation and has not been proven in court.
Investigators from Brisbane Water Police District have been working to establish why two groups of teenagers went to Painters Lane and whether they knew one another before the alleged incident. Police said the injured boy had been with two friends and met another group that may have included as many as five people.
Detective Chief Inspector John Zdrilic said the reason the groups gathered in the lane remained unclear. Investigators were also examining whether there had been a previous relationship between them. Police have not suggested that the resident who helped the injured teenager was involved in the events leading to the alleged stabbing.
Resident praised for helping wounded boy
Police praised the person whose home the injured teenager approached, saying the resident rendered immediate assistance while emergency services were on their way. Paramedics then treated the boy in the street before taking him to hospital.
The incident has focused attention on knife possession among young people. Detective Chief Inspector Zdrilic said even one knife on the street was too many and stressed that police regularly run operations aimed at removing weapons from public places.
A weapon had not been recovered when police first outlined the investigation. Officers formed a strike force to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack and began gathering evidence from the neighbourhood.
Appeal for CCTV and dash-cam footage
Police have asked anyone who was in or around Painters Lane, Terrigal, on Friday night to contact investigators. They are particularly interested in CCTV, mobile phone video or dash-cam recordings that may show the movements of people or vehicles in the area before or after 9:45pm.
Terrigal is a busy coastal suburb east of Gosford, but Painters Lane is a residential street. The late-night emergency response drew police and ambulance crews to the neighbourhood as officers secured the scene.
Anyone with relevant information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit information through the Crime Stoppers website. Police have reminded the public not to publish speculation or material online that could identify children involved in the case or interfere with court proceedings.
The investigation remains active, and police have indicated that inquiries into the circumstances of the alleged stabbing are continuing.
