Warning: Story contains graphic image

An Edgecumbe man is “lucky to be alive” after being struck in the face with a hammer at the Plains Hotel, his father says.

The man was yesterday undergoing surgery at Tauranga Hospital after being attacked at the hotel in Edgecumbe about 11.30pm on Friday.

His father, Gerrard Edwards, said he came millimetres from death.

He said his son, aged 30, had told him he was having a quiet drink with friends – only the second time he had been to the hotel – when the black leather vest with white accents he was wearing attracted the attention of a group of five young men.

Edwards said he believed the men, aged in their early 20s, were from Te Teko and probably trying to earn their Mongrel Mob patches.

He said they approached his son’s table in the garden bar and one of them pulled out a hammer and hit his son’s friend on the back of the skull.

He then turned the hammer around and hit his son on the right eye socket and forehead area.

Edwards said the attackers were surprised when his injured son remained standing and coherent.

He said his son asked them, “What the hell was that for?” and they said, “Take your jacket off – you’re a gang member.”

“He said to them, ‘No I’m not, I just ride my Harley, and I ain’t taking my vest off’.”

An Edgecumbe man was struck in the face with a hammer at the Plains Hotel on Friday night.

Edwards had nothing but praise for the hotel staff, who immediately rang the police and ambulance.

Both men required medical attention, with Edwards’ son admitted to Whakatāne Hospital with a fractured skull and right eye socket.

He underwent surgery during the weekend to check and clean the eye socket and was released for further exploratory surgery in Tauranga yesterday. A third operation is scheduled for next month.

Police confirmed they were investigating the attack.

Acting Sergeant Dave Gillies said police responded to a report of a man acting aggressively at premises on College Rd in Edgecumbe about 11.55pm on Friday.

“When police arrived, two people said they had been assaulted and one required medical attention.

“While no charges have yet been laid, the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

“At this time, we are unable to provide further details.”

Edwards said the unprovoked attack angered he and his wife, who were both long-time residents, born and raised in Edgecumbe, and who loved and felt very protective of their town.

Plains Hotel in Edgecumbe.

They could not believe their son was targeted simply because of what he was wearing.

“We were almost at a funeral today … and what for – a bloody vest? My son’s lucky to be alive,” Edwards said.

“Young guys like that cannot go around towns thinking they can take lives just because of a leather jacket.

“My son is a trained fighter, with many fights in his history. So, they are very lucky he didn’t get a hold of them.”

It is not the first gang-related incident Edwards had heard about in the town in recent times and he was determined to put a stop to such thuggery.

“The gang presidents need to haul these youngsters in and make them accountable, before there is a senseless death,” Edwards said.

“I love my town – it’s a rarity to find a good little quiet town without loose gang members everywhere.

“I taught a fighting club in Edgecumbe for 20 years and I have taught many of these gangsters’ wider family members in that time.

“These guys are just ratbags. Not like the old-school fellas; some of the old-schoolers actually had morals. These guys are running a totally different game and it’s dangerous and gutless.”

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