First night of schoolies marred by violence
The first night of Gold Coast schoolies has been marred by violence after a young girl was brutally assaulted by a group of female revelers.
The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning on the beachfront at Surfers Paradise.
Footage shows the 22-year-old being repeatedly punched in the face before having her head slammed against a steel fence.
A man who tried to protect her was also attacked.
A young girl had her face repeatedly slammed into a steel fence.
A total of 19 schoolies were arrested overnight.
Police say the 18 males and one female were arrested for 23 offences, mainly for being drunk and public nuisances, although there were eight arrests for drug offences.
There were also 42 schoolies issued fines for drinking in public on Sunday.
Officers arrested 35 non-schoolies on 40 charges, mainly for public nuisance-type offences.
Three non-schoolies also received fines for public drinking.
Up to 20,000 school leavers were expected to party at Surfers Paradise clubs and pubs on Sunday night.
