City Beach construction site attack: Major Perth highway closed after man found with severe head, leg injuries

A man has been left without a lower leg — and fighting for his life in hospital — after a spat on a construction site escalated into a horrific car collision and hammer attack in the leafy suburb of City Beach.

WA Police have one man in custody, and another in hospital, following the bizarre and bloody incident which erupted at 11.20am on Monday morning.

Superintendent Manus Walsh confirmed that after a verbal altercation, a 29-year-old man ran from the area and was chased by another man driving a silver BT-50 ute.

“It is possible the victim was struck by the vehicle, and a secondary assault has then occurred by the offender with the use of a hammer,” Superintendent Walsh said.

“During the incident, the victim has sustained significant injuries to his leg.

“The victim has a severed leg, the lower part of his leg. He’s also received some injuries which we believe have been caused by the use of the hammer.”

Police revealed that witnesses at the scene — including an off-duty doctor — came to the man’s aid immediately, which included placing a tourniquet around his severed lower leg.

Without that help, the victim may not have survived, police said.

“We are very, very thankful for the off-duty doctor and the member of the public, who assisted in helping this victim to maintain his life and seek medical assistance,” Superintendent Walsh said.

A 25-year-old man is in custody.

But police are still seeking witnesses to the incident — and the hammer they believe may have been used in the attack.

A witness, who did not want to be named, said she saw a man walk past her holding what appeared to be a hammer before going into the water — emerging again without it.

“When I was leaving the beach, I heard someone talking really loud, and as I was coming off the walkway, this guy past me with no shirt on, just shorts on, and was talking weird,” she said.

“He had a carjack or a hammer and he said ‘sorry ma’am … then he kept walking past me and then when I turned around he was in the ocean and I thought ‘that was weird’.

“Then when I turned around again he’d come up … and he didn’t have the weapon in his hand.”

Police were later seen at the beach dressed in wetsuits at Floreat beach preparing to enter the ocean.

The victim was in critical condition at Royal Perth Hospital on Monday afternoon. Police are yet to speak to him.

“This would be a harrowing incident for anyone to observe whether they be trained police officers, whether they be members of the public,” Superintendent Walsh said.

“It was very lucky, very lucky that an off-duty doctor was there and a member of the public … and they stayed with them until St John’s arrived and then they were taken to the hospital.

“What I can say … is that within 14 minutes of the call being reported to police, we had an offender in custody.”

Police were seen removing several evidence bags from the construction site on Monday, as well as talking to eyewitnesses.

Emergency services were first called to West Coast Highway near The Boulevard in City Beach over reports of a “disturbance”.

A St John WA spokeswoman confirmed multiple paramedics attended, including a critical care paramedic.

West Coast Highway is closed between Hale Road and The Boulevard and traffic is heavy in the area.

Large blood spatters and strewn-out clothes can seen along the road, as detectives comb the beachside surrounds.

Anyone with any information, or vision, relating to this incident, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestopperswa.com.au