Nurse Hospitalised After Alleged Racist Assault Outside Geelong Gym
A 22-year-old nurse has described the terrifying moment he was allegedly confronted and physically assaulted by strangers in what appears to be a racially motivated attack. Harmanpreet Singh was leaving the Planet Fitness gym in Corio, near Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, late on Tuesday night when he was approached by three men.
Confrontation Captured on Camera
Mr Singh claimed the men had harassed him earlier during his workout. Footage of the subsequent confrontation shows one man aggressively calling Mr Singh an 'Indian dog' and spitting in his direction. The attacker was heard saying, 'You want to f***ing mouth off when there's cameras? You want to mouth off, you Indian dog.'
He continued with xenophobic remarks, telling Mr Singh to 'get back on your f***ing boat and go back to where you come from.' The man also asked two other individuals to 'drag (Mr Singh) over to where there's no cameras' and threatened, 'You want me to f**k you up and get locked up? You're not worth time, you're not worth jail time.'
Violent Assault and Injuries
Mr Singh alleged that he was then headbutted by one of the men, resulting in a broken nose. The physical assault itself was not filmed. 'He got really close to my face and then just got really back and hit his head on my nose. It just started bleeding straight away,' he told Nine News.
He emphasised that he was not provoking the altercation, stating, 'They just wanted to attack. I wasn't provoking anything. I was being calm and literally saying I don't want to fight you guys.' The footage concluded with the man taking a photo of what he believed to be Mr Singh's number plates, claiming he had 'mates that will find your address.'
Impact on Victim's Life
Mr Singh spent the night in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries and remains deeply traumatised by the alleged attack. His recovery has delayed the start of a new job at Footscray Hospital by a week. He also fears that he may require surgery for his broken nose.
This incident is not the first time Mr Singh has faced racial abuse since arriving in Australia four years ago. The ordeal has left him considering significant life changes, including changing gyms and moving from the area to avoid similar confrontations.
Community and Official Responses
Mr Singh expressed his distress, saying, 'I try to keep myself strong and not care about these things but it hurts, just be kind to each other, there's no need to be racist.' He added, 'I don't know if I'm going to go back to the gym or if I'm going to change my house. I'm not going to feel safe after this.'
Local Mayor Stretch Kontelj condemned the incident, asserting that racism has 'no place in Geelong or in Australia.' He stated, 'We are a diverse and multicultural city built on respect, hard work and the principle that everyone deserves to feel safe and valued, regardless of their background.' Mayor Kontelj expressed confidence that the matter would be reported to Victoria Police and that appropriate action would be taken if laws were breached.
Police Investigation Underway
Victoria Police are actively investigating the alleged assault. Authorities are urging anyone with information or footage of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers to assist with the inquiry.
