A fight that began inside a barber shop in Toxteth spilled out onto the street and left a bystander fighting for his life after a punch bag machine fell on him. The man, in his 50s, suffered a serious head injury and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.
Police called to Berkley Street
Merseyside Police were called to a row of shops on Berkley Street in Toxteth at just before 7pm on Thursday, October 29. During the altercation, a punch bag machine was pushed over and landed on the male bystander, who had no involvement in the fight.
The area where the incident happened is a pedestrianised square and a popular meeting place for people in the area. The punching bag machine is often put up outside the shops but is not tied down. The square is on the edge of Liverpool city centre and overlooks the busy junction of Upper Parliament Street and Princes Road.
Eyewitness describes the scene
When the ECHO visited the scene this morning, most of the shops were cordoned off, including Bon Cafe and Katma Barber. The cordon had been scaled down since last night, with people allowed to walk through the square at the side. Forensic officers focused their efforts on the barber shop and could be seen taking photos inside.
One man in the area last night said the brawl started in the barbers and involved three men. He told the ECHO: “I saw the fighting. They were fighting in the barber shop. I separated them twice.” Despite this, the fighting continued in the street, during which the punching bag machine fell into the victim.
The eyewitness said he knows the victim and that he had no involvement with the fight. Police have also described him as a bystander. He said: “I went outside. I said, excuse me, can anyone help? They separated. One of the men then threw a power bank down on the ground. He threw a bike down. Then he pushed the punching bag machine over.
“I called the ambulance, I called the police. There was blood everywhere. The ambulance came within 10 minutes. I know him. I called his family and went to the hospital.”
Appeal for information
Detective Inspector Lee Egerton said: “Enquiries into this incident are ongoing and we are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Berkley Street at around 7pm last night who saw anything or can assist our enquiries in any way to get in touch as a matter of urgency.”
Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC using reference 26000888085. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website. Information can also be passed directly to the investigation team via the digital policing portal link.
