FATALITIES
PUNCH in Australia
ONE
(2000-2012)
A recent review of “King hit”
fatalities in Australia between January 2000
and December 2012 revealed that there has been at
least 90 cases involving a fatal king hit to the head, neck
or chest (Pilgrim, Gerostamoulos, & Drummer, 2014).
Cause of death?
Most common cause of death was head or facial
injury, followed by intracranial haemorrhage
(bleeding into the brain), and secondary brain
trauma (complications).
86
4
Drug and alcohol involvement
Alcohol intoxication was detected in 79%
of cases with median BAD reading of
.14. Involvement of other drugs was less
common, with cannabis next prevalent (9
cases). Circumstances surrounding the
assaults are outlined in the figures below,
including location, day, and timing of
incidents.
Where did
they occur?
The victims of these one-punch fatalities were
86 males and 4 females, between the ages of 17
and 78 years (median age of 33 years).
Type of punch?
14
24
2
28
Figure 1. Location of incidents
85
fatalities involved
single punches
24
This document was created by Coco Bernard, in her capacity as the Executive Research Officer at Steph Back Think. This information
should not be altered or reproduced without her permission. She can be contacted via email on [email protected]
cases involved
2 consecutive, rapid,
punches
3 cases involved
3 consecutive punches.
Numbe
Retail
Unspecified
Justice
14000
13500
Age
13000
Educational
2010/11
2009/10
2008/09
2007/08
2006/07
2005/06
2003/04
12000
2004/05
12500
Health
FATALITIES
PUNCH in Australia
3500
Year
Male
2000
2000
1600
1500
Family Member
1000
Partner (ex or current)
Employer/Employee
500
Acquaintance
n=21
600
65-70
75-79
70-74
60-64
65-70
55-59
60-64
45-49
55-59
40-44
35-39
50-54
30-34
45-49
25-29
20-24
40-44
35-39
15-19
10-14
< 10
0
30-34
Neighbour
Fri
In summary,
the graphs illustrate that:
800
• most cases occurred at a
hotel/pub or in a public space
(public
space includes 7 incidents where the
0
assault occurred shortly after the deceased had left a
licensed venue where they had been drinking)
15-19
Stranger
1200
1000
200
< 10
Stranger
Fem
400
10-14
Acquaintance
Ma
1400
25-29
n=20
(2000-2012)
1800
Number of Assaults
Mon - Thurs
Female
2500
20-24
Number of Assaults
3000
50-54
ONE
Age
most assaults (73%) occurred between
FridayAge
and Sunday,
and between the hours of 12am and 3am.
3500
Male
20
12
n=21
11
6
Age
3
4
2
16
17
16
06:00-11:59
18
03:00-05:59
20
00:00-02:59
22:00-23:59
18:00-21:59
12:00-17:59
0
19
16
14
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
12
Day of incident
(occurring from 00:01-23:59 each day)
Time of incident
10
11
8
6
3
4
03:00-05:59
00:00-02:59
22:00-23:59
18:00-21:59
12:00-17:59
It should be noted that the figures outlined above are sourced from coroner’s toxicology
reports, and do not
0
include cases of individuals found deceased without evidence to suggest details of assault. Therefore it is likely they
underestimate the true number of cases.
06:00-11:59
2
Reference
Pilgrim, J.L., Gerostamoulos, D., & Drummer, O.H. (2014). “King hit” fatalities in Australia, 2000-2012: The role of alcohol and other drugs. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 135, 119-132.
This document was created by Coco Bernard, in her capacity as the Executive Research Officer at Steph Back Think. This information
should not be altered or reproduced without her permission. She can be contacted via email on [email protected]
65-70
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
0
40-44
Fri
500
35-39
8
1000
25-29
10
n=45
16
1500
< 10
Sat/Sun
2000
30-34
14
16
20-24
n=20
17
15-19
Mon - Thurs
16
Fema
19
2500
10-14
18
Number of Assaults
3000