The mother of a young Queensland sportsman has called for stronger penalties for one-punch attackers after her son was hospitalised with significant head injuries after being hit while trying to break up a fight.
Tom Freshwater, 23, was hit in the early hours of Saturday on Charlton Esplanade in Hervey Bay and remains at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a stable condition.
His mother, Helen, says her son sustained multiple fractures to his skull, bleeding on the brain and behind his left eye and is being assessed for cognitive and hearing damage.
"Tom lays in a bed in the neurological ward at the RBWH in extreme pain," Helen Freshwater told The Fraser Coast Chronicle.
"Even more distressing is the fact that this story would have been played out many times in our cities and regional towns over the weekend.
"As a society, we must ask ourselves, 'Why?'
"Why do we have so many in our community whose first reaction to resolve a situation is violence?
"I agree with many others, we need to address the immediate issue and make a strong stance with sentencing to deter those who think brawling outside the pub after a night of drinking is okay."
Mrs Freshwater and her husband Shane say a phone call they received from police about 3am, was a call no parent "should ever receive".
Meanwhile, friend Chris Wicks says Mr Freshwater "wouldn't even know how to throw a punch".
Mr Freshwater is a left-arm seamer for Hervey Bay's Bushrangers and Cavaliers, Sunshine Coast Scorchers, Scottish club Carlton, and utility back for Hervey Bay Seagulls.
"He's just a good bloke who would do anything to help any of his friends," Mr Wicks told the Fraser Coast Chronicle.
Police have charged a 19-year-old man over the assault.
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