Man, 23, dies after being knocked unconscious in mass brawl outside Sydney’s Oxford Tavern

Devastated relatives have paid tribute to their ‘sweet boy’ who tragically died after a mass brawl outside a popular Sydney pub.   

Evander Tuala, 23, from Fairfield, was allegedly hit in the head and knocked unconscious in a melee outside the Oxford Tavern in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on early Saturday morning.

He suffered head injuries and was rushed St Vincent’s Hospital in a critical condition.

Heartbroken family members on Sunday announced Mr Tuala, affectionately known to loved ones as ‘Woody’, had lost his battle for life. 

‘Just received some bad news … our dear family member passed away today,’ relative Nancy Tautaiolefue wrote. 

Confronting footage filmed by a witness shows several men punching each other outside the venue

‘You deserved a better fate than what you received, so saddened to know that you were the strong one in the family but didn’t even get an opportunity to defend yourself from a cowardly act, you deserve justice.

‘I love you Evander (Woody) Tuala.’

Tuala’s aunt, Niu Tuala, wrote a moving tribute dedicated to her ‘sweet’ nephew on social media on Sunday. 

‘You came into this world and brought so much love into our family,’ she said. 

‘Now you’ve left us broken. You were stolen from us like a thief in the night.’  

Disturbing footage of the wild brawl filmed by a witness shows multiple men shoving and punching each other as revellers in the pub egg them on.

Mr Tuala was allegedly hit in the head during the fight and knocked unconscious after striking the ground. 

Detective Superintendent John Duncan said the brawl unfolded at 12.36am, involving a group of men from the western suburbs and another from the eastern suburbs. 

Police allege the groups clashed inside the venue and were told to leave by security, with the issue then escalating outside. 

‘We do understand that both groups were in a licensed premises, there was a very minor incident and security ejected them, and as a result of that a brawl broke out outside the premises,’ Superintendent Duncan said.

Three eastern beaches men – aged 20, 20 and 18 – have been arrested. Keidan Donovan-Phillips, 20, and Byron Brown-Yeo, 19, remain in custody after their lawyers did not seek bail during a hearing in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.

Superintendent Duncan said homicide detectives had been involved in a consultancy role, but ‘obviously we’re treating this as a potential homicide’.

‘This is a serious assault… [We’re] trying to identify the other parties involved and investigate further so charges can be made,’ he said.  

Police confirmed that Tuala had suffered critical head injuries after his head struck the ground during the brawl. He is currently in a critical condition in hospital

Det Duncan has called on witnesses to assist with the investigation.    

‘At the moment I’m calling for witnesses after a serious assault that occurred in the early hours of yesterday morning at Surry Hills,’ he said. 

Det Supt Duncan said there would have been multiple witnesses, including hotel patrons, and urged anyone who either saw or took part in the brawl to come forward.