A 65-YEAR-old man has described the moment he and his wife were violently attacked by a group of youths at the Frankston Waterfront Festival on 7 February as their deeply distressed children watched on.
The assault began after a confrontation near portable toilets, where the man’s wife had been helping their autistic son.
According to the victim, who wished to remain anonymous for personal safety reasons, a young woman approached aggressively and made derogatory comments about their child, saying “I work as a carer… none of them have ever taken so long”.
The man said he tried to diffuse the situation and reported the group to security and told them police were needed. Instead, he said security told his family to move along.
“As we were walking away, they [the group of people] were gloating”.
The victim admitted flicking a few drops of water from a drink bottle in frustration after the abuse, but said the response was extreme.
“I turned around and saw a group them chasing us in broad daylight through a crowd of 20,000 people while holding my kid’s hands,” he said.
He said the attackers then set upon him in full view of crowds.
“They jumped me from behind. The big guy had me in a headlock trying to choke me and another guy was jumping in the air, smashing me in the face.”
The victim added another tried to gouge his eyes while his wife was also struck after trying to shield him.
“She (an attacker) smashed it as hard as she could into the side of her head,” he said, referring to a long drink can used as a weapon.
The most haunting moment, he said, was seeing his 13-year-old daughter begging the youths to stop.
According to the victim, bystanders stood nearby recording the attack on their phones.
“No one was saying stop it… everyone was standing filming.”
He also criticised the conduct of private security at the event as one video showed guards standing metres away “cowering in fear while we’re getting destroyed.”
“One female guard appeared so distressed she was shaking,” the victim said.
The man said the beating continued until police arrived several minutes later.
“I’ve had a triple bypass,” he said. “I’m not a young guy.”
He was later taken for scans, which luckily revealed no fractures, though he suffered severe bruising. He also reported the incident to Victoria Police.
But the emotional toll had been far greater, adding he had been losing sleep after the incident.
He feared the impact on his daughter. According to a nurse who contacted the family, the girl confided that she believed she saw people “trying to kill my parents.”
The victim has approached the council and believes both the organisers and contracted security company must be held accountable.
“What about us? We’re the ones getting pummelled,” he said. “This is a reflection of today’s society.”
Frankston City Council CEO Tennille Bradley said, “council works hard to ensure our events are safe, welcoming spaces for everyone, and we do not tolerate violence or antisocial behaviour”.
“We are aware of a reported incident that occurred at the Waterfront Festival,” she said. “Event security personnel responded immediately, with further support provided by Victoria Police.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson said police were investigating, with the exact circumstances surrounding the incident yet to be established.
“It is believed the parties involved are known to one another,” the spokesperson said.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with CCTV/dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
First published in the Mornington News – 17 February 2026
