Former WAFL footballer fighting for life after Albany machete attack

A former WAFL footballer who survived an ocean tragedy off WA’s rugged south coast this year was fighting for his life on Sunday evening after he was hit with a machete then struck by a vehicle. Russell Wynne, 24, of Mt Barker, was in a critical condition in Royal Perth Hospital after the attack on Sunday morning in Albany’s CBD. WA Police Assistant Commissioner Allan Adams said police had arrested a man in his 20s in relation to the hit-and-run vehicle attack. A 22-year-old Albany man is helping police with inquiries into the machete attack. Paramedics were called to Stirling Terrace about 1.20am, where they found Mr Wynne with traumatic head injuries. He was taken to Albany Health Campus, then flown to Perth by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Albany detectives said Mr Wynne was injured during a “large altercation” near Studio 146 nightclub on Stirling Terrace. The machete attack caused a deep laceration to his head before he was struck by a vehicle which then left the scene. “About 1.20am in and around the Albany entertainment precinct a fight started between two males,” Mr Adams said. “One brought out a machete and hit the person to the side of the head causing serious injury. “Soon after another person drove a motor vehicle at that person that had been hit with the machete and caused life-threatening injuries to the person. “The person in the car has been apprehended.” A section of Stirling Terrace was closed to the public on Sunday as forensics officers examined the area. Mr Wynne was one of five West Australian junior footballers chosen to tour South Africa in 2013 with the Flying Boomerangs, a personal development and leadership program for talented indigenous players. A skilful forward, he played State 16s football and went on to play WAFL colts with Claremont in 2014-15 and senior football with East Fremantle in 2018. After seven games at league level, he returned to the Great Southern to play with Mt Barker Bulls in the Great Southern Football League. In February this year, Mr Wynne was rescued from the Southern Ocean after he and another man were swept off rocks while fishing east of Albany. He spent 90 minutes treading water before he was pulled from the ocean by Albany Sea Rescue volunteers. His companion, an 18-year-old Albany man, was never found. Anyone with information about Sunday’s incident in Albany is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.