Aaron Bonacina: ‘Gentle giant’ fights for life after alleged unprovoked attack outside Carnarvon Hotel

A “gentle giant” is fighting for his life in a Perth hospital after he was allegedly punched in the head in an unprovoked attack outside a Carnarvon pub at the weekend. Aaron Bonacina, from Wollongong in New South Wales, remains in a critical condition at Royal Perth Hospital’s intensive care unit after he was flown there early on Saturday morning. His wife Christina Bonacina and their two daughters drove from Carnarvon to be by his hospital bedside. “It’s like a bad dream,” she said. “Most of our family are over east and not coping well at all.” Bryan Anthony McKenzie, 35, has been charged over the incident. Carnarvon Police imposed 24-hour liquor restrictions in response to the alleged attack and other alcohol-related complaints. Police say the 43-year-old was with friends when he left the Carnarvon Hotel just after midnight, walking along the fascine when a man in his 30s approached them aggressively. “It is further alleged the charged man struck the male victim to the head causing the victim to fall and hit his head on the road,” a WA Police spokeswoman said. Mr Bonacina was rushed to Carnarvon Regional Hospital with serious head injuries and later flown to Perth by the Royal Flying Doctor Service for specialist care. Mrs Bonacina was with her husband when the alleged attack occurred, saying he was a “big guy, most of the time he puts people off just by the size of him”. She said after being allegedly punched, she saw him “hit the road face-first”, saying “there was blood everywhere”. She wanted to thank the Carnarvon community and local police for being supportive throughout the entire ordeal. “I’m just really angry at how this could happen. He’s a great father and a gentle giant,” she said. “Everyone says he’s a lovely bloke.” The family had been travelling across Australia for the past two years, settling in Carnarvon in January, where Mr Bonacina found work as an electrician building the new Gnullingoo Mia residential care facility. Shortly after the alleged incident, Carnarvon police arrested Mr McKenzie at his home address, charging him with assault occasioning bodily harm. On Monday he appeared in Carnarvon Magistrate’s Court and was not required to enter a plea. He was remanded into custody ahead of his next court date on August 2. Carnarvon police Acting Sen. Sgt Lindsay Collett imposed the 24-hour restriction banning the sale of takeaway liquor on Saturday afternoon in response to the alleged attack and other alcohol-related complaints. “The restriction had an immediate significant impact as a precautionary measure,” he said. A spokeswoman for RPH said yesterday Mr Bonacina remained in a critical condition. Friends of the couple created a GoFundMe on Monday to help with expenseswhile in Perth during Mr Bonacina’s recovery. In less than 24 hours, the page had raised almost $5000 in donations. Police say an investigation into the incident is ongoing and urge anyone who was in the area to contact Carnarvon Detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.