Whyalla pub brawl leaves one airlifted as two face charges
A violent altercation at a Whyalla hotel left one person requiring emergency airlift to Adelaide after allegedly being glassed in the face, with footage of the incident circulating online and leaving the regional community rattled.
The brawl erupted last weekend inside the Eyre Hotel's pokies room, with disturbing video allegedly capturing the moment a confrontation between patrons escalated into a full-scale melee. The footage shows men grappling on the floor before the violence spreads throughout the venue, with fists thrown and at least one person seen hitting the ground.
A staff member wearing an apron attempted to intervene during the chaos, but was struck in the process. Other employees can be heard repeatedly ordering the group to leave — demands the brawlers eventually complied with. Pokies patrons were caught up in the violence as it spilled across the premises.
While the circulating vision captures the extent of the in-venue chaos, it does not show the alleged glassing.
South Australia Police have since made two arrests in connection with the incident. A 19-year-old Whyalla man and a 31-year-old from Port Augusta have each been charged with affray. Both were granted police bail but are barred from returning to the venue.
The scenes have deeply unsettled locals in the regional city.
"I think it's disgusting," one community member said. "I actually heard the video before I seen it. Like I heard someone else listening to it and they're like saying stop."
Jonathan Jackson, 31st March 2026
