Shocking footage shows parents frantically trying to get their children out of the way as a mass brawl breaks out on a popular beach in Chile – four people were arrested
Man stabbed and woman beaten after violent fight on popular beach
A man has been stabbed and four people arrested after a huge brawl broke out on a beach.
Dozens of families watched on helplessly as the clash at the popular tourist spot in Chile escalated, leaving a number of people injured. In viral footage, the 20-strong group consisting of men and women are seen repeatedly attacking each other. Some of them appear to be brandishing iron bars and swinging them around in the air. As the fight rages on, a parasol is then knocked out of the ground and sand blasted into the air. Small children are seen standing close to their parents in the clip, and one mother is spotted frantically trying to get her daughter out of the way.
According to a lifeguard who watched the incident unfold, one man was stabbed and taken to hospital. He also claimed that a group of around seven people started to hit a woman. Police arrived on the scene to break up the fight, which took place on January 11 on Caleta Abarca beach, in Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Chile.
Four people, two men and two women, were then arrested. Both men who were arrested had suffered injuries from the fight, and one man reported pain in his chest. The other man’s left hand was left covered in bruises.
Police found that two men arrested already had a criminal record for offences relating to possession of drugs, theft and threatening behaviour. It is thought that the fight began after a heated discussion between beachgoers over an alleged robbery.
The lifeguards on the beach claimed that violent incidents are often caused by excess alcohol consumption or not respecting the marine guard. Sandro Puebla, councillor for the Viña del Mar area, said that resources have been invested in improving the security of the area, but admitted this has not always been enough to deter antisocial behaviour. He criticised those involved in the brawl and said “crimes or problems of coexistence of any kind will not be accepted” on the beaches.
Chile’s beaches see a peak number of visitors between December and January, when it is customary for families to head to the beach for their summer holidays. As well as domestic tourists, the South American nation has also reported a rising number of international guests, increasing by 38.8% in the year leading to October 2024 to an estimated four million.
