Long-time local Damien Ha was in good spirits as he recovered from surgery after a vicious attack by a group of teenagers in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Speaking to the Tennant Times yesterday afternoon, Damien was recovering from surgery on his lacerated wrist.

It was a lucky escape for the avid eight ball player who is due to play for Litchfield in the A-Grade Men’s Open and for Tennant Creek in the Masters in the Northern Territory 8 Ball Titles in Alice Springs from 18-24 June.

“I was very lucky, the weapon damaged my little nerves in my little finger and the second one and I have a bruised artery,” said Damien.

“I get the stitches out in two weeks so I should be right to play.” Damien has ranked four in the Territory for the Masters, and travels each year to represent Tennant in the Australian Titles.

Police are calling for witnesses to the attack, which happened on Kittle Street between midnight and 12.45am on Wednesday.

There was a group of them at the back fence stirring the dog up and shining torches over the fence,” said Damien.

“My mum was getting stressed out and she’s been broken into three times already so I went out to tell them to piss off.

“But they wouldn’t leave and started threatening me and saying “I know where you f***ing live”.

“I told them I know your face, and he told me he had a machete, grabbed it out of the bush and hit me with it.

“It was dark as. I know I’ll never put myself in that situation again. Next time I’ll take the dog with me.”

The offender who struck Damien is described as of Aboriginal appearance, 170cm tall, aged 17-18 years old and was wearing black jeans and a yellow and orange Aboriginal design jumper.

Police are urging anyone with information, particularly if you witnessed the offender in the area, to contact 131 444. Please quote reference 10347186. 

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 19 May 2023.