Victim of school bullying a web hero
Bruce McDougall -- The Daily Telegraph -- March 16, 2011 3:18AM
A Sydney schoolboy has become an internet sensation after video emerged of him body-slamming another student during a verbal and physical attack, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Striking back for bullying victims everywhere, the Year 10 boy - who pleaded with his tormenter to leave him alone - picked up his attacker and slammed him to the ground.
The teenager, said to have been bullied all his school life, was backed up against a wall, taunted and punched by a younger, smaller boy.
The victim, identified on Facebook as Casey Heynes, took a hit to the face and then more blows as the Year 7 boy goaded him to fight.
Suddenly Casey had had enough. He launched himself at his attacker, picked him up and threw him to the ground.
The younger boy staggered away, stunned and hurt.
Both students were suspended for four days after the incident on Monday.
Footage of the fight at Chifley College, Dunheved Campus at North St Marys, was posted online and drew hundreds of comments on Facebook - mostly in support of Casey.
Casey's father said yesterday his son had been the victim of bullying for several years and feared for his safety if he spoke about the fight.
"There'll be reprisals from other kids in the school and he still has to go to school somewhere," he said.
"He's not a violent kid, it's the first time he's lashed out and I don't want him to be victimised over that.
"He's always been taught never to hit. Apparently other people's parents don't teach their kids that."
Students said violence was a daily occurrence with fights often filmed and posted online.
"The fights I have seen here, it's horrible. It really makes me feel unsafe," one said. A classmate added: "People pick on him every single day, they hit him around and stuff, and he just got sick of it and let out the anger."
Online sympathisers have started a "Casey Heynes Anti Bullying Day".
A NSW Department of Education and Training spokeswoman said the school "does not tolerate any violence and deals with all cases according to its community-agreed discipline code".
"Both students in a fight at the school shown on the internet have been suspended ... the only injury sustained was a grazed knee."
