Two boys were having a sleepover on Saturday night when they ducked out in their pyjamas to get a drink from a vending machine in the CBD about 9pm.
Within minutes, a 13-year-old boy had been attacked at the Newcastle Interchange while his 12-year-old friend desperately tried to get help, sparking fears about the safety of the city after dark.
They ran home and the older boy was taken to hospital, where he remained overnight, after concerns he may have suffered facial fractures.
Police Transport Command officers were patrolling the Newcastle Interchange area when they were told two strangers had assaulted the 13-year-old boy on Stewart Avenue at Newcastle West before fleeing on foot.
Confronting footage shows more unknown people, believed to be up to three, also joined in as the boy was bashed near the tram line.
Police combed the area into the night and made extensive inquiries, but said the assailants were unable to be located at that time.
The mothers of the two young boys have spoken publicly about the horrifying incident out of fear something similar could happen to someone else.
"It upsets me to think that our children may not be here today, just because they wanted to go down and get a drink" the mother of the 13-year-old boy told the Newcastle Herald.
"I'm concerned that the next time this happens, a child or young person may not live, then I couldn't live with knowing that."
She got to hold her son again, but said he was shaken, still physically recovering and not his usual characteristic self on Monday.
CT scans and ultrasounds revealed no fractures but he had been bleeding from his nose and mouth, had bruising on his head, a busted lip, and marks that appeared to be from being hit with cans, his mother said.
She said so many people had since reached out on a social media post to say "this has happened to me, this is what happens" at places like the Newcastle Interchange.
The mother of the 12-year-old said she had raised two children in Sydney and would be heading back as soon as her lease was up because she now felt people could not safely go out at night in Newcastle.
She lives in the apartments at Newcastle Interchange, where the boys were having a sleepover at the time. They had decided to quickly duck to the vending machine in their pyjamas to see if they could get a drink.
"I'm completely shocked and blown away," she said.
"I know things can happen but it's people's responses - everyone saying 'everyone knows not to go there at night'.
"This is the last stop. If I'm a tourist, how do I know that it's not safe here?
"I'm shocked that it's still going on and nothing's been done yet."
She said the 13-year-old boy had been screaming for help, and her son had been looking for assistance, but people in the area had not stepped in. Police were fortunately in the area and responded.
Police said investigations were ongoing. Anyone with information could contact Crime Stoppers.
