Unanderra Hotel, Wollongong: Heartbreaking way son learned his father had been left in a coma after a vicious pub brawl – as his family make an unbearable decision

A heartbroken son has recalled the moment he discovered his father was in a coma after a brutal pub fight, as loved ones paid tribute to the much-loved mechanic.

Paul ‘Bernie’ Andrews, 59, was in a coma for almost three weeks after a violent brawl at the Unanderra Hotel on the NSW south coast on April 12.

Mr Andrews fell backwards onto 34-year-old Rhys Olbrich when he was allegedly pushed and a fight broke out at the Wollongong pub just before 11pm.

Olbrich is accused of grabbing Andrews and punching him twice, rendering him unconscious and causing serious head injuries.

Mr Andrews was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Wollongong Hospital in a critical condition.

He suffered a skull fracture and underwent surgery to relieve some of the swelling on his brain before being placed in a medically induced coma.

Three weeks later, his family made the difficult decision to cut off his life support and the mechanic died on May 1 surrounded by loved ones.

His son Brett Andrews, 38, said his father will be remembered by his community as someone who was always willing to lend a hand.

“He was just a good person,” Brett told Daily Mail Australia.

“It’s one of the biggest things I hold on to: some people don’t get a good dad, but he was.”

Brett, who works in the mines, was underground when the rest of his family learned his father had been put into a coma.

Instead, he found out through a text message from his mother when he finished his shift.

Brett said the hardest part about his father’s death is that his brothers’ son Asher, who is only two and a half, may not remember his loving grandfather.

His father’s border collie, Chaz, is also mourning the loss of his owner, but is being cared for by Brett, who lived with his father until his death.

In an eerie twist of fate, eight years ago, almost to the day of the pub incident, Paul had a close call after an oil drum exploded at work.

He suffered serious burns and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Sydney.

Paul ‘Bernie’ Andrews, 59, was in a coma for almost three weeks following a violent brawl at the Unanderra Hotel on the NSW south coast on Friday, April 12.

Along the way, Paul told his sons that he was being visited by their grandfather, who urged him to mend his relationship with them and his ex-wife.

In the eight years that followed, Paul and his ex-partner were able to put their differences aside and he was blessed with a grandchild.

a GoFundMe is raising money for his funeral, which is expected to take place on Friday.

Olbrich turned himself in to police three days after the incident and was charged with affray and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Police were informed that Mr Andrews had died in hospital on May 1.

“There is no update on the allegations at this stage,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Unanderra Hotel for comment.