An attempt to de-escalate a violent situation landed a Brisbane councillor in hospital on Friday night.

Brisbane councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan suffered a broken nose after he was punched in the face by a stranger in West End.

“I have a couple of chipped teeth (if only the Australian government would introduce free dental care!), a cut near my eye, and a broken nose that a specialist will have to reset in a couple of days,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Sriranganathan said he was enjoying a meal made from “dumpster-dived ingredients” at Bunyapa Park when he heard yelling from across the road on Vulture Street.

“A guy who seemed very drunk and angry was threatening and lunging at people on the footpath, lashing out randomly,” he said. “It looked like someone could get hurt pretty badly.

“He threw a glass bottle at one person’s head without any provocation or warning, and I was also worried for his safety cos he was staggering around on the road and liable to get hit by a car.

“When he started chasing a couple of other young people on the footpath, I tried to intervene and de-escalate.

“Without warning, he rushed forward and punched me hard on the nose.”

The councillor said he doesn’t know what happened to the man after the punch was thrown.

“Anyway, if anyone knows what ended up happening to the guy who punched me, flick me an email (no need to post publicly). I’m hoping he gets the help he needs.”

Image: Jonathan Sriranganathan / Facebook