A BROWN Hill man was left fighting for his life after being glassed in a city pub on Saturday night.Witnesses stepped in to help stem the flow of blood after the 21-year-old man's neck was slashed with a bottle during the fight.Paramedics were called to the Black Hill Hotel in Peel St about 9.40pm, after a brawl started involving up to 12 men.A major artery in the man's neck was cut during the fight.Police said a witness held a cloth to the man's neck, putting pressure on the injury to stem the blood flow until paramedics arrived.Paramedics praised the role of the hotel staff who they said gave excellent first aid at the scene.Rural Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics immediately alerted Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital, which had an anaesthesist waiting on standby for their arrival.The man was rushed into surgery five minutes after arriving, with life-threatening injuries.Yesterday, police said the man remained in a serious but stable condition and was being treated in the hospital's critical care unit.A 19-year-old Wendouree man was interviewed by Ballarat Criminal Investigative Unit detectives after the fight and was later charged with one count of reckless conduct causing serious injury.He was bailed to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates Court next month.Meanwhile, police have reported pleasing behaviour from the large crowds out and about in Ballarat's central business area on Saturday night.With football and soccer finals fever in the air and grand final wins or losses to celebrate or commiserate, Ballarat pubs and clubs were busy over the weekend, with long lines outside many popular nightspots.But Ballarat police yesterday told The Courier very few incidents were reported during the night, with the majority of party-goers acting responsibly.Ballarat Traffic Management Unit also operated a booze bus in Creswick Rd over several hours on Friday night.Ballarat TMU Constable Craig Walker said more than 530 people were breathalysed, with four people found to be over the legal limit.Const Walker said police were reasonable happy with the results, given the amount of tests."But it is still disappointing about the people who aren't heeding the drink-driving message," he said.