NSW Police rescued – and later fined – two naked male sunbathers from coastal bushland after they were “startled by a deer” and got lost on Sunday.
In New South Wales, greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Wollongong are currently in a two-week lockdown due to community transmission of COVID-19.
NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller described the men’s rescue yesterday during the lockdown as “unbelievable” and the pair “idiots”.
“Unbelievably, we saw two men sunbaking naked on a beach on Sydney’s South Coast,” he explained.
“They were startled by a deer, ran into the national forest, national park, and got lost.
“Not only did they require assistance from SES and police to rescue them, they also both received a ticket for $1,000.”
The men said they spent Sunday afternoon at the remote beach.
A police spokesperson said they called for assistance about 6pm. They’d gotten themselves lost in bushland near the Royal National Park at Otford.
The State Emergency Service, NSW Ambulance and Polair all dispatched to the area to help the men.
The authorities found a 30-year-old man naked and carrying a backpack on the walking track near Lady Wakehurst Drive.
After a further search, police also found a 49-year-old man, partially clothed.
The men told police they were on a nearby beach when they ran into bushland after being startled by a deer.
NSW Police fine men $1000 for breaching stay-at-home orders
NSW Police took the men to St George Police Station and slapped them with $1000 infringement orders for breaching the state’s public health order with their journey.
“It’s difficult to legislate against idiots,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“[They] clearly put people at risk by leaving home without a proper reason,” he said.
“On top of that, then getting lost in the national park and diverting important resources away from the health operation.
“I think they should be embarrassed.
“It’s only a small percentage of the New South Wales people that are not following the health guidelines.
“But I can assure you, if you breach the health orders or the guidelines, you will be punished.”
🦌🍆🍑 TFW you and your mate sunbake naked on a beach, get startled by a deer, run into a national park and get lost, require SES and police assistance, and then get fined $1000 each because you breached Sydney's COVID public health orders pic.twitter.com/U9q0ZD6oVM
— Ben Grubb 🐛 (@bengrubb) June 28, 2021
running from a deer surely counts as strenuous physical exercise, and thus permissible under the stay at home orders
— casey briggs (@CaseyBriggs) June 28, 2021
NSW police looking to question this man over an incident involving two sunbathers #covidnsw pic.twitter.com/1ZRLj2phgl
— Jess Coates (@JessCoates4) June 28, 2021
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