A 36-year-old man has been charged over an on-water incident that left a 71-year-old local swimmer gravely injured and facing a gruelling and bloody swim to shore.
Police say the man assisted with their inquiries shortly after officers stopped four jet ski riders at Carrington last weekend. On Saturday afternoon, they confirmed that he had been charged with negligently operating the jet ski and will face court in October.
Don McLachlan was left with a gruesome seven-inch-deep laceration across his shoulder when he was allegedly hit by a jet ski in the water while taking his regular ocean swim off Dixon beach early on Saturday morning, August 10.
The 71-year-old says he was left for dead after rolling in the last moment before the collision, narrowly avoiding his head in a hit so close it tore off his swim cap and shredded his wetsuit.
Mr McLachlan related his ordeal to the Newcastle Herald on Monday, August 12, saying he remembered screaming "I'm here, I'm here" and waving his hand as the jet ski approached. When he asked for help, he said the riders allegedly left the scene for deeper water, leaving him to swim the estimated 100 metres to shore on his back.
Police issued a brief statement via their social media channels on Saturday afternoon, August 17, saying the 36-year-old man was issued a court attendance notice and is expected to appear in Newcastle Local Court on October 3.
