A Victorian man has appeared in court following a perilous police chase through south-west Sydney, culminating in his plunge into the Georges River. The 33-year-old, who has never possessed a driver’s licence, is accused of stealing a Holden Commodore in Victoria before heading north on Monday night.
Authorities first spotted the stolen vehicle in Macquarie Fields, prompting a pursuit assisted by police aerial surveillance. The chase ended when the driver abandoned the car in a dead-end street on Trevone Street in Padstow and attempted to escape on foot. He was observed jumping a fence and navigating through a backyard, before falling as officers closed in on him.
In a bid to evade capture, he swam into Salt Pan Creek, which feeds into the Georges River. For over half an hour, he remained afloat in the water, positioning himself in the midst of the river, until police successfully extracted him approximately 200 metres downstream.
Upon his arrest, identified as Mitchel Fry, police conducted a search of the abandoned Commodore, reportedly discovering multiple number plates and a knife inside. Fry has since been refused bail during his court appearance.