Nudist Swimmer Takes The Plunge

A MAN plunged naked into Darwin Harbour among jellyfish and swam out a distance before getting into difficulties and alarming onlookers.

Bystanders alerted police after the man – who stripped nude before leaping off the end of Fisherman’s Wharf – swum out 200m offshore, on Saturday at about 9pm.

Darwin Watch Commander Senior Sergeant Garry Smith said the man’s swimming appeared to falter, to witnesses’ dismay.

“Once he got out there he was looking like he was having a bit of difficulty,” Sen-Sgt Smith said.

The watch commander attended the incident, and said the “scary thing” was that torchlight revealed a number of jellyfish were floating about in the water.

By the time police arrived the man was making his own way back into the wharf. This spared Sen-Sgt Smith from having to leap into the jellyfish-infested waters to bring the nude man back.

Sen-Sgt Smith said he would not have stripped off to effect a water rescue. Apart from anything else, the long pants and shirt would have helped protect from stingers.

“(But) I would have certainly taken my utility belt off and secured that in the vehicle,” he said.

Sen-Sgt Smith said the man, once back on dry land, did not appear to be making much sense.

Police took him to Royal Darwin Hospital for a mental health assessment. Sen-Sgt Smith said the man was very lucky to have got back onshore in one piece.