Women's fitness group praised for stopping man from allegedly drowning his son
In a heart-pounding moment of courage and quick thinking, a group of women in an outdoor fitness class have rescued a 5-year-old boy after his father allegedly tried to drown him.
The alleged incident occurred at the Dampier foreshore, in the remote region of Pilbara Western Australia.
Police allege that the 26-year-old man drove his four-wheel drive into the ocean, before repeatedly forcing the child's head under water.
The group of women intervened and helped save the child, with one believed to have punched the man several times, injuring her hand in the process according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
WA Police have praised the “bravery” of the community members, who allegedly hit the man until he released the child.
“Without their involvement, their courage and their bravery to get involved, it could have ended a lot worse,” WA Police spokesman told ABC Pilbara.
“They responded without hesitation and contacted the police.”
Emergency services were called to the foreshore around 6am on Monday, with the man arrested shortly after.
The five-year-old child was taken to the hospital for assessment but is believed to be uninjured.
The 26-year-old man from Nickol has since been charged with a number of offences, including attempting unlawfully to kill, two counts of assault with intent to commission a crime, reckless driving and one account of no authority to drive (never held).
He was refused bail and will appear in Karratha Magistrate’s Court at a later date.
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