Cyclist and AusPost worker square off in 'embarrassing' viral fight: 'This is Australia'
Australia Post told Yahoo it was aware of the footage showing one of its subcontractors in a violent altercation and was investigating.
A violent altercation between a postie and an angry Aussie cyclist has been caught on camera, with the viral moment dividing opinion with many Aussie wondering how to feel about it.
The confronting scene was captured on the side of a road on the Gold Coast on Friday with a nearby resident filming the altercation unfold from his apartment block.
The video begins with the cyclist attacking the postie's van, seemingly soliciting him out before he squares up to him. With both fists cocked at his waste, the cyclist gives the delivery man a profanity-laden spray, accusing the postie of throwing a phone at his face.
"I don't want to fight, go away," the driver can be heard saying.
As he tries to scramble into his van, the cyclist pushes the door, momentarily squishing the driver.
Realising he won't be left alone, the driver then springs out and begins to wildly throw punches at the cyclist, while also throwing a small electronic device at him.
The duo unsuccessfully flail in each other's face for about five seconds before seemingly coming to a mutual understanding about the futility of the exercise. The pair briefly exchanged more words before the delivery driver hopped back into his van and drove off as the partially clad cyclist scurried over to retrieve his bike.
In a statement issued to Yahoo News Australia on Saturday, Australia Post said it was aware of the incident and said an investigation was now underway.
"Australia Post is aware of an incident involving a subcontractor delivery driver, which has also been reported to Police," a spokesperson said.
"As the footage only shows part of the incident, Australia Post will conduct a full investigation into the matter, however the behaviour shown in the video is not what Australia Post expects of its people."
Ugly scene goes viral: 'This is Australia'
Codey Lamos who filmed and posted the mini melee on social media said he believed the dispute was triggered by something the postie had done prior to him filming, and noted that the cyclist was left bleeding from the altercation he subsequently recorded.
An ugly brawl between a local postman and a cyclist has been caught on camera, after a Gold Coast resident heard yelling and arguing outside of their window on Friday morning.
More details at 6pm tonight. #9News
Credit: Codey Lamos pic.twitter.com/gR2vcASoq6— 9News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) October 12, 2024
"I heard old mate [the cyclist] saying he had been cut off and something had been thrown at his face," he told The Daily Mail.
"Then [the cyclist] followed the postman into complex and that's what I captured."
After being posted to TikTok, the video has been watched nearly a million times in the first 24 hours.
While the scene was described as "embarrassing" by multiple viewers, many sheepishly wondered why they found it so funny.
"I can't take captain spandex seriously," one person said of the cyclist.
"No stop. This is my post man. He is the kindest person," one woman wrote. "I know the postie came out on top but I still feel bad for him. No one should be treated like this at work," another agreed.
Others seemed to think there was something uniquely Australian about the ugly scene. "This is Australia," they commented.
Queensland Police have been contacted for comment.
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