Man charged with drink-driving on kayak
A 40-year-old man is in hot water after a drink-driving incident with a twist.
Rather than being behind the wheel of a car, the man was attempting to row a kayak while being almost five times the legal blood-alcohol limit, according to police.
The man was kayaking in Cairns Harbour on September 13 when onlookers reportedly saw him fall out of the boat, ending up in the drink.
Bystanders called for help after the man appeared to be struggling to get back into his boat.
After being rescued and helped back to shore by a Ports North crew, the man was met by Queensland Water Police.
They arrested him and took him to Cairns police station for a breathalyser test, where he allegedly returned a reading of 0.241, according to a report in 7 News.
He has been charged with driving a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, with his licence also suspended with immediate effect.
The incident is a timely reminder for people to observe drink-driving laws even on the water, according to officer in charge of Cairns Water Police Sergeant Andrew Ibell.
“These types of incidents are a good reminder that anyone operating any type of watercraft must be under the legal alcohol limit,” he said.
“Had it not been for the intervention of Ports North staff members, it is likely that this event would have resulted in the loss of life.”
The man is due to face Cairns Magistrates Court on September 22.
If the amount of alcohol police allege was in his system is proven, the man could face a jail term of up to nine months and a maximum fine of a whopping $4334, according to Queensland law.
