Australian shooting victim swims away, climbs tree to evade police

A taxi driver has been charged over a Sydney stabbing, one of two knife crimes within hours in New South Wales. Photo / 123rf

Being shot has not stopped an alleged stabber from trying his luck and swimming away from police in regional NSW.

The 33-year-old’s ill-informed aquatic escape through the Murrumbidgee River followed his alleged stabbing of a man in Wagga Wagga.

Confirmation of his arrest on Saturday came hours after a Sydney taxi driver was arrested for allegedly stabbing a passenger on Friday night.

The Wagga incident started when the 33-year-old allegedly stabbed another man, 42, in the neck with scissors in a North Wagga Wagga park.

The younger man was then shot by a third man involved in the altercation, who fled and has not been located.

Police say they found the shooting victim in the Murrumbidgee River a short distance from the park, but after refusing to exit the river, he swam to an island and climbed a tree.

That kicked off a 12-hour police operation to get him down, eventually ending about 2am on Friday with his arrest.

He was treated in hospital, where he also faced a bedside court hearing on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The man has been refused bail. His alleged victim has been released from hospital.

Meanwhile, a taxi driver has been charged with reckless wounding after allegedly stabbing a passenger in the face.

Paramedics treated the 22-year-old male passenger for a stab wound in Paddington, in Sydney’s east, after the incident at 10pm on Friday.

He was taken to hospital in a stable condition.