Teenager arrested after shoving elderly man off pier
A teenager has been arrested after a disgraceful assault on an elderly man, which saw the teen push the man off a pier and into the water.
The 79-year-old was walking along the pier at Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula on Sunday night, when he was targeted by a group of three teenagers.
Filming the assault, the teenagers laughed as one boy approached the elderly man and shoved him off the pier and into the water below.
The teens ran away laughing, and later uploaded the footage of the incident to social media.
Mornington Peninsula MP, Chris Crewther slammed the actions of the group and told the Today show that the man was not a strong swimmer and could have drowned if it wasn't for two bystanders who jumped into the water to save him.
"It is disgraceful, appalling and cowardly behaviour," he said.
"I know that this man is highly shaken and traumatised by the event and fortunately, I understand he wasn't seriously injured, but it would take a while to recover from this mentally and emotionally."
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and unlawful assault over the incident.
Crewther confirmed the other two boys involved in the attack are known to police, given that the footage of the shoving was uploaded to their personal social media accounts.
"Obviously they were wanting some notoriety and to show their exploits on social media, which has actually got them in trouble now because they've identified themselves," he said.
"The Police know who they are and are asking the victim to come forward to give a statement so that these three can be charged to the fullest extent and hopefully they will be punished."
Image credits: Instagram