Father accused of trying to drown young son in ocean at Dampier foreshore to face court from hospital bedside

A Karratha father accused of trying to drown his young son in the ocean is due to face court in a likely bedside hearing from hospital on Tuesday morning. Sen. Sgt. Paul Matthews said police were alerted to the incident by bystanders — a fitness group doing an early-morning workout on the beach — who witnessed the alleged ordeal and stepped in to save the five-year-old boy’s life. “The tide was significantly low so he’s driven out a fair bit and then got out of the car with a small child and ran toward deeper water where he tried to drown the child, according to the people that called in,” he said. “Some members of the public who were on the foreshore doing fitness training were able to run down, struggle with the man and retrieve the child. “I believe it was a ladies’ fitness group that intervened.” The West Australian understands that one of the women in the fitness group rushed over and punched the father multiple times to free the child. The boy was taken to safety and comforted by other members of the fitness group until help arrived. Sen. Sgt Matthews said the actions of the fitness group were incredibly heroic. “I commend the bravery of the ladies that intervened,” he said. “Their actions probably saved the life of the child.” It is understood the boy, who was taken to hospital to be checked over, was not hurt. A woman in her 30s was taken to Karratha Health Campus. It is believed she injured her hand in the incident. Sen. Sgt. Matthews said the child, who was was visibly distressed, had been reunited with his family. The father has been charged with attempting to unlawfully kill, assault with intent to commission a crime, reckless driving and driving without a licence. He is due to appear in Karratha Magistrates Court via video from his hospital bed today.