Jeep Takes a Dip in Swan River During Jetty Stand-Off
It started with a bloke in a red Jeep and ended with a splash that’ll go down in Claremont chaos history. Police were called to Jetty Rd in Perth’s leafy western burbs after reports of a suspicious vehicle on the Claremont jetty — and mate, what followed was a mix of action movie, police negotiation, and the most unorthodox water entry this side of Rotto.
Jeep Meets Jetty – Stand-off Summary
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Jetty Rd, Claremont, Perth |
| Incident Time | Started ~9:30am, escalated at 11:50am |
| Vehicle | Red Jeep |
| Agencies Involved | WA Police, TRG, Air Wing, Water Police |
| Outcome | Car driven into Swan River |
| Driver’s Status | Rescued, uninjured, taken for assessment |
| Damage | Police car hit, jetty chaos |
The Drama Unfolds
By 9:30am, locals were already raising eyebrows. Angus Fraser told 7NEWS:
“Saw a Jeep on the jetty and was like, ‘Wow, what’s going on there?’”
Police quickly surrounded the area with everything short of a submarine. Helicopters overhead, water police in the river, and tactical response officers lined up like it was the Perth premiere of Fast & Furious: Swan Drift.
Then, at 11:50am, the driver reversed the Jeep down the jetty — calmly, like he was backing into a tricky Coles car park — then floored it forward into the river. Splashdown. Jeep sunk. Crowd stunned.
He wasn’t done though.
Man on a (Floating) Mission
After bailing from the submerged 4WD, the man clambered onto the vehicle’s roof, having a bit of a chat with police. He eventually dove into the river again, where divers grabbed him and helped him back to dry land.
By 12:15pm, the Jeep was making fish friends and the driver was in an ambulance — uninjured but surely damp.
Police Response
WA Police confirmed the use of multiple units and said they acted to prioritise safety. A police car used to block the jetty took a hit and will now be listed as “needs repairs” under fleet inventory.
Meanwhile, the public was urged to steer clear of the scene. Probably a wise move unless you fancy snorkelling near a submerged SUV.
Local Witness Reactions
- Angus Fraser: “Yelling at the police, a lot of commotion.”
- Callum Richardson: “He just slapped it in reverse and switched to drive and took it off the edge.”
What Happens Now?
The man is undergoing assessment. No official charges were announced at the time of reporting, but you don’t exactly earn a pat on the back for turning the Swan River into your personal driveway.
Police Safety Note
TRG, divers, and crisis negotiators handled the situation without injury to anyone — a big tick in the “well done” column from bystanders
