Man in court after mates ‘dare’ to jump from Bundaberg bridge costs community thousands

A court has heard just how much his leap last year “for a bit of fun” cost for emergency services to respond and why he won’t have to pay it back.

A court has heard how a man cost the community thousands in wasted emergency services, after he jumped from the Tallon Bridge as a dare from his mates.

Damian Wayne Boswell pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday to one count of unregulated high-risk activities.

The court heard emergency services were called to the Don Tallon Bridge on January 23 last year after reports a man had jumped from the bridge into the Burnett River.

Police, QAS and QFES were all tasked to the scene.

Police officers found Boswell who eventually walked over to them.

Boswell told officers that he’d had some drinks and that some friends dared him to jump off.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tina Bland told the court Boswell said he didn’t have a reason for jumping off the bridge other than “just having some fun”.

Sergeant Bland said the incident exhausted the services of the QPS, QAS and QFES.

The court heard Boswell was sentenced in the Bundaberg District Court on Monday where he received a period of imprisonment with parole eligibility in February.

Sergeant Bland said restitution of $772.52 for QAS, $1031.70 for QFES and $1109.31 for QPS was sought, but conceded Boswell wasn’t in a position to pay a fine because he was in custody.

Boswell’s lawyer Thomas Bray told the court his client didn’t have the capacity to pay a fine because he was in custody.

Mr Bray said before going to jail his client had made a number of efforts to rehabilitate himself.

Magistrate Andrew Moloney took into account Boswell’s plea of guilty and the submissions from both Sergeant Bland and Mr Bray.

Mr Moloney formed the view that if the offence was dealt with at the same time as the district court matters he wouldn’t have received a greater penalty.

“I can only just point out to you that your foolishness and behaviour and having a bit of fun has cost the community about $3000,” he said.

Boswell was convicted and not further punished for the offence.