Lifeguard Rod ‘Kerrbox’ Kerr allegedly threatened to harm ex in vile text messages

Bondi Rescue lifeguard Rod “Kerrbox” Kerr has been charged with making vile threats towards his ex-partner in a stream of more than 40 text messages, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

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Bondi Rescue lifeguard Rod “Kerrbox” Kerr has been charged with making vile threats towards his ex-partner in a stream of more than 40 text messages.

Kerr allegedly told Malin Hylland that he was going to inflict serious physical harm on her and travel to her workplace as well as using several vile obscenities.

The Daily Telegraph understands the messages were allegedly sent during the afternoon and evening of Thursday, January 3, then again on the following day.

More than 20 messages were allegedly sent on each day.

Lifeguard Rod Kerr allegedly told his ex in text messages he was going to inflict serious physical harm on her and travel to her workplace.

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Former pro surfer Kerr was arrested at his home by eastern suburbs police on Friday night and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with stalk intimidate intend fear physical harm.

An apprehended domestic violence order was also put in place.

Kerr was granted bail by police and is due to appear at Waverley Local Court on Thursday.

The 51-year-old, who is understood to have separated from Hylland in 2018, is an elder among the sun-bronzed Waverley Council lifeguards who have become world-famous since Bondi Rescue first aired in 2006.

Kerr is best known for starring in Channel 10 drama Bondi Rescue. Picture: Julian Andrews.

On the same day some of the messages were allegedly sent, Kerr posted photos to his social media which featured him working out in the gym and posing for a selfie at the beach with another lifeguard.

Kerr’s highlights on the show — which aired on Channel 10 — include a daring board rescue at North Bondi. With a young woman on the board and heavy swells behind him, Kerr was pushed towards the rocks.

“We’re gonna go straight through there”, he tells the woman as he pointed at the rocks, before catching a wave and riding the pair safely onto the rockshelf.

At the time his colleagues rejoiced in the control tower and nearby bystanders praised his efforts.

“He timed it perfectly and he just rode right over the top of the rocks,” one man told the cameras.

An apprehended domestic violence order was also put in place.

Kerr wrote in an online profile the hardest part of his job was managing the public and the most necessary characteristics were: “Water skills. Communications. Handle pressure.”

After a successful amateur surfing career, Kerr eventually climbed to be ranked 31 in the men’s championship tour in 1991.

The success of the show has seen it broadcast into 100 countries and a Bali-based spin-off.
But it is not the first time a member of the Bondi Rescue crew has made headlines.
The Telegraph revealed in 2016 a council investigation was looking at allegations of generous third-party deals and bitter infighting.

Kerr could not be reached by The Daily Telegraph for comment.

Channel 10 did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.