Near-miss for skateboarder in New Lambton, Newcastle

Video has emerged showing the critical moment a young man flies off his skateboard and brushes with death on a busy Newcastle road. See the footage.

Nail-biting footage has emerged of a young man who narrowly avoided death after coming off his skateboard on a busy Newcastle road.

The dashcam footage shows the young Novocastrian skating recklessly into a busy two-way road from a side street in New Lambton and almost being wiped out by a fast-moving car on a sunny summer’s day in December.

The skateboarder, who is not wearing any protective gear, had his first near-miss with a white car turning down the street he emerges from, causing the vehicle to slam on their brakes as he came speeding past.

Unshaken by the experience, he continues skating on the opposite side of the road only metres from the vehicle recording the incident before noticing a fast-moving Suzuki coming the other way.

Clearly spooked by the sudden arrival of the moving car, the man loses his balance trying to stop the skateboard and tumbles on the ground, smashing into the side of the Suzuki and onto the back right wheel.

The skateboarder before the hit.

The moment he falls.

Fortunately, the man did not sustain any serious injury and walked away from the scene relatively unscathed, but police warn the outcome could have been “catastrophic”.

“Skateboards – for example – can reach high speeds and, if a rider hits a vehicle or person, the results can be catastrophic,” Acting Inspector Glenn Swift said.

Mr Swift said police will not only enforce driver compliance but also enforce the rules that apply to all road users, meaning reckless behaviour can attract an on-the-spot fine and possible criminal charges.

The moment of impact.

The skateboarder bounces off the car.

“We have received complaints from residents about skateboards and similar equipment being ridden on not only the roads, but also on footpaths,” he said.

“While it’s well known that police won’t tolerate bad driver behaviour, there are rules that apply to all road users.

“Users need to apply the same due care as they would when driving a vehicle, and they also need to be aware they are far more vulnerable than being in a car, and much less visible in traffic.”