Olympian Matthias Ungemach in court over alleged hit and run death of Tony Plati
Former Olympic rower Matthias Ungemach has appeared in court over the alleged hit and run death of much-loved northern beaches man Tony Plati.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Update on painter critical after falling 3 metres from ladder
- Fears rare fish at risk in $18m development
An Olympian and head coach at a prestigious north shore rowing club has been charged with the alleged hit and run of a 66-year-old man in February.
Matthias Ungemach, 52, a former Olympic German rower and Mosman Rowing Club head coach, was arrested on Thursday and charged with the hit and run death of Tony Plati on February 22.
The Curl Curl father was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death; failing to stop and assist after the vehicle impact that caused death and negligent driving occasioning death.
His licence was also suspended.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, February 22, when Mr Plati was on his regular morning walk.
Emergency services were called at 5.45am after reports a pedestrian had been hit, where they found him on Oliver St, Freshwater, with critical injuries.
He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital, but died of his injuries.
Police established Strike Force Clarefield to investigate the collision, which led them to Ungemach.
On Thursday, March 19 investigators raided Mosman Rowing Club where they seized Ungeman’s VW Amarok Ute and a boat trailer.
On Thursday he was arrested at a home in Adams St, Curl Curl, charged and appeared before Manly Local Court where he was granted conditional bail and will next appear on Wednesday, September 22.
Ungemach, originally from Germany, is a double World Champion and Olympian.
He represented his country many times and came fourth in the final of the coxless four in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
He is married to fellow Olympian Judith Ungemach, born Zeidler, who won Olympic gold in the women’s eight in Seoul in 1988 and bronze in Barcelona in 1992.
She is also a coach at Mosman Rowing Club.
On its website, the club states it is “very proud” to have Matthias Ungemach on staff.
As well as coaching the Under-21 Australian Men’s Sweep program he has helped promising young schoolkids achieve success in the sport.
In 2014 he qualified, over much fancied opposition, two St Augustine’s boys along with two Riverview boys to represent Australia at the Junior World Championships in Hamburg Germany in the straight four.
Meanwhile, more than 700 mourners turned out for Mr Plati’s funeral in March.
He was described as a devoted family man who was the “most giving person ever known”.
The well-loved dad was also a full-time carer for his 102-year-old mother Maria in the home they shared in Waratah St.
In a packed service at St Kevin’s Catholic Church, Dee Why, mourners were told how Mr Plati unselfishly became the full-time carer for his mother and rarely ever left her side
