Abdallah Lazkani: Yarra Bay boat, swimmer collision court case

A reckless speeding boater left a swimmer with ‘life-changing injuries’ when he roared towards the shoreline of a popular bay beach. He’s now received a jail sentence.

On a summer’s day in December 2019, Abdallah Lazkani was steering a speedboat around Botany Bay with friends.

At the same time, an 18-year-old man was swimming with a friend about 20m away from the shore of Yarra Bay, near La Perouse.

Tragedy struck the idyllic scene when, not long after 12 noon, Lazkani’s boat unknowingly roared towards the two innocent swimmers.

Abdallah Lazkani leaves the Downing Centre in Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles

The court heard the friend noticed the boat coming at a “fast speed” and desperately tried to alert the 18-year-old, however the efforts were in vain as the boat ultimately collided with the swimmer.

Magistrate Vivian Swain, when recounting the police facts in Downing Centre Local Court, said the victim went under the boat and his “body was chopped up by the propeller”.

Lazkani, of Chester Hill, was charged with operating a recreational vessel and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard the 26-year-old was oblivious to the life-changing injuries the boat had inflicted and motored on, until he was somehow called out to.

From that point, Lazkani turned the boat around and immediately provided help by taking the victim to the shore and then inside the Yarra Bay Sailing Club so an ambulance could reach the injured teenager with ease.

Yarra Bay, where the incident took place. Picture: John Grainger

The court heard Lazkani was highly regarded in his community, where he helps the homeless and elderly, and that his short-term marriage had ended just months before the incident.

Ms Swain said the criminal offence of operating a recreational vessel and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, which Lazkani pleaded guilty to on the day of hearing, took place “so close to shore at a beach location on a hot summer’s day where there are lots of swimmers”.

The 26-year-old was sentenced to a 16-month jail sentence to be served in the community as an intensive corrections order.

His efforts to keep his boat licence so he could continue riding his jetski also failed, with Ms Swain recommending it be cancelled for 18 months.