Viral video jetski rider Tom Aiken loses licence after carpark skid
A joy-riding jetskier who went viral after a shocking video of him riding his craft out of a Sydney river and 50m into a car park hit social media has lost his licence for three months.
St George Shire Standard
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A joy-riding jetskier who went viral after a shocking video of him riding his craft out of a Sydney river and 50m into a car park hit social media has lost his licence for three months.
Competitive jetski rider and apprentice marine mechanic Tom Aiken, 20, was testing a Yamaha jetski he had recently bought when he rode out of Port Hacking River in Grays Point and up the boat ramp before he skidded at high speed through the car park.
Police began investigating the incident after the video went online before the Connells Point man handed himself in.
“I’m not going to deny it was me,” Aiken told officers.
“I didn’t know it was being filmed and I didn’t know it had been posted on social media until I woke up the next day.”
Sutherland Court magistrate Jayeann Carney convicted Aiken of recklessly operating the jetski, driving an unregistered jetski and driving unlicensed after his licence lapsed the week before.
He was fined $1950 and lost his personal watercraft licence for three months.
Aiken told officers he was unaware his personal watercraft licence, which he had held since he was 12 years old, had expired.
Ms Carney said Aiken was aware the jetski was unregistered since 2015 as he had bought it the day before for $250 with the intention of scrapping it for parts.
Aiken had used the unregistered jetski to examine a pontoon he was to repair near the Yowie Bay Boat Ramp earlier in the day before testing the craft again at Grays Point when the unorthodox water exit occurred.
“The accused informed police that he believes he was travelling at an estimated speed of about 15 to 20 knots,” the police facts read.
“The momentum has propelled the jetski with the accused on board up the boat ramp and approximately 50m into the carpark.”
However, Aiken told officers he believed the jetski would “perform in the same way as it would when driven onto sand” and had not meant to skid into the car park.
Aiken made full admissions when he told officers he was the person riding the jetski in the viral video.
“His demeanour has been polite and apologetic,” the facts read.
“The accused has a promising future in the marine industry through his involvement in professional and competitive riding as well as his mechanical career.”
Aiken recently returned from the World Cup Jet Ski event in Thailand where he placed fourth in his class.
The sponsored competitive jetski rider will be unable to participate in Variety Australia’s Jet Trek fundraiser, a charity jetski ride in March that raises funds for children with disabilities, due to his licence disqualification.