David Johnson: NSW Police continue search for South Coast prison escapee

A man who escaped from a South Coast prison on Wednesday is still at large, with cops working around the clock in a “twisted game of hide and seek” to track down the fugitive.

David Johnson, aged 44, was last seen on The Links Road, South Nowra. Picture: NSW Police

A man who escaped from a South Coast prison on Wednesday is still at large, with cops working around the clock in a “twisted game of hide and seek” to track down the fugitive.

David Johnson, 44, was last seen on The Links Rd, South Nowra, shortly before 7.45am on Wednesday, after escaping a minimum-security wing of the South Coast Correctional Centre in Nowra.

Officers from South Coast Police District and Corrective Services have subsequently launched a manhunt to track down the escaped inmate, who has been on the run for almost 72 hours.

Johnson is described as being of caucasian appearance, approximately 185cm tall, with a medium build, brown hair, blue eyes, and a goatee-style beard.

Nowra residents have since seen police helicopters flying above the CBD, playing voice alerts to try and track down the fugitive.

David Johnson escaped from South Coast Correctional Centre at Nowra. Picture: Supplied

“I was just wondering what was going on when I looked up and saw a police helicopter flying very low and telling us to look out for him,” David Muller wrote on Facebook.

“Just saw a police chopper looking for him outside the mall. What a twisted game of hide and seek,” Vivian Cole added.

David Johnson, 44. Picture: NSW Police

Cricket fans watching Thursday’s match between Australia and Sri Lanka on Channel 7 were also shown images of Johnson during ad breaks in the local transmission.

NSW Police have reminded those to stay away from Johnson and not to approach him, but call triple-0 immediately.

They said he was last reported wearing a black bomber jacket, hi-vis top and black track pants.

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