Man jumps ship and swims ashore to avoid quarantine: Police

A crew member on a ship anchored off Western Australia allegedly jumped overboard and swam ashore - before being nabbed by police.

A man has allegedly breached quarantine by jumping into the ocean from a docked carrier ship and swimming ashore in Western Australia.

The crew member was nabbed hours later at a backpacker hostel, police allege.

The 37-year-old man was a Vietnamese worker aboard a bulk carrier that had berthed at the Albany Port on Thursday, police say.

He is accused of jumping overboard on Saturday and swimming ashore — breaching Western Australia’s strict border rules.

The crew member had only hours of freedom before he was charged and refused bail after failing to comply with the emergency management quarantine directions.

A Vietnamese national is alleged to have jumped from a ship docked in the Port of Albany and swam ashore to avoid having to quarantine. Picture: Google Maps

Police say they located him before 7pm on Saturday at an Albany backpackers accommodation.

He had a rapid test for COVID-19 which was negative, the spokesperson said.

The man was charged with failing to comply with direction and was due to appear via video-link before the Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday.

He was the second man to front Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday for failing to comply with a direction.

A 31-year-old man was charged for the same offence after returning to WA from Victoria on December 29.

Police allege the man became aggressive and abusive towards staff on Saturday morning after he took his mask off at a clinic where he was being tested for COVID-19.

The 31-year-old man from Wembley Downs was also charged behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place.