50-year-old man falls from first floor balcony, sustains minor injuries

A 50-year-old man who fell 3m from his first-floor balcony in Darwin has escaped his brush with death without any serious injuries.

TOP End ambos were kept busy on Wednesday with paramedics responding to a man falling from his balcony, a pedestrian hit by a car and three minor crashes around Darwin and the rural area.

St John NT operations manager Craig Garraway said a 50-year-old man fell from his first floor balcony in Karama about 5pm Wednesday and sustained minor injuries.

“About a three metre fall is my understanding, minor injuries, not too serious but did require to go to hospital so very lucky there and hopefully he’s recovering well today,” Mr Garraway told ABC Darwin.

St John NT paramedics responded to an incident in Karama where a man fell 3m from his first-floor balcony. Picture: Che Chorley

Another pedestrian incident involving a car has occurred at a Puma Service station in the Top End.

“I’ve lost count in the last probably ten days about how many of those we’ve had but it has been a number of them,” Mr Garraway said.

“Thankfully, that person was transported to hospital with only minor grazes and things, it’s a slow area through there around the puma service station so I think that probably slowed things down a bit.”

Three minor crashes occurred across the Darwin and rural area on Wednesday.

“During the day we had a number of crashes out in the rural area and around town – none of those resulted in any serious injuries at all but you just need to be careful out there,” he said.

Pedestrian incidents

FOUR people were taken to hospital on Thursday night after being hit by cars across the Darwin region.

St John NT attended the separate incidents, which occurred between 6.30pm and 12.15am.

A female pedestrian was hit by a car at the Nightcliff Service Station and taken to the Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition.

At 7.15pm a man was hit by a car at the Fannie Bay Service Station and taken to hospital with multiple injuries in a critical condition.

A male pedestrian was hit in Parap at 10.50pm. He was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

At 12.15am in Palmerston a female was ran over in a driveway and went to hospital with significant head and chest injuries.

Man and woman charged

POLICE have charged a man and a woman with aggravated unlawful entry and robbery after breaking into a home in Darwin’s CBD overnight.

The pair, both aged 28, allegedly entered a unit block car park and apartment in the city at 10.30pm on Thursday.

They allegedly stole alcohol and ‘small items’ before the unit’s resident confronted the pair.

The occupant then chased the pair outside where the woman was captured.

The man then assaulted another eyewitness who contacted police.

The dog squad, Strike Force Trident and general duty police officers attended.

Police arrested the woman at the scene and later captured the man nearby.

Officers from Strike Force Trident have since charged the woman with aggravated unlawful entry and aggravated robbery.

The man was charged with aggravated unlawful entry, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and engaging in conduct which contravenes a domestic violence order.

They have both been remanded in custody and are expected to appear in the Darwin Local Court on March 28.

A man and a woman, both aged 28, have been charged after a break in on Finniss Street in Darwin's CBD. Picture: Google Maps.

Four pedestrians hit by cars overnight

Police investigate Katherine car fire

POLICE are calling for information about a vehicle fire on Fordham Court in Katherine yesterday.

Emergency services received reports of the car on fire around 1pm yesterday, which completed damaged one vehicle and caused heat damage to one nearby.

“Police believe this is an isolated incident and we are calling for any witnesses to come forward,” Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson said.

They are calling for anyone with CCTV or mobile phone footage to come forward to assist with their investigation.

Break in at Alice Springs health centre

NT Police are investigating a break-in at an Aboriginal health service building in Alice Springs in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Southern Watch Commander Rob Engels said the Congress Gap Road clinic was targeted, with police still piecing together what had occurred.

“Just after midnight, offenders have kicked in the front door, have gone in and searched through, pulled out some drawers and the like,” he said.

Offenders kicked the doors down at the Congress Gap Road clinic in Alice Springs. Picture: Google Streetview.

“At this time, I don’t know what, if anything, has been stolen. We need to wait until the occupants of that building get to work and can tell us what’s missing.

“I don’t know what they were after, whether it was money or keys or something else.”

Snr Sgt Engels said police would review CCTV footage once it became available later in the morning.

Shoppers attacked in Alice Springs mall

TWO people were attacked in the Alice Springs CBD, with police left calling for witnesses.

About 11.40am a 38-year-old woman was walking in the Todd Mall when she was confronted by an aggressive man who allegedly assaulted her.

The woman attempted to walk away from the man when he assaulted her again before leaving the area.

It’s believed the same man assaulted another man inside a shopping plaza in the Todd Mall before leaving the area but police are yet to identify the victim.

Police have released a CCTV images and footage of the man they wish to speak to in regards to both assaults.

The man is described as being of Aboriginal appearance with a slim build and shoulder length curly hair.

At the time of the assaults he was wearing a black short sleeved t-shirt, long black pants with a brown belt and white shoes.

Police urge anyone with information as to his identify or whereabouts, to contact them immediately on 131 444 and reference PROMIS number 9958678.

Handcuffed man escapes police custody in daylight

NT Police are seeking public assistance to locate an Alice Springs man who escaped police custody in daylight while still in handcuffs.

Police say around 4pm on Tuesday, officers were escorting the 23-year-old Keenan Mitchell from the Alice Springs Local Court to the Alice Springs watch house when the man ran and jumped the gated compound.

General duties officers and drone units were deployed to conduct searches across the area, but did not locate the 23 year old man, according to police.

Northern Territory Police are seeking public assistance to locate Keenan Mitchell. Picture: Supplied.

Police believe Keenan received assistance to remove the handcuffs, which were found in the area of Ghan Road earlier today.

A land and air search will continue looking for the escapee on Wednesday, who is described as being of Aboriginal appearance with dark skin, a medium build, short dark hair and at the time was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and a face mask.

Police urge anyone with information as to Keenan’s whereabouts, to contact them on 131 444 or report it anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and reference PROMIS number 9957982.

Car crash near Darwin CBD

A YOUNG man has had a lucky escape from a single car rollover near the Darwin CBD after rolling his car and immediately walking and calling the cops.

The crash which occurred on Frances Bay Dr about 1.15pm on Tuesday involved a young man who appeared to be in good spirits and in no urgent need of medical attention after walking free from the incident.

The fire brigade was the first to arrive on the scene and then St John NT.

Police took approximately 25 minutes and were the last to arrive on the scene.

A man who witnessed the crash said the young man involved veered to go around a car which was turning left into a commercial premises.

The young man then corrected his turn, hitting the corner of a parked car, his Subaru flipped and rolled.

“I was liked get f**ked, then I ran outside and I was fearing the worst and he’s standing outside calling the cops – he seems all right,” the witness said.

“Mate, it’s the best outcome I’ve seen from a car accident in a long time.”

Another bystander on the scene was perplexed as to who the young man “somehow” managed to roll the car.

“He got out of the car like nothing happened,” the bystander said. 

NT Police has been contacted for an official statement.