Sydney icon hospitalised after attempted arrest

Danny Lim, known for standing outside train stations with "smile" signs, was arrested in Sydney CBD and hospitalised as a graphic video sparks a police probe.

Danny Lim has been hospitalised following an attempted arrested. Picture: Twitter

Danny Lim, known for standing outside train stations with "smile" signs, was arrested in Sydney CBD and hospitalised as a graphic video sparks a police probe.

Sydney icon Danny Lim has been taken to hospital after an arrest left him with injuries to his face and head.

Footage of the arrest taken by a bystander shows Mr Lim calling for help and struggling against two officers who grabbed him by each arm.

He is then thrown headfirst into the ground before the two officers placed him in handcuffs.

According to Chris Murphy, a Sydney criminal lawyer whose team has represented Mr Lim in the past, he is in a “serious” condition in hospital.

“Black eye, subdural haematoma and condition serious,” he said about Mr Lim on Twitter while sharing a photo of his injuries.

“For now I am very concerned about the subdural damage to his skull,” Mr Murphy said.

Police say security had called officers to Queen Victoria Building at around 11am on Tuesday after the 78-year-old allegedly failed to leave the building when they asked.

Danny Lim arrest. Picture: Twitter

“Police will allege the man was subsequently issued with a move on direction by officers and failed to comply,” a spokesperson said.

“The man’s arrest was discontinued after he struggled with police and sustained an injury to his cheekbone.”

He was treated at the scene by paramedics who then took him to St Vincents Hospital.

NSW Police say inquiries into the arrest are continuing after officers form the Sydney City area command reviewed body-worn video of the incident.

Danny Lim has been hospitalised after attempting to be arrested by two police officers. Picture: Twitter

“As inquiries into the incident continue, an independent review has been launched, which will examine the actions of police during the incident,” a spokesperson said.

Mr Lim was wearing one of his trademark signs during the arrest that read “SMILE CVNT! WHY CVNT?” on one side.

He is well-known for wearing the sandwich boards around Sydney, with some featuring the term “CVNT” as a substitute word for ”c***”.

More to come.