Pensioner allegedly ‘whacked’ by skateboarder

AN elderly Dunedin man was allegedly assaulted by a skateboarder when he complained about the way a teenager was swerving around on a footpath yesterday morning.

Police are investigating after the incident, which left the 75yearold Wakari man requiring medical treatment. The skateboarder remained at large last night — but police have his bag, which he left at the scene.

The man’s wife, who requested anonymity, said her husband was walking near their Gilmore St home when he noticed the teenager skateboarding towards him, occupying most of the footpath above St Mary’s School.

‘‘He said: ‘look mate, this [footpath] is for all of us’.’’

At this point the teen, described as 17 or 18 years old, stopped to confront the man, before allegedly assaulting him with his skateboard.

‘‘The other guy said ‘are you looking for a fight,’ threw his bag down, picked up his skateboard, whacked [the victim] in the leg and he fell down,’’ the woman said.

Her husband was at his doctor being treated for the injury to his leg, which had swelled up to the ‘‘size of an orange,’’ his wife said.

‘‘He’s finding it hard to walk, and he’s a person that walks a lot. Hitting an older person is not on.’’

The man took a bus to Dunedin Central Police Station to make a report, and she commended the professionalism and attentiveness of the police officer who visited their home later that day.

Her husband described his assailant as tall and about 17 or 18 years old, but was unable to provide a further description because the incident happened so fast, she said.

However, the victim had picked up the bag dropped by the skateboarder and given it to police.

A Dunedin police (03) 4714800, Crimestoppers 0800555111.