A 21-year-old man who allegedly swam into the ocean on Friday night in a bid to escape capture during a car chase with police has been charged.
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The man will front Port Kembla Local Court on September 4 charged with a police pursuit after he allegedly failed to stop when officers directed his Mercedes Benz to pull over on Landy Drive at Mt Warrigal.
A pursuit began, however police terminated the chase a short time later when the Mercedes drove through a red light at the Pur Pur Street/Shellharbour Road intersection.
Police discovered the car abandoned at Reddall Parade and saw four people running from the scene.
Police dogs tracked the 21-year-old to Warilla Beach, where he was seen entering the water and swimming towards Barrack Point.
Water police and the Toll Ambulance helicopter were called in. The man was spotted in the ocean about 45 minutes later and guided back to shore by the helicopter to waiting police.
He was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment but has since been released.