EXCLUSIVE
Famed lifeguard Andrew Reid took to the water after it emerged he had been charged with a string of domestic violence offences.
The Bondi Rescue star, known as ‘Reidy’, put on a brave face when he was spotted rowing with a friend and two children in North Bondi.
He seemed relaxed and even smiled during the surf on Thursday afternoon, but a source revealed to Daily Mail Australia that it has been a traumatic year for the 45-year-old.
Just six months ago, he was hailed as a hero after he rushed to help injured victims who were stabbed in the deadly Westfield Bondi Junction massacre that claimed six lives.
“It’s been a very difficult time for him, especially after what happened in April,” the source said.
“He is completely dedicated to his children and his community and is focused on them right now.”
In court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia, three alleged incidents are at the center of the court case, to which Reid has pleaded not guilty.
One charge of assault relates to an alleged incident that occurred in November 2022, while the other allegedly took place in January 2024, over a 15-minute period.
Famed lifeguard Andrew Reid took to the water after it emerged he had been charged with a string of domestic violence offences.
The Bondi Rescue star, known as ‘Reidy’, put on a brave face when she was spotted rowing with a friend and two children in North Bondi.
Just six months ago, Reid was hailed as a hero after coming to the aid of injured victims who were stabbed in the deadly Westfield Bondi Junction massacre that claimed six lives.
Mr Reid seemed relaxed and even smiled during the surf on Thursday afternoon.
Police allege a further charge of causing actual bodily harm (DV) occurred on March 24.
A fourth charge of domestic violence has been dismissed.
The allegations relate to the same woman, who is listed as a protected person under a domestic violence order held against Mr Reid.
His high-profile defense lawyer, Margaret Cunneen SC, said the charges will be “vigorously defended” by Mr Reid.
“There are three very disparate allegations with a lot of time between them, and according to the defence, they could be attributed to an accident,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Reid, who has been a star of the hit TV show Bondi Rescue since it first aired in 2006, has patrolled the iconic beach for more than two decades.
He made headlines around the world for his bravery earlier this year, when a mass stabbing attack took place in front of him.
He had been shopping for a new bed at Myer when a frantic retail worker told him that “people are being stabbed” and “the building is being evacuated.”
Mr Reid had been locked behind a security gate before convincing a security guard to let him slip under the gate to help a bleeding woman.
“There was a lady… and there was blood everywhere,” he told Nine News.
“I realized I had to go help because that’s what we’re trained to do as lifeguards.”
Andrew Reid has appeared on Bondi Rescue since 2006.
Paramedics are seen with stretchers outside Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center after a stabbing incident in Sydney on April 13, 2024.
Joel Cauchi pictured during his murderous attack
The man with the knife, Joel Cauchi, was eventually shot dead at the scene by a police officer.
He and two other members of the public gave first aid to the woman, along with police officers.
“I’ve never seen so much blood… we were just looking for wounds, trying to stop the bleeding,” he said.
‘When I looked up, there were several victims about 50 meters away. The lady next to us was very bad; there were other people working on it.’
Once Reid helped stabilize the woman, he continued moving around the mall to help others.
‘I saw that the police needed help with the other lady, so I started giving her compressions. “I don’t think she made it,” he said.
“Then I went to help the next victim and saw an empty stroller. I have three young children and I thought, ‘Oh my God!’
While Reid is no stranger to life-or-death situations, he admitted he’s never experienced anything so traumatic.
“I’ve seen some pretty gnarly things after working for 20 years on the beach, but nothing like this.”
The killer, Joel Cauchi, was eventually shot dead at the scene by a police officer.
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