A Bondi Rescue star has faced court on domestic violence charges linked to three alleged assaults.
Lifeguard Andrew ‘Reidy’ Reid, 45, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of common assault (DV) which allegedly occurred in Chatswood on Sydney’s North Shore in November 2022 and January this year.
Police allege a further charge of causing actual bodily harm occurred on March 24.
A fourth domestic violence charge was dismissed.
The charges relate to the same woman, who is listed as a protected person under a domestic violence warrant against Reid.
Reid faced part of a hearing to contest the charges.
High-profile defense barrister Margaret Cunneen SC said the charges would be ‘vigorously defended’ by Reid.
“There are three very different charges with a long time between them, the defense of which could be the result of an accident,” she told police. Sydney Morning Herald.
Bondi Rescue star Andrew Reid has pleaded not guilty to two counts of common assault (DV)
Police allege a further charge of causing actual bodily harm occurred on March 24
“There is no hitting or hitting. His good character will clearly be addressed in the evidentiary question of these allegations.”
The hearing will take place at Hornsby Local Court on March 25 next year.
Reid has been a star on Bondi Rescue since the hit series first aired in 2006.
He has been patrolling the iconic beach for more than twenty years.
Earlier this year, lifeguards rushed to the aid of injured victims stabbed by Joel Cauchi during the deadly Westfield Bondi Junction rampage that claimed six lives.
He was shopping for a new bed in Myer when a frantic store worker told him that ‘people are being stabbed’ and ‘the building is being evacuated’.
Andrew Reid was hailed as a hero during the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing as he rushed to the aid of injured victims
Reid was locked behind a security door before convincing a guard to let him slip under the door to help a woman who was bleeding.
“There was a lady… and there was blood everywhere,” Reid told Nine News.
“I realized I had to help, because that’s what we as lifeguards are trained to do.”
He and two other members of the public administered first aid to the woman, along with police officers.
“I’ve never seen so much blood… we were just looking for wounds and trying to stop the bleeding,” Reid said.
“When I looked up there were several victims about 50 yards apart. The lady next to us was in very bad shape; there were others who were working on her.’
Reid said he had never experienced anything as traumatic as the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing (paramedics on scene)
After helping stabilize the woman, Reid continued walking 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,” Reid said.
‘Then I went to help the next victim and saw an empty stroller. I have three young children and but oh my God.’
While Reid is no stranger to life and death situations, he admits he has never experienced anything this traumatic.
“After twenty years of working on the beach, I’ve seen quite a few ugly things, but nothing like this.”
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