British tourist ‘struck with a fine of up to $10,000’ for jumping into Sydney Harbor next to the Opera House – but Aussies are more concerned about the threat of SHARKS lurking in the water
- A British tourist has jumped into Sydney harbour
- He was told the fine for the stunt was $10,000
Aussies have broken into a young British tourist who jumped into the harbor from one of Sydney’s hottest bars.
Footage of the man jumping out of the Opera Bar, just meters from the city’s iconic Opera House, in his underwear was shared online last week.
But what shocked viewers most was not the daring stunt, but the hefty fine the traveler could have received after returning from the water.
Security helped the man back over the harbor ledge before telling him the risky trick could earn him $10,000.
A young British tourist was fined for jumping into Sydney Harbor near the Opera House (pictured, the swimmer climbing out of the water)
“Well, there’s a very good reason why you’ve never seen anyone jump into the sea from the Opera House… I’ll show you why,” said a clip from TikToker Future Travelers.
The video then cuts to the clothed swimmer talking to a group of police officers.
However, several commentators said the overwhelming fine is the least dangerous part of jumping into the busy harbor.
“I’m a Sydney girl and it’s not the $10,000 that scares me, it’s the huge bull sharks lurking in those waters,” one commenter wrote.
“It’s a busy shipping lane and if it were full of floating tourists the ferries wouldn’t be able to run,” said another.
“I’m sure if he got run over on a ferry his family would sue the NSW government for damages,” a third person wrote.
Other commentators were rightly skeptical about the expensive fine.
The actual fine for swimming around the Opera House is up to $1,100, with the law stating that a person may not “swim into and enter any part of the Opera House grounds or swim from any part of that premises.”
An Opera Bar security guard told the British tourist he would be fined $10,000 (pictured, the tourist with police after jumping into the harbor)
Footage of the incident was shared last week and earlier this month (pictured, the tourist jumping into the harbour)
Dozens of other commentators were impressed by the young tourist’s leap and condemned NSW for being a “nanny state.”
“Welcome to Sydney, please don’t do anything,” one person commented.
“This man is an absolute legend,” wrote another.
“Only $10,000 a dive? It is probably cheaper to live in the harbor than some apartments. Sign me up,” a third commenter joked.
“Australia has a fine for everything,” said another.
Earlier footage of the stunt was shared alongside a montage of the tourist showing his British mother around Australia.
The first video left viewers puzzled with a commenter writing, ‘In all my life living in Sydney I’ve never seen anyone jump into the Opera House!’