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A surfer reportedly killed in a one-shot assault had a murky history of drug and alcohol abuse and was convicted of child sex.
Chris Davidson, 45, died after being struck just after 11 p.m. on September 24 outside the South West Rocks Country Club, on the NSW Mid-North Coast.
Grant ‘Grub’ Coleman, 42, brother of NSW Waratahs’ rugby coach Darren, has been charged with assault resulting in death.
The surf legend’s dark history has since come to light with revelations that he was listed on the NSW Child Protection Register.
A surfer (pictured, Chris Davidson) reportedly killed in a one-shot assault had a murky history of drug and alcohol abuse and was convicted of a child sex offense
Chris Davidson, 45, died after being struck just after 11 p.m. on September 24 outside the South West Rocks Country Club, on the NSW Mid-North Coast.
Davidson had indecently assaulted his friend’s 15-year-old daughter while she was alone with her family with the surfer, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Davidson had turned down an invitation to go out with his friend and stayed alone with the teenage girl to watch a movie.
He complimented the 15-year-old on her appearance, asked if she had a boyfriend, and followed her to her bedroom after she got up because she was uncomfortable.
Davidson then touched and kissed her hands, leaving the girl feeling “afraid and uncomfortable,” according to court documents.
‘I’m sorry I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” Davidson said. “I’m sorry, don’t tell your father.”
The teen then snuck out of the house before telling another man living in the property about the incident.
He then threw Davidson out of the house while the surfer denied he had done anything wrong.
Davidson was charged with assault charges of indecency and pleaded guilty before being given a three-year bail for good behavior in 2017.
He violated it when he failed to state that in 2018 he worked at a surf academy in South West Rocks teaching children.
Grant ‘Grub’ Coleman, 42, brother of Waratahs’ coach Darren, has been charged with assault resulting in death
Davidson was charged with non-compliance with reporting obligations and sentenced to a three-year community correction and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
The indecent assault charge adds to his checkered history of drug and alcohol abuse, a murky past about which Davidson was candid in a 2006 interview.
“I don’t want anything to do with that badboy image. I just want to be known as Davo, good surfer, nice guy. I don’t want this bad boy hype,” he told surf magazine Stab.
Immediately after his death, tributes poured in for Davidson and many remembered his illustrious career in the water.
Davidson defeated American surfing champion Kelly Slater in two straight heats at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria in 1996.
At the time, Davidson was only 19 and accepted into the competition as a wild card.
“Lost another soldier yesterday,” Slater wrote in an Instagram tribute, alongside a photo of Davidson.
“Had many good fights with this man. One of the most naturally talented surfers I’ve ever known.’
Davidson defeated US surfing champion Kelly Slater in two straight heats at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria in 1996
Immediately after his death, tributes poured in for Davidson and many remembered his illustrious career in the water.
Another friend said Davidson was “taken too early.”
“Think of your many friends around the world and of course your family,” she said.
Such a wild, kind-hearted character who will be sorely missed. RIP Davo.’
A family friend who had known Mr Davidson since the wave rider was 14 said he was “one of the most gifted surfers” he had ever seen.
‘He was a wild child with a heart of gold! He was… a good boy. A life needlessly shortened.
“My deepest condolences to family and friends.”
Police have not released details about what they believe led to the incident that led to Davidson’s death.
Coleman is due to appear before the Kempsey Local Court on November 23.