Dramatic moment top lawn bowler tackles pitch invader during World Championships match as teen allegedly tried to run from police with knives in his backpack
Dramatic moment top bowler tackles pitch invader during World Cup match as teenager reportedly tried to run from police with knives in backpack
- Andrew Kelly stopped the pitch invader who was on the run from the police
- The Kiwi Lawn Bowls star tackled the alleged perpetrator on the green
- Unfolded at the Gold Coast World Championships
A champion lawn bowler has shown off his impressive tackle skills on the greens at the World Championships on the Gold Coast.
New Zealand star Andrew Kelly was in the middle of his quarter final when an alleged teenage offender stopped the match as he tried to flee from police on foot.
Kelly was having none of it and tackled the youngster in front of shocked onlookers at Broadbeach before police quickly arrived on the scene, with officers later claiming the teen had two knives in his bag.
The man of the hour told Sunrise Natalie Barr, he acted instinctively.
“For me it was a case where no one else was doing anything… there was a break in our game so I thought I was going to get a crack,” he said Tuesday morning.
Lawn bowls star Andrew Kelly showed off his tackle skills on the greens at the World Championships on the Gold Coast
While an alleged perpetrator was on the run from the police, Kelly (pictured right) became the hero of the hour when he knocked the field invader to the ground
The Kiwi said he acted on instinct and helped restrain the alleged perpetrator until police arrived on the scene
“I didn’t know he was carrying (two) knives, I just sprang into action and the rest is history.”
Onlookers on the scene described Kelly’s tackle as a ‘textbook’ that would have made the All Blacks proud ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Kelly revealed he has a background in Muay Thai fighting and joked that he is “open to offers” from rugby teams after his exploits.
He also told the New Zealand herald it was a unique situation.
“There have been streakers before,” he said.
“Things like this happen at all sporting events…but I think this was very different for me because he was clearly wanted for doing something naughty.”
The suspected perpetrator was later charged with theft, possession of a knife in a public place and obstruction of police.