Sydney icon Danny Lim rushed to hospital after an alleged incident with NSW Police
Sydney activist Danny Lim has been hospitalised after an incident reportedly involving police.
The much-loved octogenarian, known for his colourful banners with slogans promoting “peace” and “love” as well as misspelled swear words, confirmed he was awaiting a doctor’s report on his injuries at St Vincent’s Hospital.
The alleged incident took place outside the Art Gallery of NSW on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m not doing well,” Lim, 80, told Daily Mail Australia from hospital a few hours later that evening.
‘I’m pretty confused right now. I’m scared something’s going to happen.’
He claimed the incident involved a security guard and NSW Police and was “very similar to what happened to me at the Queen Victoria Building in 2022”.
Mr Lim would not provide further details about Tuesday’s incident.
New South Wales police confirmed that emergency services were called to the art gallery on Tuesday to check on the condition of an 80-year-old man.
Prominent activist Danny Lim has been hospitalised following an incident involving NSW police
“The man was spoken to by police and later taken to hospital by ambulance for assessment,” a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘There is no criminal offense and the police will not take any further action.’
In the previous incident, Mr Lim was also hospitalised with a subdural haematoma (blood clot) on the brain after two officers forcibly handcuffed him and threw him to the ground outside the QVB in Sydney’s CBD in November 2022.
Footage shows the local activist being pushed to the ground by two NSW Police officers, leaving Mr Lim with a bloodied face and a black eye.
Mr Lim suffered a brain hemorrhage as a result of the fall and had to use a walking stick for weeks.
A father of five was recently fined after being found guilty of assaulting gentleman Lim in a separate incident in 2023.
Ming Wiseman, 66, was found guilty at Burwood Crown Court following an altercation at Strathfield train station on September 22 last year. He strongly denied the charges and even accused Lim of feigning injuries.
Magistrate Vivien Swain ruled that Wiseman did not act in self-defence during the incident, after he angrily approached Mr Lim in the station concourse.
Mr Lim, who is known in Sydney for his signs promoting peace, positivity and progressive political causes, was taken to Concord Hospital after the attack.
The court heard that Mr Lim suffered a red mark over his left eye after being punched by Wiseman while campaigning for the Yes referendum on The Voice.
Danny Lim (pictured) was accused by his attacker of being a “disgrace to the Chinese community” during heated courtroom scenes on Monday
Wiseman was arrested the following week at a home in Homebush West and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.
He pleaded not guilty and told the court that Mr Lim, then 79 years old, was the aggressor.
Wiseman said he was angered by some of Mr Lim’s signs criticising the government and police, including an old sign that read ‘Police CVN’T’
However, Mr Lim denies that they are offensive.
“Have you ever had a sign that said, ‘Police are dicks’,” Magistrate Swain asked Mr Lim during his hearing.
“It’s CVN’T,” Mr. Lim replied.
CCTV footage shown in court showed Wiseman entering through the station gate, putting down his bag and shopping trolley, before becoming involved in a heated argument and pointing at Mr Lim, who was carrying a sandwich board.
Mr Lim told the court that he heard someone approaching from behind and shouting abuse at him, after which he stood with his back against the wall.
The Public Prosecution Service admitted that Mr Lim had kicked and attempted to punch Wiseman.
Ms Swain discovered that Wiseman punched Mr Lim in the face during the ensuing altercation.
Wiseman admitted he was angry when he approached Mr Lim, but denied assaulting him and called the allegations an attempt to “set him up”. The police prosecutor denied these claims.
At one point, Mrs Swain had to ask Wiseman not to shout during his testimony because tempers sometimes became heated.
The court heard that Mr Lim and Wiseman had been involved in another verbal altercation at Strathfield station earlier in the day of the incident.
Mrs Swain concluded that Wiseman was the aggressor and that he had struck Mr Lim.
“I am satisfied that there is no reasonable possibility that his conduct was necessary to defend himself,” she said.
Wiseman was convicted and fined $200.
Ms Swain also issued an 18-month AVO against Wiseman to protect Mr Lim.