Olympic swimming great Grant Hackett is « alive and sober », his father told media Thursday after he went missing following a…
SYDNEY —
Olympic swimming great Grant Hackett is “alive and sober”, his father told media Thursday after he went missing following a family bust-up, sparking fears for his safety.
Hackett’s father Neville said Australia’s troubled former 1500m world record-holder, who was briefly detained this week after a domestic incident, was in contact with police.
“Police officers are happy he’s alive and sober,” Neville Hackett said, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
“He’s told the police officers he just wants to hide from everybody.”
Hackett’s father raised the alarm earlier Thursday after his “mentally disturbed” son, 36, failed to turn up for appointments with a doctor and a lawyer.
Hackett had posted a picture on social media showing himself with a black eye, and accused his brother of beating him up.
“He’s in hiding from everybody, including us,” Hackett’s father said. “I think he’s very, very embarrassed, but let’s see how things go.”
The double Olympic gold medallist was released without charge Wednesday after his family called police following a reported bout of heavy drinking which led to “uncontrollable rage”.
His brother, Craig, said the former swimmer had mental health problems and was no longer the person he once knew.
On Thursday, Hackett posted a picture of himself on Instagram showing a cut and blackened right eye, and dry blood on his nose.
