'Elderly' man seen towing boat on mobility scooter through Gold Coast street turns out to be internet prankster
A man filmed towing a boat on a mobility scooter down a Gold Coast street has been found to be an internet prankster posing as an elderly boatie.
Willem Ungermann, who goes by Willem Powerfish online, was spotted driving through Coolangatta as 'Mangrove Merv', towing a large boat as another man was tugged behind the vessel on roller blades.
The stunt garnered the attention of locals, but also police.
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The man was filmed towing the vessel through Coolangatta. Supplied
Natasha Staiss witnessed the incident while having breakfast this morning.
"I was like how is this possible, how is it towing it?" she said.
"My nan is on a mobility scooter so I sent it to my family and they were like you have got to post this, it's golden."
Scott Knowles from Queensland Police was less impressed.
"That's stupidity," he said.
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Willem Ungermann, who goes by Willem Powerfish online, has come under fire for some of his stunts. Willem_powerfish
"I mean those vehicles were never designed to tow those sorts of weights."
Police are now investigating the prank.
The 35-year-old Ungermann has run into trouble before and was fined $15,000 for jack-knifing his boat down a ramp at Fingal Head in 2020.
He said at the time that he donates the proceeds of his merchandise to charity.
"What we do is sell merchandise and the proceeds of this merchandise we give back to communities or families in need," Ungermann told 9News at the time.
"I'm going to learn from this mistake, but I've also... all I've ever wanted to do is make people laugh, get the dogs, and push mental health."
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