A wanted British man arrested by police in Australia after trying to flee the country on a jet ski left a farewell note before launching his big escape.
On the run from drug charges, David Jackson, ran out of fuel three miles off the coast of Papua New Guinea, where he was arrested.
Armed with a crossbow, the 57-year-old had covered nearly 90 miles of shark infested waters after leaving a note in his abandoned car, which read: “If I’m not back by Wednesday, I’m not dead. But I’m not coming back.”
Jackson had been seeing launching his jet ski from the Cape York peninsular, in the northern-most part of Queensland.
A witness told The Courier-Mail newspaper: “He stuck out like dog’s balls. He was suspicious from the get-go. When he jumped on his jet ski he just took off, flat out. It was a dead calm day and he was fairly whistling.”
Jackson was flown back to Cairns where he is due to appear in court.
Jo Crooks, of the Australian Border Force, said: “We have the ability to detect a range of border threats, including suspicious movements through the region. Anyone who thinks they can either enter or leave Australia through the region without detection should think again.”
A spokesman for the AFP added: “This arrest sends a strong message to would-be fugitives – our reach across Australia is second to none and we will use all our contacts and relationships to find you and bring you before a court.