A man is demanding answers after sharing distressing footage of his elderly dad collapsing and suffering spasms as he’s arrested for failing to wear a face mask in public.
The stomach-churning incident was filmed on Monday morning in Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens after Queensland’s lockdown was extended to stem the spread of Covid in the community.
According to the man’s son, who shared the footage online, he suffers from a medical condition which causes him breathing difficulties and heart problems.
During the arrest, he fell to the floor and started to spasm, gasping for air and flailing as he tried to reach for his backpack – which contained his medication.
Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that an ambulance was called and paramedics ‘did not identify a medical issue’, but that he was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The distressing scenes were filmed by the man’s partner and left his son feeling rattled and helpless when he was eventually notified.
Video appears to show four police officers questioning the man as they arrest him and lead him away from the park for failing to answer their questions ‘reasonably’.
The woman repeatedly told officers that the man had an exemption and tried to provide personal details.
But an officer was recorded stating that he ‘was not confident [the man] would comply with directives’ if he were to remove the handcuffs.
