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Grant Hackett: Missing former Olympic champion found safe | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Former Olympic swimming champion Grant Hackett has been found by police in Australia's Gold Coast after going missing. | |
Hackett, 36, was on Wednesday arrested and released without charge after becoming agitated at his parents' home. | Hackett, 36, was on Wednesday arrested and released without charge after becoming agitated at his parents' home. |
On Thursday, his father appealed for help finding him, saying he was "disturbed" and needed urgent help. | |
Nev Hackett later told local media his son had messaged his mother to say he was safe. | |
"He's spoken to police. He's actually hiding because he's very, very embarrassed about all this," he told reporters. | |
Family pleads for help | Family pleads for help |
Before his disappearance, Hackett was last seen at a hotel, according to local media. | |
Nev Hackett said his son had missed an appointment with his lawyer and the family was "extremely worried". | Nev Hackett said his son had missed an appointment with his lawyer and the family was "extremely worried". |
"When we spoke to him several hours [ago], he just hung up when we asked him where he was," he said. | "When we spoke to him several hours [ago], he just hung up when we asked him where he was," he said. |
"Grant, let us know where you are, we love you, and we want to help you," he said. | "Grant, let us know where you are, we love you, and we want to help you," he said. |
Local media reported Hackett indicated he would seek help after being released from police custody on Wednesday. | Local media reported Hackett indicated he would seek help after being released from police custody on Wednesday. |
His brother, Craig Hackett, said the former Olympian was "a danger to himself". | His brother, Craig Hackett, said the former Olympian was "a danger to himself". |
On Thursday, Hackett had posted a picture of himself on Instagram sporting a black eye. It was unclear when the image was taken. | |
Hackett, who won gold medals in the 1,500m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay at Sydney 2000 and in the 1,500m freestyle at Athens 2004, had a long-standing rivalry with compatriot Ian Thorpe. | Hackett, who won gold medals in the 1,500m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay at Sydney 2000 and in the 1,500m freestyle at Athens 2004, had a long-standing rivalry with compatriot Ian Thorpe. |
He returned to the pool last year to make an unsuccessful bid to qualify for the Rio Olympics. | He returned to the pool last year to make an unsuccessful bid to qualify for the Rio Olympics. |
He was questioned by airport police in Melbourne last April after allegedly assaulting a male passenger over a reclined seat on a flight. Hackett said he had been drinking in the wake of his Olympic disappointment and publicly apologised. | He was questioned by airport police in Melbourne last April after allegedly assaulting a male passenger over a reclined seat on a flight. Hackett said he had been drinking in the wake of his Olympic disappointment and publicly apologised. |
Hackett has previously admitted he became dependent on a sleep medication. | Hackett has previously admitted he became dependent on a sleep medication. |
The swimmer flew to the United States in 2014 to spend time in a rehab centre after he was spotted topless and disoriented in the lobby of a Melbourne casino. | The swimmer flew to the United States in 2014 to spend time in a rehab centre after he was spotted topless and disoriented in the lobby of a Melbourne casino. |
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