A man who covers himself in leafy camouflage has been slammed by female runners and reported to the police over an ‘intimidating, sick joke’ YouTube stunt.
The man, wearing a ghillie suit – used by soldiers, wildlife photographers and hunters – has been hiding in the bushes of a popular Sydney running path and filming the terrified reactions of runners and others passing by when they see him.
Melanie Warman, the founder of women’s running club Boobs on the Run, was shocked at his actions and warned club members about the man on social media.
‘It seems that someone thinks it’s funny to dress in camouflage and jump out at women on the Bay Run,’ she wrote on Facebook.
‘I’m sure he wouldn’t find it funny if his mum, sister, daughter or wife had this happen to them… Or the fact that 2 women were attacked last week while out running.’
A man who covers himself in leafy camouflage (pictured) has been slammed by female runners and reported to the police over an ‘intimidating, sick joke’ YouTube stunt
Ms Warman also pointed out that ’36 women have been killed in Australia since the 1st January 2024 by male violence’.
Local mayor Darcy Byrne reported the man to the NSW Police on Friday.
‘Council’s officially requested an investigation by police, which they’re undertaking,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Tens of thousands of women use that Bay Run every week, so if it’s meant to be a joke, it’s a sick joke and it’s actually just scary and intimidating.
‘I don’t understand what sort of person would get amusement from doing something that’s designed to be frightening.’
Mr Byrne’s response came after many runners and walkers who use the path in Sydney’s inner-west posted on social media that they had been frightened by the man.
Teacher Sarah Weston, though, took matters into her own hands and turned the tables around on the man by filming him.
Walking with a friend, she approached the man and asked: ‘What are you doing?’
He responded as if he was surprised to be called out on what he was doing, saying he wanted to ‘scare people’ and ‘make people laugh’.
He said he was filming the interactions with people from a nearby hidden camera and intended to post them on YouTube.
Only the man’s nose could be seen through the fake leaves.
Ms Weston wrote on her Instagram account that ‘there was a hidden camera filming us.
The man was wearing a ghillie suit (pictured), which is used by soldiers, wildlife photographers and hunters
‘I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to ask before he jumped out at us …
‘Turns out he scares people. Films their reactions. Puts it on YouTube.’
A police spokesperson said the man had also been reported by a female jogger, who ‘was frightened when a figure – dressed up in a costume – jumped out of the bushes on the Bay Run at 5.15pm Thursday’.
‘Inquiries have revealed there may have been more – similar – incidents, which haven’t been reported to police, but are circulating on local social media forums.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk