Jump directly to the content
'He could've started walking'

Fuming French hitchhiker ‘loses the plot’ after waiting FOUR DAYS for a lift out of a New Zealand beach resort

Witnesses told how the man had allegedly thrown a freedom camp sign into the Punakaiki River and taken to the Punakaiki sign itself with a rock

hitchhiker

A FRENCH hitchhiker who spent four days trying to get a ride out of a New Zealand beach resort was arrested after throwing a series of tantrums spotted by locals.

The man, who was trying to get a lift out of Punakaiki Beach, West Coast, on the country's South Island, took his anger out on road signs when cars didn't stop, the .

A hitchhiker who got angry after waiting four days to get a lift got arrested after taking his frustration out on road signs
2
A hitchhiker who got angry after waiting four days to get a lift in New Zealand got arrested after taking his frustration out on road signsCredit: Getty Images

Senior Sergeant Paul Watson told the newspaper police received several calls about a man damaging signs and verbally abusing people.

He said: "It seems he lost the plot after becoming stuck in Punakaiki for four days and unable to get a lift.

"He could have started walking, he would have been in Franz Josef by now."

Police arrested the unnamed 27-year-old and took him to nearby Greymouth who is due to appear in court on Tuesday charged with criminal damage.

The French hitchhiker took his frustration out on road signs after he was stuck at a beach resort in Punakaiki, New Zealand, for four days
2
The man "lost the plot" after no car stopped to give him a rideCredit: Getty Images

Witnesses described how the man had allegedly thrown a freedom camp sign into the Punakaiki River and taken to the Punakaiki sign itself with a rock.

They told police he also verbally abused tourists and locals.

The man is believed to have slept on the beach and was noticeable because he carried a big black plastic bag.

A woman, who works at the Punakaiki Visitor Centre, claims the man gave her "the big finger" as she  drove nearby a bridge.

She added: "It was quite vicious and gave me a fright."

The woman, who did not give her name, said locals came into the visitor centre and described the man as "aggressive when they approached him about his behaviour and were worried he might be violent".

Local business owner Neil Mouat claims the man told one local that "New Zealand was s**t and he couldn't wait to get back to Europe".



We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368


 

Topics