UPDATE:
Deeply troubled former swim star Grant Hackett has been found safe, after being officially reported missing by his frantic father, Nev.
The star’s family are believed to be deeply relieved after ‘fearing the worst’ when Grant went missing.
Nev had earlier approached police with concerns about his missing son’s welfare telling the media, ‘I don’t know where he is.
“I would think that if anybody has seen him to contact media or the police or the Hackett family.
“He’s definitely a missing person. He’s mentally disturbed and needs urgent help. His doctor can’t find him, he hasn’t kept an appointment with his lawyer.
“When we spoke to him several hours, he just hung up when we asked him where he was. We’re extremely worried about him. Grant, let us know where you are, we love you, and we want to help you.”
The former swimmer – who was arrested yesterday following a disturbance at the Hackett family home – this morning released a shocking photograph of facial injuries, making disturbing allegations about a family member.
Showing a severely swollen and bruised face, the star wrote, ‘My brother comments to the media… but does anyone know he beat the s*** out of me. Everyone knows he is an angry man.’
The star’s brother Craig Hackett, who has yet to comment on Grant’s claims, yesterday said his swimming star brother is “a completely different person” from the champion that not long ago had “the world at his feet.” This follows claims Grant is struggling with his mental health.
“He’s a danger to himself. He’s a danger to the community,” Craig told News.com.au.
“The Grant Hackett that Australia fell in love with, they can still have that affection towards him,” he continued.
“This is not Grant Hackett.”
“I don’t know this person. I don’t know this person, my mum and dad don’t know this person. He’s there in body, but he’s not there in mind, soul or spirit.
The 36-year-old was handcuffed and driven away in a police car from his parent’s Gold Coast home yesterday morning, after “flying into an uncontrollable rage.”
His dad, Neville, confessed that he had no other option but to call 000 as his son, who had been drinking heavily, became increasingly abusive and aggressive. He described his son as dealing with a mental health issue.
According to witnesses, Hackett was “going off” and stabbing a knife into a chopping block.
However, the talented long-distance swimmer was reportedly asleep when eight officer’s arrived to arrest him. He was released without charge just three hours later and is currently being treated in hospital.