Pakistani crewman who jumped off a livestock ship and snuck into Australia in a huge quarantine breach gets his Covid test results back
- Pakistani sailor who snuck into Australia from ship has tested negative to Covid
- Crewman leapt off livestock ship and escaped in a white van in Queensland
- He turned himself into Townsville Police and is now in custody after escape
- 11 other crew members who walked off ship have returned negative test results
- They were seeking asylum on Monday, while 37 other crew remain on the vessel
A Pakistani sailor who escaped quarantine by jumping off a livestock ship and sneaking into Australia has tested negative to Covid.
There was a frantic overnight manhunt after the crew member escaped Polaris 3 when it was moored at a port in Townsville, North Queensland, on Saturday.
It is understood the crewman left the dock in a white van on Saturday at around 8pm before turning himself into police on Sunday and being detained overnight.
The ship left Huanghua in China on April 12 and all crew were expected to quarantine on the vessel. Eleven other crew members have returned negative test results.
Livestock ship Polaris 3 (pictured) remains docked at Townsville after a crew member fled the ship and made it to land on Saturday night
Another 11 crew members also left the ship (pictured) and are trying to claim asylum in Australia
The eleven crew members were tested because they had walked off the boat onto the port, and on Monday morning they demanded asylum in Australia.
The other sailors – reported to be Syrian – have not technically breached quarantine orders because they did not leave the jetty.
‘Eleven crew members have been tested so far and all are negative. One further crew member has returned a negative test result this morning,’ a Queensland Health spokesperson said on Monday.
The ship left China with hundreds of livestock onboard and spent 17 days at sea before docking at Townsville on Thursday.
Around 37 crew members are still on board the ship, which is understood to have left the port.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Australia Border Force.
A Pakistani crew member on board Polaris 3 (pictured) fled by jumping overboard on Saturday night
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