YouTuber Facing $1 Million Fine Or Jail Time For Ford Falcon Boat Ramp Prank

An Australian YouTuber has found themselves in hot water over a boat ramp prank. The below video contains some strong language.

Willem Powerfish, whose real name is Willem Ungermann, uploaded a video onto the platform titled BOAT RAMP SESSIONS VOL 3 on November 20 last year.

Essentially, the prank involved getting a member of the public to help him guide his vehicle down a boat ramp so he could get his tinny into the Tweed River in northern New South Wales.

What followed was several lacklustre attempts at getting the boat in and culminated in him reversing all the way down until his Ford Falcon was in the water. People stood at the edge in disbelief that he 'accidentally' did such a thing and he had to get a massive truck in to remove the vehicle.

His loyal followers thought the video was hilarious, with one user commenting: "You've done yourself a mischief."

While it seemed like all fun and games, authorities didn't see the funny side.

The video racked up four million views and grabbed the attention of police, who charged him with five offences including negligently disposing of waste causing environmental harm.

Ungermann has pleaded guilty to the charges and will be sentenced on December 21, but the penalties for such recklessness is steep. Channel 9 reports the YouTuber is staring down the barrel of a fine up to $1 million or a maximum seven years in jail.

"It's pretty scary but obviously I'm the one that did it and I've got to suffer the consequences," he told the news network.

"I'm going to learn from this mistake, but all I've ever wanted to do is make people laugh, get the dogs and push mental health."

Since pleading guilty, his fans have flocked to his Facebook page to show their support.

One said: "Should be Australian of the year."

A second person added: "He donates to charities and it's thousands not pennies, I'm sure he understands now the gravity of the situation, but at the time he was trying to be funny, the dog."

Another wrote: "A lot of people quick to judge him, how bout looking at all the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars he has donated to people and charities."

Ungermann has donated around $30,000 to disadvantaged groups after selling merchandise.

Featured Image Credit: Willem Powerfish/YouTube

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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