POLICE have labelled the actions of a late-night reveller who decided to swim across Newcastle Harbour as "foolish" after emergency services spent time combing the water to find him.
Just before midnight Saturday search crews were tasked to the harbour because CCTV from the Queen's Wharf Hotel showed a patron diving into the water and not resurfacing.
At the time it was unknown if the person was in distress or if they had exited the water. A full-scale search was launched with three NSW Ambulance crews, Marine Rescue, NSW Police and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter called in.
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The helicopter conducted a visual search of the area using night vision goggles for more than an hour, while Marine Rescue worked to comb the water and police attempted to trace the man's last known whereabouts.
In the end the man was discovered safe and well inside his Stockton home, 'oblivious' to the search that was under way.
"There was a significant amount of time spent trying to make sure this man was safe," Newcastle chief inspector Ian Macey said.
"There is a large amount of marine traffic coming in and out of the harbour, it was a foolish act.
"I suspect alcohol played a part in this misadventure and the man was very sheepish about his actions and remorseful."
