Police Are Searching For 'Truck Surfer' Who Held Onto Petrol Tanker While Sitting In A Shopping Trolley

Footage has emerged of a man spotted sitting in a shopping trolley and holding onto the back of a fast-moving petrol truck on a South African highway.

In the video, the man is seen laughing and waving while getting hurled across the highway as it rains heavily. 

According to news.com.au, Gauteng traffic police spokesperson Sello Maremane said the police are now investigating the thrill-seeker behind the dangerous prank.

“The Gauteng traffic police are disappointed with the behaviour of a hitchhiker who was seen travelling with a grocery trolley attached to a heavy motor vehicle yesterday on the 3rd of April on the N1 freeway in rainy conditions,” he said.

“Such behaviour is both irresponsible and illegal and will never be tolerated by law enforcement authorities.”

Engen, the label of the petrol truck, issued a statement and said members of the public thankfully notified the driver that there was a ‘truck surfer’ attached to his vehicle.

According to The Daily Mail, the statement read: “Engen thanks members of the public who alerted the Engen Bulk Fuel Truck driver to the matter and commends the driver for safely bringing the vehicle to a stop. 

“Upon investigation by the driver, the man in the trolley fled the scene. No injuries were reported.”

The South African oil company also discouraged others from engaging in such ‘dangerous’ pranks as it could lead to a collision on the road.

“Engen kindly requests members of the public to refrain from engaging in this extremely dangerous behaviour," the company said.

“Engen also encourages motorists and communities to report so-called 'truck surfers' to SAPS, which can potentially save a life, as well protect fellow motorists and pedestrians.”

However, this isn’t the first time people have attempted to ‘surf’ on moving vehicles, and it certainly won’t be the last. 

In November last year, a YouTube user named DyingLlama uploaded a video of himself balancing on a DLR carriage as it travelled 50mph through a tunnel.

The video, which lasted just under five minutes, shows the man’s view as train travels over a river. 

Miraculously unharmed, the prankster jumps off the train and quickly runs out of the train station before authorities can catch him.

Please, do not try any of this at home.