Reality television personality Nathan Gallagher has fled Australia to avoid facing justice after being convicted in his absence of a brutal assault on his co-star and girlfriend. Gallagher, 27, was found guilty of charges related to an attack on Gael Cameron, 29, at her Sydney apartment on Boxing Day night last year. Police facts reveal the assault involved Gallagher attempting to strangle and suffocate Ms. Cameron while their six-month-old son was in the bedroom.
According to court documents, the sustained assault occurred between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. during which Gallagher allegedly covered Ms. Cameron's mouth and nose, restricting her breathing. Ms. Cameron reportedly tried to pull away and scream, but Gallagher became increasingly aggressive. At one point, Ms. Cameron fell to the bedroom floor while trying to keep her son from Gallagher. The police facts state that Gallagher then placed both hands around Ms. Cameron's neck, applying pressure that made her unable to breathe. He also allegedly struck her on the jaw, causing pain and swelling.
Ms. Cameron attempted to escape to the bathroom with her son, but Gallagher followed, gripping her neck and lifting her. Police observed bruising on Ms. Cameron's legs and arm, swelling to her face, and a laceration inside her lip, consistent with being struck.
Gallagher was arrested and initially admitted to holding Ms. Cameron down, but denied choking or punching her, claiming he was trying to calm her down. Ms. Cameron, described by NSW Police as being in an "on-again, off-again" relationship with Gallagher, met him in mid-2024 while working as deckhands on "Below Deck Mediterranean." The couple later featured in subsequent seasons, which documented their relationship and parenthood.
Despite a scheduled court appearance, Gallagher failed to appear, leading to his conviction in absentia. A warrant for his arrest has been issued in New South Wales. The conviction prevents Gallagher from presenting any mitigating factors he may have claimed existed for his actions. It was also revealed that a separate arrest warrant for Gallagher is active in Ireland, issued in April last year, for an alleged assault causing harm.
Gallagher previously told Rolling Stone magazine that he possessed "contemporaneous video footage" and "messages and other records" that he believed provided crucial context to the events, and that "other matters surrounding the relationship" had not been publicly discussed. He stated he did not believe it was fair for only one version of events to be presented publicly.