Former prime minister John Howard has become the latest victim of a shoe-throw attack after a Cambridge University student hurled a work boot at him.
The unidentified man threw the Doc Martin shoe just moments after Mr Howard began his speech on "leadership in the new century" for the 400-strong university union crowd last Friday, The Australian newspaper reports.
"Go home, you racist, I am ashamed to be an Australian," the man yelled.
Mr Howard escaped injury after the boot was caught by a cricketer sitting in the audience.
"He threw it with some force but I managed to catch it," Andrew Chapman said.
Mr Chapman was later praised for his ball skills by Janette Howard.
"Mrs (Jeanette) Howard thanked me for stopping the work boot and said 'you must be a cricketer'," Mr Chapman said.
UK police are interviewing the attacker, who was described by witnesses as a white man with a long, blonde-coloured ponytail.
Mr Howard told The Australian the man's throw was "awful" and that he "wasn't as good as the Iraqi journalist", referring to the man who threw a shoe at former US president George Bush.
Mr Howard continued his speech and did not appear perturbed by the attack.
The man was removed from the audience and is expected to be charged with assault.
Officials did not return his boot.
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