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"An absolute hero": 10-year-old boy rescues drowning swimmer

Miles Babcock has been made an honorary member of Careflight after saving a woman who was drowning in Sydney Harbour. Miles, who is just 10 years old, was paddle boarding with his dad Graham when they spotted the woman who was struggling in the water. The 10-year-old remained calm and collected after spotting the woman in distress, and began directing his dad over to help the woman out of the water. Graham could not contain his pride for his son, telling Today that he did everything in his power to rush to her aid. "I'm just incredibly proud, it's one of those confronting situations where you never really know how you're going to react," Graham said. "But Miles was the one who spotted the lady in distress, he kept the board steady and told me to get in the water and go and get her, he helped get her onto the board, helped turn her onto the side and helped pat her on the back to help clear her airways." "And then as soon as I asked him to jump off the board because we needed to get into shore as quickly as possible, he just did exactly that." Another nearby paddleboarder helped get the lady onto Miles and Graham's board, while Miles stayed behind to catch a ride back to shore with another boarder. "He was a real, real trooper and an absolute hero on the day," Graham said. "And then all the people who came in and helped were just fantastic, it was one of those things where everyone came together." People on the shore had already called triple zero and the Careflight team worked with lifeguards and paramedics to help get the woman to hospital where she is recovering. In the days after the rescue, Miles was called into the Careflight base to meet with the crew who helped the drowning woman, as they made him an an honorary Air Crew Officer and praised his "heroic rescue". <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMyCareFlight%2Fvideos%2F416634217746897%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Image credits: Today

Family & Pets

Father and grandfather drown after rescuing toddler

The father and grandfather of a two-year-old have tragically died after jumping into a hotel pool to save the toddler from drowning. On Easter Sunday evening, Dharmvir Singh, 38, and his 65-year-old father Gurjinder Singh drowned in the pool at the Top of the Mark Holiday Apartments in Surfer's Paradise when Dharmvir’s two-year-old child fell into the pool. The family members, who had travelled from Victoria to Queensland for their holiday, jumped in to save the two-year-old, although none of the family could swim. While the mother and child were both able to return to safety, Dharmvir and Gurjinder both died in the rescue. Emergency services were called to the Queensland hotel where the men were found unconscious, as paramedics performed CPR and attempted to revive the men but were unsuccessful. The mother and toddler were taken to hospital, and did not need any further treatment. Mitchell Ware from Queensland Ambulance Service said it was an “extremely emotional scene”. “Obviously, anyone could understand that not just to lose one family member but to lose two family members,” he said, according to the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13258481/Top-Mark-Holiday-Apartments-Surfers-Paradise-drowning-Father-grandfather-killed-rescuing-toddler.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail.</a> "I will just reiterate to the community to exercise due care, especially if you're not a strong swimmer, and especially if there's young children around, that you are really careful because we know that children and even adults can drown in a matter of seconds." Image credits: ABC

Caring

Surprising causes of most deaths on Australia’s beaches

Worried about sharks at the beach? Turns out these fearsome fish are not the biggest killers on Australia’s coastline when it comes to non-drowning deaths. <div class="copy"> Instead, depending on a person’s age, it’s more likely that a heart problem or misadventure will lead to mortality, according to research from Surf Life Saving Australia, whose red-and-gold clad patrol teams provide patrol and rescue services for beaches across the country. More than half of non-drowning deaths in the decade between July 2012 and June 2022 were caused by cardiac-related conditions. These accounted for 319 of the 616 deaths along Australia’s coasts. Traumatic and collision injuries – such as blunt force trauma – were the next most common cause of death, accounting for fewer than 1 in 6 deaths. Falls accounted for 1 in 10 fatalities, with marine animal interactions 1 in 20. But the data has other insights beyond cause of death. Males were far more likely to be killed on the coast; victims in almost 9 out of 10 cases. And while people aged over 50 account for most deaths, primarily through cardiac conditions, those below the age of 50 are overrepresented in all other mortality cases. This, the researchers say, is an important consideration when interpreting the data, as deaths from any cause are highest among older people. “Our research showed that males were 5.2 times more likely to die than females, with younger populations found to die disproportionately along the coast with the primary causes being falls and traumatic/collision injuries,” says the study’s lead researcher, Sean Kelly. Kelly and the other SLSA researchers point to those all-cause mortality comparisons. People aged 70+ have 118 times greater all-cause death rate than people aged 16-24. But when looking at non-drowning coastal deaths, it’s only 6 times greater, highlighting disproportionate deaths among young people in these environments. They suggest this is due to higher levels of coastal visitation and the type of activities young people participate in. Where a person lives also matters. “Those living in or visiting rural and remote areas were also found to be at higher risk, largely due to poorer access to services and longer incident response times,” Kelly says. “<a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/marine-life/shark-attack-triggers-shark-cul/">While sharks are often top-of-mind for those visiting the beach</a>, all marine creatures including sharks and jellyfish only made up 5% of non-drowning deaths and less than 2% of overall coastal deaths.” The study was <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Image credits: Getty Images <div> <noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-198773" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MICROSCOPIC-TO-TELESCOPIC__Embed-graphic-720x360-1.jpg" data-spai-egr="1" width="600" alt="Buy cosmos print magazine" title="surprising causes of most deaths on australia’s beaches 2"></noscript> </div>  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=300638&title=Surprising+causes+of+most+deaths+on+Australia%E2%80%99s+beaches" width="1" height="1" loading="lazy" aria-label="Syndication Tracker" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/australia/surprising-causes-of-most-deaths-on-australias-beaches/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/matthew-agius/">Matthew Ward Agius</a>. Matthew Agius is a science writer for Cosmos Magazine.</div>

Domestic Travel

Billy Slater rocked by family tragedy

Billy Slater has suffered a heartbreaking family tragedy, after his brother-in-law drowned while trying to save his nine-year-old daughter when she fell from their boat near Mackay, Queensland over the weekend. Ryan Craig - who was married to Slater's older sister Sheena - reportedly managed to keep his daughter afloat until a passing jet ski was able to pick her up. The father-of-four's body was found on Monday morning, with Slater and his family left devastated following the incident. Slater's former teammate, Cameron Smith, has opened up about the devastating phone call he had with the footy legend. "I found out Monday morning about this absolute tragedy. It happened Saturday afternoon up in the Mackay area where Billy's sister Sheena and her family live," Smith told SEN's The Captain's Run with Cameron Smith and Denan Kemp. "They were just out on the water. They live very close to the dam where Ryan tragically passed away. And it's their regular place where they just go for family outings. "I rang Billy and spoke with him and he just said, 'Look, it's an absolutely tragic (set of) circumstances, given the situation'. "It's somewhere they spend a lot of time with the kids growing up. They've got four kids. They've got four little girls," he added. Smith then claimed that after Craig's daughter fell in the water, "a bit of weather blew up and and it blew the boat away from where they'd fallen," adding that the boat couldn't be started "It was a heroic effort, really, from Ryan to stay afloat as long as he did to save his daughter. "He eventually ran out of energy. Some jet skiers came along a little bit later and I don't know how - it's just a miracle - that the little girl was still afloat. "Ryan went under and subsequently passed away. Really tragic events and we send our condolences out to Sheena, who is Billy's sister and the wife of Ryan. Those four little girls that have lost their dad." Queensland Police have not yet released the full circumstances of what occurred, but Inspector Glenn Cameron said preliminary investigations have revealed "the actions of the man who is now deceased saved his young daughter’s life." Inspector Cameron reportedly said that Craig's daughter was taken to Mackay Base Hospital as a precaution, and whether they were wearing life jackets will be part of the investigation. A report will also be prepared for the coroner. "Our thoughts are with the family who've lost a loved one in these tragic circumstances," Cameron said. "We never want to see something like this happen." Images: Seven/ Facebook

Caring

“It turned to tragedy”: Three people dead after mass drowning

Three people have died and another is in critical condition after drowning at the popular Phillip Island beach in Victoria. Emergency response teams were quick on the scene on Wednesday afternoon after four people were unresponsive after being pulled from the water at the beach notorious for dangerous rips. The victims are a man in his 40s and two women in their 20s, while another woman in her 20s is fighting for her life after being airlifted to hospital. An eyewitness told 7News it was a “horrible” situation that unfolded. “The family was really upset,” the witness, Alex Tzatzimakis, said. “There seemed to be a group of 10 people who came here for a really nice day. Obviously it turned to tragedy.” She said that family members of the victims were crying and consoling each other, while beachgoers who pulled the bodies from the water attempted to perform CPR. One man could be heard wailing, <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/bass-coast/emergency-services-converge-on-forrest-caves-beach-phillip-island/news-story/1c8708162bf57f6f97c23e4306aedb2a">according to the Herald Sun</a>, “I told them not to go – I should have been there.” The incident is understood to have occurred at Forrest Caves, a popular tourist destination on Phillip Island known for its sea caves, but is also an unpatrolled beach known for its dangerous rips. Locals have reacted to the horrific drowning, with many admitting they would not ever attempt to swim in the hazardous waters. “It’s treacherous out there,” one person wrote on Facebook. “Definitely not a swimming beach. Only if you are a strong swimmer and understand rips.” “So, so sad,” a second wrote. “Great surfing beach but not a swimming beach.” A third said, “If the island is going to be pushed so hard as a tourist destination there will be more and more incidents.” Drownings around Australia have risen this summer, with many people flocking to less busy unpatrolled beaches to escape the summer heat. In the days before the fatal Phillip Island drowning, Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir told <a href="https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/tragic-summer-high-number-of-drowning-deaths-on-australian-beaches/video/a66cc0032dfe6482f9d7e023179de36c">Sky News Australia</a> the issue is “very concerning”. “We’ve had 33 drowning deaths around the country so far,” Mr Weir said. “And we’ve still got a month to go in summer, so it has been a tragic summer.” Image credits: 9News

Travel Trouble

"Roo-jitsu": Former cop fends off 2m-tall kangaroo trying to drown his dog

In an unusual and somewhat comical turn of events, a former Victorian police officer, Mick Moloney, recently found himself in a rather unexpected altercation with a kangaroo while out walking his dogs near the Murray River. The story, as bizarre as it sounds, unfolded last Sunday when Moloney's peaceful stroll took a dramatic twist, involving an agitated kangaroo, one of his beloved dogs, and an heroic rescue mission. Moloney, a resident of Mildura, was no stranger to the area and had often enjoyed leisurely walks along the scenic Murray River with his canine companions. On this particular day, his dogs were noticeably quieter than usual as they strolled by the water's edge. It wasn't until "Hutchy", one of Moloney's dogs, went missing that he began to sense something was amiss. Describing his dogs as "always in the water," the former policeman began to suspect that the tranquil riverbanks might be harbouring an unexpected visitor. And his suspicions were soon confirmed when he laid eyes on an agitated kangaroo standing in the river, his arms submerged, and his gaze locked onto Moloney. What unfolded next was an extraordinary encounter between man and marsupial, captured on camera and later shared widely online. In the video, Moloney can be heard demanding that the kangaroo release Hutchy from its grip. Despite attempts to scare the kangaroo away, the situation escalated as the roo retaliated by striking Moloney and sending his phone plunging into the water. This unexpected punch-up left Moloney with a few scratches and a sore forearm, but both he and Hutchy ultimately made it safely to the riverbank. Moloney <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@the.tiser/video/7290318689390300417" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared the video </a>on his Facebook page, where it quickly went viral, garnering hundreds of shares and reactions. The bizarre incident even led to some humorous commentary, with people joking about "roo-jitsu" and the unexpected martial arts showdown with the kangaroo. Moloney, who is a mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu teacher, emphasised that he did not intend to be cruel to the kangaroo, highlighting his love for animals. Despite the unexpected turn of events, he expressed that he has no plans to change his walking route along the river, suggesting that he and his dogs will continue using their favourite walking spot. As Moloney playfully put it, "My tussling with roo days are pretty much done though, cause that thing was strong. Let's just call it a draw." The bizarre incident serves as a reminder that encounters with wildlife can take unexpected turns, even in the most picturesque of settings, and that sometimes, a little humour can help us cope with life's quirks and oddities. Images: Tiktok

Travel Trouble

Women's fitness group praised for stopping man from allegedly drowning his son

In a heart-pounding moment of courage and quick thinking, a group of women in an outdoor fitness class have rescued a 5-year-old boy after his father allegedly tried to drown him. The alleged incident occurred at the Dampier foreshore, in the remote region of Pilbara Western Australia. Police allege that the 26-year-old man drove his four-wheel drive into the ocean, before repeatedly forcing the child's head under water. The group of women intervened and helped save the child, with one believed to have punched the man several times, injuring her hand in the process according to the Sydney Morning Herald. WA Police have praised the “bravery” of the community members, who allegedly hit the man until he released the child. “Without their involvement, their courage and their bravery to get involved, it could have ended a lot worse,” WA Police spokesman told ABC Pilbara. “They responded without hesitation and contacted the police.” Emergency services were called to the foreshore around 6am on Monday, with the man arrested shortly after. The five-year-old child was taken to the hospital for assessment but is believed to be uninjured. The 26-year-old man from Nickol has since been charged with a number of offences, including attempting unlawfully to kill, two counts of assault with intent to commission a crime, reckless driving and one account of no authority to drive (never held). He was refused bail and will appear in Karratha Magistrate’s Court at a later date. Image: news.com.au

Legal

"I felt like I was drowning": Ed Sheeran breaks down

Ed Sheeran has spared no emotion in a new docuseries covering a very turbulent time in his life. In the first trailer for Ed Sheeran: The Sum Of It All, the singer can be heard laughing about how when he was first approached about the documentary, he assumed it would cover his time in the studio working on his new album. To Sheeran’s surprise, the four-part Disney+ series is set to capture the hardships in the British star’s life as his wife, Cherry Seaborn, battled with a tumour while pregnant with the pair’s second child and just as he lost one of his closest friends, Jamal Edwards. The clip includes a montage of moments featuring an emotional Sheeran, 32, breaking down on stage and in private as he deals with the turmoiltuous time he’s been faced with. "I've never seen him cry on stage," his wife admitted in a clip. "He hasn't had time to process and be at peace with his thoughts." Sheeran, who is the father to daughters, Lyra, 2, and Jupiter, 10 months, is also heard saying how his wife changed his life. "Everything in my life sort of got so much better when Cherry came into it," he says. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/writing-songs-is-my-therapy-ed-sheeran-reveals-further-heartbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sheeran first opened up about these two private, painful events in a social media post</a>, revealing how they influenced his upcoming album, Subtract. "At the start of 2022, a series of events changed my life, my mental health, and ultimately the way I viewed music and art," Sheeran wrote. "Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. "And in just over a week, I replaced a decade's worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts. "Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. "My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. "I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.” Sheeran also <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/tragedy-strikes-ed-sheeran-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suffered the loss of his close friend and co-worker's 16-year-old son in early 2023.</a> Ed Sheeran: The Sum Of It All will be released on Disney+ on May 3 2023. Image credit: Disney+

"Vale dear friend": McLeod's Daughters actor tragically drowns

Australian actor Peter Hardy, 66, has been revealed as the victim who drowned at Fremantle beach. He died as a result of a snorkeling incident, The West Australian reported. The actor played Jimmy Drane in three episodes of the iconic Aussie soap Neighbours in 1997 but is best known for his roles in McLeod’s Daughters and crime drama Chopper. According to The West Australian, the 66-year-old had travelled to Perth from London to visit his mother after building a home in the UK, The West Australian reported. His brother Michael shared the tragic news on social media, “I'm devastated to say that my brother, Peter Hardy, passed away suddenly this morning... Rest in Peace my beloved little brother.” Tributes have started flooding in following the announcement. “This news is such a heartbreaking shock. He'll be held in the wide arms of the ocean he grow up beside, and in the hearts of all those he welcomed into his vital and witty orbit. Sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” Ross Anderson wrote. Hardy’s friend Andy Burns said, “On the morning of March 16th a dear friend was taken from us... the amazing and beautiful Peter Hardy drowned while snorkelling at South Beach Perth.” “He was 66 years old and looked like a Greek god, so fit, and so happy to be back in his native WA visiting from London where he had made his home. “Words cannot express how deeply I feel this loss, We've been close friends since living together in Neutral Bay Sydney in the mid 80s. “He was a superb actor a wonderful singer and guitarist he also played drums and sax. He always loved performing in the theatre as well as film and TV. He decided to buy a canal boat in London which he set up beautifully with some recording gear and he'd send me guitar tracks recorded there to add backings to. “Heartfelt condolences to all his family and many friends over this devastating loss especially his beautiful girlfriend Lysa our thoughts are with you… “Vale dear friend Peter Hardy RIP... Adele and I are inconsolable right now over such a hard loss.” Richard had graced the screens as a season regular in McLeod’s Daughters as character Phil Rakich, a farm hand on a South Australian farm, ahead of its final episode in 2009. Image credit: Youtube

News

“Never be forgotten”: Uncle of NRL star drowns while saving swimmers

The man who died, Talitiga Taupau, was trying to save the lives of two others caught in a dangerous rip with him. The father-of-six entered the rip at Cronulla’s Shelly Beach on Saturday afternoon. One swimmer made it back to the beach, while Talitiga and one other were pulled unconscious from the water. Talitiga died at the scene, while the second unconscious man was revived and taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition after allegedly being underwater for three minutes. The swimmer who returned to shore was reported to be in a stable condition and receiving further treatment. Talitiga’s death brings the state’s summer drowning toll to 14 (with the count commencing on December 1). The 44-year-old has been identified as the uncle of Brisbane Broncos player Martin “Marty” Taupau. “It's really sad that this has happened but he will never be forgotten for his actions," Marty told 9News of his uncle’s passing. Marty was reportedly driving to Brisbane with his family for training with his team when he heard the news. “There’s just so much happening,” he added, “so much to process.” Talitiga and the second man were pulled from the water by nearby lifeguards. Joel Wiseman, director of lifesaving for Surf Life Saving NSW, stressed the strain on volunteer lifesavers across the state in the wake of the recent drownings, including the tragedy at Shelly Beach on the weekend. “We are experiencing one of our busiest summers ever with huge rescue numbers,” Wiseman stated, “and our volunteers have put in a massive effort to try to keep people safe along the coast. "Despite the growing drowning toll, volunteers and lifeguards should be very proud of what they've achieved so far this summer. There are a combination of factors making this summer so deadly, including people taking risks, alcohol consumption, and crowded beaches which can lead beachgoers to seek out unfamiliar and unpatrolled locations. "Rip currents remain the number one coastal hazard and the 14 coastal drowning deaths this summer have all occurred at unpatrolled locations." An investigation is underway into the latest drowning, with Sutherland Shire police set to prepare a report for the coroner. Talitiga Taupau is being remembered as a hero for his actions, with tributes flowing for his family. Marty Taupau posted one such tribute to his Instagram, sharing 9News’ segment on his uncle’s story with the caption “Manuia lau malaga uncle“ (Have a good trip uncle) and the hashtag “hero”. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cn_oTOwJwJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cn_oTOwJwJ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 🧿 M A R T Y K A P O W 🧿 (@martykapow)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Prayers and condolences to you and your family brother,” wrote Australian basketball star Dejan Vasiljevic. Fellow rugby league player Brad Takairangi commented, “much love my bro.” “So sorry for your loss @martykapow,” shared one supporter, echoing the sentiments of many who had come to the post to share their condolences for Marty and Talitiga’s loved ones, “sending sympathy and love to you and all your family.” As Marty told 9News, “I know I’ve got the right people and support networks around … I’ll be okay.” Images: 9News

News

NSW Police officer who drowned is remembered

A NSW Police officer, who died on New Year's Day while heroically saving his 14-year-old son from a rip at Bogola Beach, near Narooma, has been remembered. Sergeant Peter Stone had been a member of NSW Police for 22 years. Most recently, he has worked on specialist rescue operations in Sydney's Blue Mountains. "Sergeant Stone was well-liked by all those who knew him, and we are not surprised by his selfless actions," NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said in a statement. "His death is a tragic loss to the NSW Police Force and my thoughts are with Peter's wife, family, friends and colleagues during this terribly sad time." Blue Mountains Police Area Commander Superintendent Don Faulds described Stone as an "exceptional man, a brilliant operator". "Peter had dedicated his professional life to helping the community and had a real passion for rescue operations, particularly here in the rugged mountain terrain," Faulds said. "He was always quick – if not first – to offer his help or assistance around the command and his colleagues considered him a mate. "As we mourn our mate, we acknowledge the loss of a husband, father and hero.” Lifesavers rushed to the beach in an inflatable rescue boat at 1:30 pm but despite giving CPR, Stone couldn't be saved. He'd been on extended leave from the force and was on holiday with his family when he rushed to the rescue of his son, who was caught in a "substantial" rip. "He was able to push his son out of the rip, he was then taken further out to sea in the rip," Acting Inspector Paul Hoyer said. On Tuesday, NSW Police launched an appeal in the sergeant's honour to raise money for his family. Image: NSW Police

News

Young boy who drowned in flood waters identified

The young boy who drowned in flood waters in rural New South Wales has been identified as five-year-old Jayden El Jer. The family of five from Sydney had taken a trip to Dubbo Zoo on Friday 23 and were heading back to their holiday home at Tullamore when tragedy struck and they got stuck in flood waters. Jayden’s parents Joseph El Jer and Pam Hadchity and two younger siblings, baby Bachir and three-year-old daughter Valentina, were able to scramble out of the submerged Hilux ute to safety. Unfortunately, five-year-old Jayden remained trapped inside as his desperate family called out to him before the ute sank. Emergency services found the ute around 3.20pm the following day with Jayden’s body still inside. A report will be prepared for the coroner with Jayden being remembered as a "bright, bubbly boy". His mother Pam had shared photos of their trip to the zoo just hours before the horrific accident. Jayden was only in kindergarten at Christ the King Primary School in North Rocks, Sydney. “I am writing to share some very sad news with you. Over the weekend, one of our Kindergarten students Jayden lost his life in an accident caused by flooding in Central West NSW,” the school’s principal Tony Hughes said in a statement. “Our entire community will be deeply affected by this tragic loss of our friend and classmate, Jayden. Jayden joined our caring community at the beginning of 2022. “This is a very distressing time for Jayden’s family, for his classmates and for our staff. For many students, the news of Jayden’s death will bring with it a range of strong feelings.” Mr Hughes said that there will be additional support and counselling offered to students as they come to terms with the loss of their fellow classmate. “It is important that we give our young people the opportunity to talk about what they are experiencing and to support them to feel safe and heard,” he continued. “I have arranged for additional counselling to be available at school once students return on October 11. “There will be an opportunity soon for our caring community to reach out and offer kindness and support to Jayden’s family. I will provide you with more information when it is appropriate to do so.” Images: Facebook

News

Man drowns in Sydney flood waters amid fears "the worst is yet to come"

A man has drowned and tens of thousands of New South Wales residents have been warned to stay alert and ready to evacuate amid fears “the worst is yet to come”. Horrific torrential rain is hammering the east coast of Australia with the wild weather expected to continue throughout the week. Warragamba Dam has begun to spill at an extreme rate compared to the floods in March and April which has prompted the SES to order almost 32,000 people to evacuate their homes. Overall, that is a total of 41 evacuation orders and 44 evacuation warnings issued to communities in the Illawarra, Western Sydney and Hawkesbury-Nepean areas. Since the freaky weather hit, heroic SES members have responded to 3,111 requests for help and have rescued 137 people. It comes as a man has died after being pulled unresponsive from the Parramatta River on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services attempted to revive the man but were unsuccessful. “We saw a helicopter out there with essentially a team of police jumping into the water, trying to save someone,” witness Luke Touma told 7NEWS. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the weather event is once again testing the resilience of NSW. “It’s hard to put into words what some communities across NSW are going through, again," he said. “We’re seeing distressing scenes from the flood zones across our state. “Times like these are difficult. It will test our resilience. But it is also in these times that we see the best in people and the best in our communities. “We have mobilised significant resources and all relevant agencies to get help to those in need. And we will pull together, as we always do, to get through this.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that 100 ADF personnel are on standby to help. “Our government is monitoring the NSW floods carefully and has already made ADF support available. If you live in an affected area, please follow the @NSWSES advice and make safe decisions.” Images: 7News

News

Law & Order actress drowns

a actress Mary Mara has died aged 61 after reportedly drowning. The US actress had gone for a swim at the St. Lawrence River in the town of Cape Vincent in New York on Sunday morning when she drowned. State police received a call about 8.10am following reports of a drowning and found the body. Initial investigations suggest there was no foul play with Mara’s death with the body being taken for an autopsy. Mara’s manager Craig Dorfman confirmed the tragic death in a statement. “Mary was one of the finest actresses I ever met,” he wrote. “I still remember seeing her onstage in 1992 in ‘Mad Forest’ off Broadway. “She was electric, funny and a true individual. Everyone loved her. She will be missed.” Mara had many popular roles in shows such as ER, NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Shameless and Break Even and much more. According to IMDb, Mara appeared in a whopping 20 movies and 40 television shows. Mara leaves behind her stepdaughter Katie Mersola, sisters Martha Mara and Susan Dailey, brother-in-law Scott Dailey and nephew Christopher Dailey. Images: Getty

News

Reporter stops live broadcast to save drowning child

A Channel 7 reporter has been hailed a hero after rescuing a child during his live broadcast. Paul Burt was in Surfers Paradise in Queensland when a 10-year-old boy behind him got caught in a rip. Burt immediately stopped his reporting and jumped into the water to help the child who was with his family of inexperienced swimmers from Pakistan. “There was a 10-year-old boy ... that got dragged out into this fierce gutter, and of course into this rip,” Burt told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/gold-coast/gold-coast-reporter-stops-live-cross-to-save-drowning-boy-in-rough-surf-c-6693814" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> after rescuing the boy. “Being of a light weight he managed to stay afloat and come in adjacent to the southern side of the gutter. “About four or five of us jumped in and basically pulled him back to the beach.” He explained that the boy had taken in a “fair bit of water in” and was treated by paramedics on scene. Burt took the opportunity to warn swimmers not to risk their lives because they may not get that lucky. Watch the incredible footage <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/gold-coast/gold-coast-reporter-stops-live-cross-to-save-drowning-boy-in-rough-surf-c-6693814" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: 7News

Caring

Man drowns trying to save his daughter

A family trip to the beach has come to a tragic end after an Adelaide father died trying to save his young daughter. The 49-year-old took to the water at Adelaide’s Grange Beach after the tide began taking his daughter - who was on an inflatable tube - further out to sea. Onlooker Michael Napper saw the situation unfold before racing out to help. “The little daughter jumped off the tube into his arms in deep water and he was trying to save her,” Mr Napper <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/disaster-and-emergency/tragedy-as-dad-dies-trying-to-save-daughter-at-adelaide-beach-c-5384036" target="_blank">told 7News</a>. <img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846961/drowning1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/769934c9d4ca4d8ba98eaba28675948c" /> Michael Napper (left) took action after seeing the younger man struggle to rescue his daughter. Image: 7News “It was too deep. He was holding her out of the water and the water was above his head and when I looked around he was floating.” The 70-year-old went out on the water with his boogie board to rescue the pair. “I had to. She was crying and she was very upset,” he said. “I got her on the board and she was holding the board. She was alright. “By the time I got to (her dad) he was under water and the next thing he was floating. “So I grabbed him by the trousers and turned him over and got him above the water and then I swam in.” Two onlookers began performing CPR on the unconscious man until paramedics arrived. He was treated for over an hour but paramedics were unable to revive him. <img style="width: 500px; height:296.1538461538462px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846962/drowning2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/96af257f314e4b9093b9bd273ac19671" /> Though other onlookers and paramedics worked to save the man, he could not be revived. Image: 7News The man’s passing comes as the second death by drowning this week, after a 71-year-old man died over the weekend after diving into treacherous waters to save two relatives near Victor Harbor, 80km south of Adelaide. Surf Lifesavers are urging people to take extra care around the water. “So far in six weeks we have seen four coastal drownings in South Australia,” Surf Life Saving SA spokesperson Daniel Willetts said. “We urge people to please assist yourselves and help yourself before you go to the aid of others, otherwise you may find that you indeed yourself become the fatality.” Image: 7News

News

Tragedy as rugby star's young son drowns

Image: Getty The 10-month-old son of World Cup-winning rugby star Jannie du Plessis has drowned in their family swimming pool in South Africa. Tragedy struck as du Plessis, winner of 70 caps for the Springboks during a decorated career, celebrated his 39th birthday. Ex-South Africa international Rudolf Straeuli – who now serves as chief executive of du Plesiss’ current club, the Lions – confirmed the sad news. He told Sports24: “We, as Lions family, aren’t doing well. “I can confirm that this tragedy took place. We [are] all devastated.” He later added: “As I’m sure everyone can understand, Jannie and his family now need to be left alone to process this tragedy. We offer our full support to him and kindly request everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers.” Former rugby star Toks van der Linde paid tribute by posting a photo on social media of du Plessis holding his late son, alongside wife Ronel. It was captioned: “Please pray for Jannie du Plessis and his family. “His son of one year drowned last night, my heart is broken broken broken. So So sad.” Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend’s Test match against England, South African forward Duane Vermeulen said the players were all thinking of their former teammate and his family. “They will be on our minds and all our condolences to Jannie and his family back home,” Vermeulen said. “It is a difficult time for them, but we will stand behind them and support them.” Another of du Plessis’ former clubs, the Sharks, also publicly mourned the family’s loss. A spokesperson said: “The Sharks extend our deepest condolences to Jannie, Ronel and the entire du Plessis family on the tragic loss of his young son. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.” In a statement, local police captain Raymond Sebonyane said “police were called to a scene of drowning whereby a 10-month-old baby boy fell in the swimming pool”. Du Plessis and wife Ronel have two other children, daughters Rosalie and Hele. He was part of South Africa’s 2007 Rugby World Cup winning squad alongside younger brother Bismarck.

News

Man charged over drowning dog finds home vandalised

Image: 7NEWS A man who was granted bail over alleged animal cruelty acts has returned home to find his property vandalised. Shannon de Waard, 49, appeared in front of Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday charged over the death of his German shepherd, Harry. The dog was found dead in Yowie Bay wharf over the weekend by a group of friends. “I wasn’t sure what it was at first, it actually really shocked me,” Troy Loftus told 7NEWS. Allegedly, a dog was found with a cement block attached to him. De Waard is alleged to have told police Harry was staying at a friend’s house. The prosecution on Tuesday cast doubt on this, alleging there was evidence found on the dog’s body that was also discovered at De Waard’s home. The 49-year-old has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including animal cruelty offences. He was on Tuesday granted bail, with the magistrate saying he must be afforded the right of innocence until proven guilty. Upon returning home he discovered his property had been graffitied with the words “dog killer” and nails embedded into his car tyres. If de Waard is found guilty of the charges he faces up to five years behind bars.

Legal

Lottery winner drowns with winning ticket still in his wallet

A 57-year-old man has drowned in a lake with a winning lottery ticket in his wallet. Michigan-local Gregory Jarvis was found washed up on a beach in the state's east, almost 10 days after scooping the impressive jackpot. Gregory had been at a local inn on September 13 when he won $45,000 in a Club Keno game. He was unable to cash out his winnings straight away, as he didn't have his social security card with him at the time. According to the state of Michigan and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc12.com/2021/09/28/caseville-drowning-victim-had-winning-lottery-ticket-his-wallet/" target="_blank">ABC12 news</a>, social security cards must be presented in order to cash lottery jackpot winnings over $600. Gregory had applied for a new card and was planning to visit his family with the winnings once he could cash them in, according to the Blue Water Inn owner Dawn Talaski. Gregory returned to the inn's bar on September 19 to celebrate his win as he bought a round of drinks. However, when he didn't show up as usual the following day, inn owner Dawn became concerned. "He wasn’t here all week and we thought, something is wrong," she said. Gregory's boss even went to the bar on September 22 to search for him when he hadn't shown up for work. Two days later, a local resident called the police when they witnesses a body had washed ashore on their private beach in Huron County. The body was found near a boat, and police confirmed the boat belonged to Gregory Jarvis. An autopsy revealed that Gregory had hit his head before he drowned. Local police found the winning lottery ticket in Gregory's wallet, which prompted an investigation to rule out foul play. Their investigation showed no such motives or evidence, as Caseville Police Chief Kyle Romzek said, "We are thinking that he was tying up his boat, slipped and fell, hit his head and that’s where he ended up in the water." The winning lottery ticket has now been handed over to Gregory's relatives. Image credits: Facebook / Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Little boy who drowned on school camp to receive proper farewell

A large memorial service is being planned after Victoria’s latest COVID-19 lockdown ends for the little boy who drowned while on school camp. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tragedy-strikes-family-as-little-boy-dies-on-first-overnight-school-camp">Cooper Onyett drowned at Belfast Aquatics pool</a> in Port Fairy on May 21 while on his first overnight camp with his grade two class from Merrivale Primary School. Though the family had <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/mum-of-little-boy-who-drowned-hit-with-second-heartbreak">originally planned to farewell Cooper</a> in their hometown of Warrnambool on Friday, their appeal to be exempt from Victoria’s lockdown rules for the number of guests at the funeral was denied. Under the lockdown restrictions, the family held a small service of eight people. “She had been incredibly understanding given the tragic circumstances, but she wants to be able to bring the community together, bring Cooper’s friends together and have that farewell that he deserves,” Federal Minister Dan Tehan said on Sunday. The tragic incident is still under investigation by the coroner. “I am really disappointed in how this played out. The Acting Premier gave the family a glimmer of hope yesterday morning that there might be an exemption,” Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell told 7NEWS on Friday. “She will celebrate Cooper’s life after the lockdown.” During Friday’s press conference, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton commented on the decision, saying it would be one of the most difficult ones the exemption team would have to make. “I can’t express enough sorrow for the family. The exemptions team did assess the request and speak to the family. I wasn’t personally involved,” he said. “I understand the request was declined.” A GoFundMe page set up to help the family cover the costs of Cooper’s funeral has already raised more than $110,000. Image credit: 7NEWS

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"An absolute hero": 10-year-old boy rescues drowning swimmer

Father and grandfather drown after rescuing toddler