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“He gave his life to protect his siblings”: Tragic end for third child in shed fire

<p>In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the devastating shed fire that took place in Geelong, Victoria, on the weekend has claimed the life of a brave young hero.</p> <p>Isaac, the four-year-old boy who had been fighting for his life after the fire that tragically claimed the lives of two of his siblings, Ashlynn, aged 18 months, and Saige, just three years old, has succumbed to his injuries. The incident took place on a quiet Sunday morning in Corio, leaving the local community in shock and mourning.</p> <p>The children had been inside a shed on their family's property when the fire erupted, turning a normal day into an unimaginable nightmare. Despite the heroic efforts of Isaac, who valiantly shielded his younger siblings from the flames, the consequences were too grave for him to overcome. The fire rapidly consumed the shed, taking the lives of Ashlynn and Saige before they could be rescued.</p> <p>Isaac's father, Kane McGregor, described the extent of his son's injuries, with third-degree burns covering a staggering 82 percent of his young body. As if this wasn't enough, Isaac began showing signs of kidney and liver failure, all stemming from his courageous act to protect his siblings during the harrowing incident.</p> <p>“[Jasmine, their mother] said once she finally got the couch moved and grabbed Mavis first, Isaac had the other two huddled under him so they didn’t burn,” McGregor said. “What four-year-old huddles over their two little siblings? I couldn’t be any prouder of him.”</p> <p>Tragically, despite the valiant efforts of medical professionals, young Isaac couldn't overcome the devastating injuries he sustained.</p> <p>The loss of this young hero has left a deep void in the hearts of those who followed his courageous story. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-Issac-saige-and-ashlynn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe page</a>, originally organised to raise funds for the children's medical expenses and support, posted an update following Isaac's death. It read, "Issac sadly grew his wings and reunited with his baby brother and sister. He will always be remembered as the heroic young boy who gave his life trying to protect his siblings."</p> <p>Mavis, Isaac's six-year-old sister, was the sole survivor among the siblings, though she, too, suffered severe injuries, with third-degree burns covering 30 percent of her body. She is currently in critical condition and is set to undergo surgery to address her injuries. Despite the physical and emotional trauma that Mavis has endured, there is hope that she will recover and heal in due course.</p> <p>The circumstances surrounding the fire remain unclear, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the tragedy. A couch inside the shed, initially used as a dog bed, became the source of the fire that swiftly engulfed the structure. The local authorities are diligently preparing a report for the Coroner to gain a deeper understanding of the events leading up to this devastating incident.</p> <p><em>Image: GoFundMe</em></p>

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Isaac Newton’s notes go under the hammer

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Handwritten notes penned by one of history’s greatest scientists will be up for auction in London.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pages containing Isaac Newton’s revisions to his work, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, are expected to sell for between $AUD 1.1 million, according to auctioneer Christie’s.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Newton wrote Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica - Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy - in 1687 and set out the laws of gravitation and motion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A first edition of the book up for auction in 2016 was sold for $AUD 4.7 million.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thomas Venning, head of books and manuscripts at the London auction house, said the book “reinvented our understanding of the universe”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The page and a half of notes for Newton’s planned second edition also includes comments and diagrams by Scottish mathematician and astronomer David Gregory.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Venning said when Newton was working on the revisions, was “fizzing with the energy of one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And we can see that at work, the speed with which he’s writing, the ferment of ideas coming out from his pen,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Newton gave up on the revisions, he eventually produced a second edition in 1713.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The notes will be up for auction at Christie’s in London on July 8.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What a collector in the autograph world is looking for is the greatest minds in history talking about their greatest achievements,” Mr Venning said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s very, very rare to have that combination. And that’s what you have in this particular manuscript.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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