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AstraZeneca admits to Covid vaccine's deadly side effect

<p>AstraZeneca has admitted that their Covid vaccine carries a very rare but deadly side effect, as "dozens" of class-action lawsuits pile up. </p> <p>The UK pharmaceutical giant could be facing damages of up to $38 million, as lawyers representing complainants whose loved ones who were injured or killed from the jab called the vaccine "defective". </p> <p>Those who received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine could be susceptible to a rare and potentially blood clotting disorder called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS, in which patients suffer from blood clots as well as a low blood platelet count. </p> <p>While the side effect is rare, recent research from RMIT University and Monash University found Australia’s Covid-19 vaccination rollout likely prevented the death of 17,760 people aged over 50 in New South Wales between August 2021 and July 2022, with some researchers suggesting that AstraZeneca alone helped saved as many as six million lives worldwide, according to the <a title="nypost.com" href="https://nypost.com/2024/04/29/world-news/astrazeneca-cops-to-rare-deadly-side-effect-of-covid-jab-as-lawsuits-mount/"><em>New York Post</em>.</a></p> <p>AstraZeneca, which is contesting the claims, acknowledged in a February legal document that its vaccine can “in very rare cases,” cause the clotting condition, while also acknowledging that the potential complication was listed as a side effect of the vaccine since its release.</p> <p>So far, 51 cases have been filed in London’s High Court, estimated to be worth around $190 million (GBP100 million) total, according to the UK newspaper<a title="www.telegraph.co.uk" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/28/astrazeneca-admits-covid-vaccine-causes-rare-side-effect/"> <em>The Telegraph</em></a>.</p> <p>However, thanks to a deal struck between AstraZeneca and the UK government during the worst of the pandemic, the drugmaker has been pre-emptively indemnified against future lawsuits – which means any successful claims for payouts will be born by taxpayers.</p> <p>One of the claimants is father-of-two Jamie Scott, who was left with a permanent brain injury after suffering a clot following receiving the vaccine in April 2021. </p> <p>His wife, Kate, told <a title="www.telegraph.co.uk" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/28/astrazeneca-admits-covid-vaccine-causes-rare-side-effect/"><em>The Telegraph</em> </a>she’s hopeful the company’s admission will accelerate the outcome of their case.</p> <p>“We need an apology, fair compensation for our family and other families who have been affected. We have the truth on our side, and we are not going to give up.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Legal

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New details on man killed by snake at childcare centre

<p>A childcare centre in Queensland, where father-of-three suffered a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/dad-dies-after-being-bitten-by-deadly-snake-in-child-care-centre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fatal snake bite</a>, is under investigation by workplace safety officials. </p> <p>Jerromy Brookes, 47, was bitten multiple times on his arm while attempting to remove a snake from the premises on Tuesday afternoon. He was not a qualified snake catcher, and tragically passed away in Townsville Hospital after going into cardiac arrest at his home in Deeragun. </p> <p>“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) is investigating an incident that occurred at a business in Townsville,” a spokesperson told 7News. </p> <p>“As this is a current investigation, WHSQ is not able to provide further information at this time.”</p> <p>WHSQ has the power to prosecute allegations of workplace safety breaches. </p> <p>Brooke is survived by his wife and three children. </p> <p>His wife was the person who called emergency services and provided first aid when Brookes began showing symptoms at home. </p> <p>A family friend has paid tribute to the fallen father saying: “Jerromy was helping remove a snake from another childcare centre in Townsville when the incident occurred." </p> <p>“He was doing his very best to keep the children safe.”</p> <p>It was believed that Brookes was trying to remove an eastern brown snake, one of the deadliest in the world, however the species has not been officially confirmed. </p> <p>Police are reportedly not investigating the incident as a criminal matter, but are working to provide a report for the coroner. </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

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Dad dies after being bitten by deadly snake in child care centre

<p>A beloved father has passed away after reportedly trying to remove an eastern brown snake from a child care centre in North Queensland. </p> <p>Jeremy Brookes attended the child care centre on Tuesday afternoon after one of his relatives reportedly called him over to remove the snake, according to <em>The Courier Mail</em>. </p> <p>Brookes was not a qualified snake handler and was bitten multiple times on his hand and arm.</p> <p>According to Queensland Ambulance Service acting district director Paula Marten, Brookes then managed to drive to his Deeragun home but he soon went into cardiac arrest.</p> <p>HIs wife performed CPR until paramedics arrived and he was rushed to hospital, but unfortunately could not be saved. </p> <p>“(He) was found to be in cardiac arrest by our crews,” Marten said. </p> <p>“The call was made by the patient’s wife, who then commenced CPR as the patient went into cardiac arrest.</p> <p>“The information provided to us was that the gentleman had been bitten in a different location and attended back to his residence, where his wife has immobilised his arm and wrapped it, when the onset of the symptoms occurred.”</p> <p>She added that snake bites were common in North Queensland and they were rarely fatal, but advised that if "you’re not aware of snakes, treat them as if they are venomous."</p> <p>“It’s really important that you stay calm and keep the person calm.</p> <p>“Apply basic first aid, which would be immobilisation and using compression bandages, and contact triple-0.</p> <p>“If you are unsure about what first aid measures to take, call triple-0, and they will walk you through what you need to do for the patient.”</p> <p>Eastern Brown Snakes are one of the most deadly snakes in the world, with the second most toxic venom. </p> <p>They can be found across the east of Australia including the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, NSW and the ACT.</p> <p>Brookes is believed to be the first person to have died from a snake bite in Australia this year. </p> <p>Last year, two people died from suspected eastern brown snake bites in Australia. </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook/ news.com.au</em></p>

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Major claim in investigation into deadly house fire that killed five children

<p>The grandmother of five children who died alongside their father in a tragic house fire has spoken out, claiming her daughter had "begged" their landlord to fix the smoke alarms in the house.</p> <p>In August last year, Wayne Godinet, 34, died along with his four-year-old twins Kyza and Koa, his three-year-old son Nicky, and his stepsons Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, in a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/6-beautiful-souls-family-break-silence-after-tragic-house-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">horrific blaze</a> in Queensland's Russell Island. </p> <p>Mr Godinet and his sons became trapped upstairs of the two storey home after he raced back into the house to save them, while the children's mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28, and her sister were able to escape the fire.</p> <p>On Wednesday, the owner of the rental property, 61-year-old Donna Rose Beadel, was charged by police over her alleged involvement in the tragedy.</p> <p>The family has spoken out in anger, with the grandmother of the five boys, Rebecca Stephenson, claiming that her daughter had spoken to the landlord about updating the smoke alarms in the property just one week before the fire. </p> <p>Ms Stephenson told the Courier Mail, “The week before it happened, Sam texted the landlady and asked for the smoke alarms to be updated.”</p> <p>She claims she knew of at least three times her daughter had asked for the smoke alarms to be fixed.</p> <p>“It was the first thing you noticed when you walked into the house, a smoke alarm hanging from the ceiling and then a marking of one in the kitchen that had been painted over,” she added.</p> <p>Police allege that Ms Beadel's property did not have compliant smoke alarms when the fire broke out, with police further alleging that she wasn’t present when the fire occurred.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Legal

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Deadly mushroom lunch survivor speaks out for the first time

<p>The man who survived the deadly mushroom lunch in Victoria last year has spoken out for the first time, sharing what has kept him going through the tragedy. </p> <p>Pastor Ian Wilkinson, 70, was hospitalised for ingesting the poison, which claimed the lives of his wife Heather, his brother Don and his sister-in-law Gail, after attending lunch at Erin Patterson's home on July 29th 2023. </p> <p>Ms Patterson has since been charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder after inviting her ex-husband’s family over to her home for lunch and allegedly serving them the poisoned dish.</p> <p>Six months on, Ian Wilkinson addressed his congregation as he returned to the Korumburra Baptist Church on Sunday for the first time since the alleged poisoning, saying it had been a “big week” full of milestones for him.</p> <p>“At the start of the week it was six months since Heather, Gail and Don went to be with the Lord …” he told the congregation.</p> <p>“Friday was my birthday and yesterday was our 45th wedding anniversary."</p> <p>“So it’s been a pretty big week but I am grateful for all that God has given me, God has done through me.”</p> <p>The week prior marked 25 years since he first took on the role of pastor of the Korumburra parish, with the parishioners offering him a small gift following the sermon.</p> <p>Mr Wilkinson seemed overcome with emotion during parts his sermon, sharing with the congregation that he was grateful to be back after a terrifying two-month stint in the hospital while he fought for his life after the poisoning. </p> <p>“The ways are sometimes hard but God is good. He’s with us,” he said.</p> <p>“He promised to never leave … and I can say, that is true.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Supplied</em></p>

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Heroic fan tackles deadly shooter at victory parade

<p>Three people have been taken into custody after a deadly shooting at a Super Bowl victory parade, where one person has died. </p> <p>At least 21 people have suffered injuries, nine of which being children, at the parade in Kansas City, following the Kansas Chiefs victory over the San Francisco 49ers.</p> <p>As one of the shooters opened fire in the crowd, one heroic football fan was captured on video tackling the gunman to the ground. </p> <p>The video also shows panicked crowds fleeing the sounds of the gunfire, as police ran towards the commotion.</p> <p>Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed in a second update to media that one person had died after 22 people had been shot.</p> <p>“We have three persons detained and under investigation,” she said.</p> <p>“We are working to determine if one of the three is the one that was in that video where fans assisted police.”</p> <p>She added that “right now we do not have a motive, but we are asking those who may potentially have any kind of information, a witness or video, to contact police”.</p> <p>At an earlier briefing, Ms Graves said she was “angry at what happened today”.</p> <p>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said, “The celebration was marred by a shooting. This is absolutely a tragedy.” </p> <p>Witness Kade Collins, who attending the parade with his dad, described the ordeal to local news station Fox 4 KC.</p> <p>“We heard 10 to 12 gunshots, but we thought they were fireworks, so we didn’t really panic at first or get too worked up. But then everyone started screaming and took off running,” Mr Collins said.</p> <p>Mr Collins said his dad saw police tackle a suspect after the crowd saw the gunman. </p> <p>“When we were walking out, there was someone pointing and saying, ‘He’s right there, he’s right there’, and police ran to the guy the crowd was pointing at and tackled him and put him in handcuffs,” he said. “Everyone took off running and screaming.”</p> <p>The Kansas City Chiefs said in a statement that all players, coaches, staff and their families were “safe and accounted for”, while sharing their condolences for those who were impacted by the shooting. </p> <p>“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the team said.</p> <p>"Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City ... We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

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Major festival event cancelled after deadly find

<p>Mardi Gras Fair Day has been cancelled four days out from the event after asbestos was discovered in Victoria Park, Sydney CBD. </p> <p>The organisers of the event, were informed of the site's contamination on Monday, with EPA officers finding positive results for bonded asbestos after undertaking tests earlier this week. </p> <p>Mardi Gras chef executive Gil Beckwith said that they are heartbroken after the decision was made, but the community's wellbeing is more important. </p> <p>“Fair Day is one of our most loved events, and is attended by over 70,000 people each year,” Beckwith said. </p> <p>“It breaks our heart to see this Sunday not go ahead, but given the safety concerns, we must put our communities’ wellbeing first.</p> <p>“The rest of our festival continues unchanged, offering many chances over the 17 days for our communities to come together in celebration and solidarity.”</p> <p>Other highlights including the Mardi Gras Parade and Bondi Beach Party will still go ahead as planned. </p> <p>This comes after the EPA confirmed that there is a widespread asbestos contamination with 22 sites across Sydney being affected, prompting the closure of parks, building sites, schools and train stations. </p> <p>Asbestos is a fibrous substance that can be trapped in the lungs if it's breathed in, and can lead to an increased risk in developing lung, ovary and throat cancer, according to the cancer council. </p> <p>Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said that it was an “incredibly disappointing” decision.</p> <p>“The NSW government and the EPA must make sure this never happens again,” she said. </p> <p>Asbestos has been found in two other city parks including Belmore Park in Haymarket and Harmony Park in Surry Hills. </p> <p>The Sydenham to Bankstown Rail Corridor sites including Campsie, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill, Belmore, Wiley Park, Punchbowl and Marrickville have also been affected, with licensed removalists working hard to clear the sites. </p> <p>Over the coming week 32 more parks will be closed off, as they conduct more tests for contamination. </p> <p>“We urge everyone to avoid the mulched garden beds and mulched areas under trees at these parks while the inspections are being carried out,” a City of Sydney spokesperson said.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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“What a legend”: Brave Aussie pensioner saves puppy from a snake

<p dir="ltr">An Aussie pensioner has gone the extra mile to save her terrified puppy from a carpet snake. </p> <p dir="ltr">Anne Murphy, a woman from NSW’s Lennox Head, captured the moment her 80-year-old mother went toe-to-toe with the slippery intruder who was terrorising her dog and shared the interaction on a Facebook page called Australian Country Memes. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to Anne, her mother bolted out the door one Monday evening when she heard her dog “screaming”, when she was confronted with the carpet snake. </p> <p dir="ltr">The non-venomous snake had wrapped around the small dog and bitten it on the chin, when the 80-year-old intervened. </p> <p dir="ltr">The woman was “bitten three times” by the snake, before she “caught the snake so it could be taken out to the bush and hopefully not make its way back to her place”. </p> <p dir="ltr">She then took her puppy to the vet, and got home three hours after the incident first happened.</p> <p dir="ltr">The post has since received over 2,000 likes and hundreds comments, hailing the 80-year-old as a “legend“, “gutsy” and a “wonderful woman.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“She is a true blue here. My hat is off to you, amazing lady,” one person wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">Another added, “Way to go! That’s just what country people do. God love her, they don’t make them like that anymore.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Shocking moment Glenn McGrath grabs three snakes with bare hands

<p>Aussie Cricket legend Glenn McGrath has turned into a part time snake wrangler after having to remove three snakes from his rural Queensland property with his bare hands.</p> <p>McGrath found the carpet pythons slithering inside his home on Wednesday, and decided to share the footage of him removing the unwelcome guests in different locations in his house. </p> <p>One python was inside his pantry, another was in the living room and third was making its way across the hall.</p> <p>"After plenty of encouragement and support from my wife, all three Coastal Carpet Pythons that were in the house were safely released back into the bush," he captioned the video. </p> <p>In the video, his wife Sara screamed in absolute horror as he removed one of the snakes by grabbing its tail, carefully wrapping it around a mop, and taking it outside.</p> <p>"You're going to get bitten," she screamed. </p> <p>McGrath calmly reassured her that he had it all under control. </p> <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/Cw3aLO5yCV1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/Cw3aLO5yCV1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Glenn McGrath (@glennmcgrath11)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fortunately, the carpet pythons are a non-venomous breed, so there was no real threat to McGrath. </p> <p>However, many fans of the cricketer still applauded his bravery in the comments. </p> <p>"Haha good technique mate. Steve Irwin couldn't have done it any better," wrote one fan. </p> <p>"This is better than his 50 he scored against New Zealand," quipped another. </p> <p>"Keeping a good line and length between self and snake! Good work!" wrote a third. </p> <p>"This 🐍 knows he’s being handled by a CHAMP.. " commented a fourth. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Touching update on death cap mushroom victims

<p>A public memorial will be held for Don and Gail Patterson after an outpouring of support from the local community. </p> <p>The couple died on July 29 after having lunch that was cooked by their former daughter-in-law, Erin Patterson, which was presumed to have contained death cap mushrooms. </p> <p>Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson  also passed away after having the meal, and her husband Ian remains in hospital in a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/update-from-survivor-of-deadly-mushroom-meal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">critical but stable condition. </a></p> <p>The Patterson family released a statement on Tuesday announcing the public memorial service and have invited members of the community to attend, according to the <em>South Gippsland Sentinel Times.</em></p> <p>“The family of Don and Gail Patterson wishes to extend an invitation to the community for a public memorial service to celebrate and remember the lives of Don and Gail,” the statement read. </p> <p>“Both were cherished members of the community, known for their humility and the positive impact they had on those around them.</p> <p>“The Patterson family has expressed their deep gratitude for the outpouring of love, support, and understanding during this challenging time.</p> <p>“They have been touched by the many memories and stories shared by friends, acquaintances, and even strangers who were touched by Don and Gail's kindness and generosity," they added. </p> <p>A private funeral was held earlier in the week to allow the family to grieve and put the victims to rest, but now the family wanted to give the public a chance to pay tribute to the couple.</p> <p>“In keeping with Don and Gail's wishes and character, the family has chosen to commemorate their lives in a manner that reflects their values and the love they shared with their community.</p> <p>“A private burial was held earlier this week, attended by close family members.</p> <p>“The upcoming public memorial will be an opportunity for all who knew Don and Gail to come together, share memories, and celebrate the lasting legacy they have left behind," the statement concluded.  </p> <p>Victoria Police continue to investigate the deaths, but have not laid any charges. </p> <p>Erin Patterson has <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/details-of-erin-patterson-s-police-statement-around-fatal-mushroom-meal-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoken up about  the tragic incident </a>and continues to assist the police in their investigation. </p> <p><em style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, Rubik, 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;">Images: News.com.au</em></p>

Caring

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Update from survivor of deadly mushroom meal

<p>The lone survivor of a group of four individuals who consumed a meal containing suspected poisonous mushrooms has received an update from the family. The Victorian community continues to extend their support during this time.</p> <p>Tragedy struck as Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, lost their lives after partaking in a lunch gathering at the residence of Erin Patterson, Don and Gail's former daughter-in-law. The incident occurred in Leongatha, located in the southeastern region of Victoria, on July 29.</p> <p>Erin Patterson had prepared a meal for the group, which also included Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, a pastor at a Baptist church. The attendees fell seriously ill after the meal, exhibiting symptoms that aligned with the ingestion of toxic death cap mushrooms, according to the police.</p> <p>On a recent Sunday evening, Ian Wilkinson's family expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the medical staff at Austin Hospital for their consistent care and support. They also acknowledged the numerous cards and letters received from concerned individuals in the public.</p> <p>The family shared: “We are deeply moved by the outpouring of kindness, prayers, and support from friends, family, and the broader community.” </p> <p>“Your thoughts and well-wishes have been a source of strength and comfort to us all.</p> <p>“As we navigate this difficult journey, we kindly request that our privacy be respected. We need space to grieve, support one another, and care for Ian without public intrusion.”</p> <p>While Ian Wilkinson, aged 70, remains in critical but stable condition at a hospital in the northeastern part of Melbourne, reports indicate that members of the South Gippsland community are willing to step forward as organ donors. Local councillor Jenni Keerie stated that people have been reaching out to her to inquire about becoming donors.</p> <p>Nathan Hersey, the Mayor of South Gippsland Shire, noted that the community has been discussing the significance of organ donation. In the absence of a community donor, Wilkinson might face a wait of up to a year for a new liver. It is worth noting that the majority of organ recipients in Australia experience waiting periods of at least nine months while searching for a suitable match.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook / A Current Affair</em></p> <p><strong><em>EDITOR'S NOTE: We received a number of comments in response to this article concerning organ donation. This one from a Reader really deserved being appended to the article:</em></strong></p> <p><em>"I am a forever grateful liver recipient whose life was miraculously saved when all had gone catastrophically wrong. <a href="https://www.transplantadvocacy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.transplantadvocacy.com/</a> The only way we can increase organ donation is to increase next of kin consent rates. In Australia every person who passes under the right circumstances is a potential donor. Whether they are registered or not their family will be asked to consider organ donation and must give their consent for donation to proceed. Sadly 46% of families say no. In Victoria it is closer to 50%. Families are critical for organ donation and for a deceased donor to be found to support the victim of the Victorian poisoning, another healthy Victorian will need to pass tragically and on life support. Waiting for a donor is not like waiting for a spare part for your car from the factory. It is more like finding the perfect part at a car wreckers after someone has written of their car but the part you need is still ok. You can help raise awareness by helping to get families having the conversation about organ donation before </em><em>tragedy strikes. Not waiting until they learn their loved one is never coming home." </em><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> – </em><em>Robert Manning, </em><em>Forever grateful recipient and passionate Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplant Awareness Advocate. Founder and Senior Advocate <a href="https://www.transplantadvocacy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.TransplantAdvocacy.com</a></em></p>

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Update on distraught mother who escaped deadly house fire

<p dir="ltr">A heart-broken mother has been left “hysterical” after her five sons and their “excellent” father were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/6-beautiful-souls-family-break-silence-after-tragic-house-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed in a house fire</a> in north Queensland on Sunday. </p> <p dir="ltr">The family home was engulfed in flames, with the blaze claiming the lives of Zackary, 11, Harry, 10, four-year-old twins Kyza and Koah and Nicky, 3, and their father Wayne Godinet. </p> <p dir="ltr">The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, was able to escape the fire, with witnesses saying Godinet ran back into the home to save Stephenson and the boys when he became trapped.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the wake of the tragedy, family friend Simon Gordon said the “kids came first” for Godinet and his partner. </p> <p dir="ltr">“She was a loving mother to the children,” Gordon told <em>Sunrise</em> on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What she is going through is unbelievable.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Every time I ever met the family, the kids came first. They love the kids.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another family friend, Peter MacLoughlin, told <em>7NEWS</em> Godinet was an “excellent father”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The people in this community will miss him walking the children to school,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They loved those kids.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He went on to say that Stephenson was “hysterical” as the tragedy unfolded.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gordon said Stephenson was being supported by a “close-knit network” of loved ones, while Godinet’s family travelled from New Zealand and other parts of Australia to Russell Island. </p> <p dir="ltr">He said the family wanted to express gratitude to first responders to the emergency, including members of the community, some of whom are volunteer firefighters.</p> <p dir="ltr">“With the limited resources we’ve got on the island, people need to remember that the first people on the scene were the neighbours ... and the volunteer firefighters,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Some of these firefighters were friends of the family. Their kids know their kids. They were on the scene and they must be going through hell right now.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"I didn't do anything. I love them": Woman who cooked meal with deadly mushrooms speaks out

<p>A Victorian woman who cooked the meal that resulted in the suspected mushroom poisoning,  which left three elderly family members dead and one fighting for his life has tearfully broken her silence. </p> <p>Erin Patterson, 48, served the lunch to four people at Leongatha on July 29, including her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, who after falling sick later that evening, passed away from symptoms consistent with death cap mushroom poisoning.  </p> <p>Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson also passed away, with Heather’s husband, Ian in a critical condition at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital after suffering from the suspected poisoning. </p> <p>"I didn't do anything. I love them," Erin told  <em>A Current Affair. </em></p> <p>A clearly distraught Erin confused Don for Ian, who is currently being treated for his symptoms. </p> <p>"I'm devastated that they're gone and I hope with every fibre of my being that Don pulls through."</p> <p>“I’m so devastated by what’s happened, by the loss of Don, Don is still in hospital, by the loss of Ian and Heather and Gail," she repeated. </p> <p>“They were some of the best people I’ve ever met.</p> <p>“Gail was like the mum I didn’t have because my mum passed away four years ago, Gail had never been anything but good and kind to me,” she added.</p> <p>“Ian and Heather were some of the best people I’d ever met. They never did anything wrong to me.</p> <p>“I’m so devastated about what’s happened and the loss to the community and to the families and to my own children. They've lost their grandmother," she said, and added that she felt "so sorry" that they lost their lives.</p> <p>Erin was interviewed by police and later on released. Officials had also removed her two children from her care as a “precaution”. </p> <p>Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas also added that police are still determining whether this was an accident or a crime. </p> <p>“We’re working to determine what has gone on, to see if there is any nefarious activity that has occurred or if it was accidental.”</p> <p>“We have to keep an open mind,” he said.</p> <p>Police were also still unsure where the mushrooms were sourced from, and that it was a "complex case". </p> <p><em>Image: A Current Affair</em></p>

Legal

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Snake catcher’s “hilarious” find in homeowner's toilet

<p>Adelaide man Rolly is no stranger to catching and safely relocating venomous snakes, but a recent job had him in stitches.</p> <p>He has been a snake catcher for over five decades and revealed to <em>Yahoo News Australia </em>that it’s not often the reptiles that shock him the most, rather it's his insight into other people’s lives.</p> <p>"I've seen everything," he said. "From whips and chains in the cellar to dope crops in a shed.”</p> <p>The most recent and “hilarious” insight came from a phone call he received from a panicked resident who asked him to retrieve a snake from her toilet. After receiving an image of the “reptile”, Rolly called the resident back immediately.</p> <p>"Look it's not a snake, it's some type of tapeworm... and it's probably come out of your bum," he recalled himself telling her. "I think you need to go to a chemist.”</p> <p>Rolly uploaded the image of the creature and shared the conversation with followers.</p> <p>“As snake catchers we do quite often get unusual phone calls and findings - so this one we just add to the list…,” he began his caption.</p> <p>“phone call “I’ve got a snake in my toilet”. Snake Catcher “Ok can you send me through a photo and I’ll call you back”.”</p> <p>“Caller “Sure I’ll do that now”.”</p> <p>“Snake Catcher “Ah I think you need to go to the chemist and ask for some Conbantrin - it’s not a snake”.”</p> <p>“Caller “Con wha”.”</p> <p>The post, which attracted more than 3,000 reactions on the social media site was instantly flooded with comments.</p> <p>“I'd rather see a snake in my loo then that lol,” one wrote.</p> <p>“At least the toilet is clean !” another joked.</p> <p>A person with seemingly first-hand experience chimed in and said, “I went on a call out years ago and had the same thing. I didn't know what to say to them.”</p> <p>The situation did not deter Rolly from his job and he seemed in good spirits.</p> <p>"I was going to ask her if she wanted to go fishing and she could have stood next to me and supplied the worms," he joked.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Deadly Colombian volcano could be about to erupt, warn scientists

<div class="copy"> <p>On March 30, Colombia’s Geological Service raised its alert level on the volcano from yellow to orange. They warn that the volcano could erupt with a strength unseen in the last 10 years within “weeks or days”.</p> <p>President of Colombia Gustavo Petro on April 5 ordered the voluntary evacuation of about 2,500 families living near the volcano. Many locals have been unwilling to leave their belongings and livelihoods behind.</p> <p>Geologists monitoring the volcano have recorded thousands of tremors every day – an unprecedented number.</p> <p>Nevado del Ruiz, one of Colombia’s tallest peaks at 5,321 metres high, is located in a populated farming region. It is only 129 km west of the country’s capital city Bogotá.</p> <p>In 1985, the volcano erupted with tragic consequences. It triggered mudslides that nearly completely buried the town of Armero. More than 23,000 of the town’s 30,000 residents were killed.</p> <p>Despite humanity’s long history of living under the shadow of volcanoes and trying to understand them, geologists, seismologists and vulcanologists remain largely baffled by the lava-spewing behemoths.</p> <p>The last time the threat level of Nevado del Ruiz was raised, for example, was in 2012. For over a month in April of that year, residents were under orange alert. This was increased to red alert for two days in June. But no major eruption occurred.</p> <p>Recently, new methods for assessing the risk of volcanic eruption have been trialled from studying the <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/volcano-breath-test-predict-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chemical composition of the atmosphere</a> above active volcanoes to <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/ai-volcano-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">utilising artificial intelligence</a> to try and make sense of the pattern of eruptions.</p> <p>University of Miami professor in marine geosciences Falk Amelung believes the threat should not be taken lightly.</p> <p>“This is a high-risk and well-monitored volcano, and right now, all the ingredients for a new eruption are there,” Amelung says in a university <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/is-colombia-s-deadly-nevado-del-ruiz-on-the-verge-of-a-major-eruption#!" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release</a> on <em>Newswise</em>. “A significant seismic swarm occurred on March 30, and this [low-magnitude] earthquake sequence strongly suggests that magma is on the move.”</p> <p>Like Mount St Helens in Washington state, US which famously erupted in 1980, killing 57 people, Nevado del Ruiz is a glacier-covered volcano. Amelung says that this places local residents under extra peril.</p> <p>“Even a relatively small eruption would melt the glacier,” Amelung explains. “Volcanic ash combined with the meltwater would form mudflows, known as lahars, that can travel fast and for several miles.”</p> <div class="in-content-area content-third content-right"><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/massive-tongan-eruption-claimed-few-lives-due-to-quirk/"> </a></div> <p>Amelung admits it is impossible to say with certainty what will happen.</p> <p>“This increased period of activity could well die down and nothing happens,” he says.</p> <p>Ironically, global warming over the last 38 years since the eruption which saw the inundation of Armero, means the glaciers that cover the volcano’s summit are smaller, lessening lahar hazards.</p> <p>“But it is also bad news in terms of eruption hazards because there is less pressure from the overburden to keep the magma at depth,” Amelung adds.</p> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --> <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=246260&amp;title=Deadly+Colombian+volcano+could+be+about+to+erupt%2C+warn+scientists" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/colombian-volcano-erupt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Evrim Yazgin.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p> </div>

Travel Trouble

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How to snake-proof your house and garden

<p>If there’s one thing that strikes fear into many Australians, it’s snakes. Sure, some of them are harmless but they are still the last thing you want to see in your home or garden. There are some ways to make your home less inviting to these reptiles.</p> <p><strong>1. Block their entrance</strong></p> <p>Snakes like to hide in quiet places such as your roof, garage or underneath the house. Try to make it harder for them to get in by covering any holes leading in or out, and ensuring that screens and doors are kept shut.</p> <p><strong>2. Keep your garden tidy</strong></p> <p>Snakes like to hide, so keep things neat in the backyard to stop them finding a place to do so. Keep your lawns mowed, and garden beds weeded. Keep your shed locked, and be sure to have a clear out regularly to remove any old boxes. If you have wood stored outside try to have minimal space between each piece so that they can’t use it as shelter. Avoid keeping grass clippings and mulch in a pile as snacks find the warmth appealing.</p> <p><strong>3. Seal holes in walls</strong></p> <p>Snakes love rock and brick walls as they can use them to keep warm, provide shelter, and find food. Block up any holes that they could hide in by filling them in.</p> <p><strong>4. Reduce the rodent population</strong></p> <p>Snakes like houses that have mice and rats, so try reducing their numbers. Place bait in your house and garden (ensure it is pet-friendly) and this should reduce the chances of snakes hanging around.</p> <p><strong>5. Keep birds safe</strong></p> <p>Ensure any chook pens or bird cages are well protected from snakes entering them. Also be sure to keep them clean so that rats and mice aren’t entering the pens either.</p> <p><strong>6. Keep your bins tidy</strong></p> <p>When you dispose of food scraps, always ensure they are in a sealed garbage bag in your bin, rather than just loose. This will keep rats and mice away, and therefore snakes too.</p> <p><strong>7. Watch your plant choice</strong></p> <p>Think about the types of plants in your garden if snakes are an issue. Low shrubs and bushes are the ideal spot for a snake. Taller trees and flowers could be a better option. Also be sure to keep leaf litter to a minimum as it’s the perfect hiding spot for snakes.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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7 deadly sins that lead to hoarding

<p>If you’ve watched <em>Enough Already!</em> on <em>Oprah</em> with equal parts sympathy and fear, thinking to yourself “That better not be me one day”, then you’ll want to read on. Non-hoarders tend to picture hoarders as people who have rooms brimming with old newspapers piled to the roof and hallway cupboards that they can not open for fear of the contents swallowing them up. The word hoarder just sounds dirty. While researchers are still trying to understand the disorder, here are some clues that could signal you need to enlist some help. </p> <p><strong>Every room has a “storage area”</strong> – If your dedicated storage area is so full that you need to keep the extra microwave in the living room, you may have a problem. When your storage overflows into the rest of the home and continues to grow – check yourself.
</p> <p><strong>Keeping old magazines and newspapers</strong> – Do you hold on magazines and newspapers thinking, “I might like to reread that one day…” Stop it! Just get rid of them. Apart from coffee table-worthy magazines, everything should be thrown out. Besides a lot of stuff is now online.
</p> <p><strong>Storing clothes you don’t wear</strong> – While it’s ok to hold onto your favourite band T-shirt from your younger years, holding onto old clothes – especially those that don’t fit or have holes in them – it just plain silly. Donate all items that fall into this category to charity immediately!</p> <p><strong>Stowing away broken electronics and appliances</strong> – Don’t kid yourself, you’re never go to get around to fixing that printer or TV! Recycle or donate used electronic items that you no longer use.</p> <p><strong>Storing free loot (aka junk)</strong> – Yes, yes we’ve all fallen victim to being giddy with excitement over a free key ring or pen we pocketed at a show or the RTA. But just because you got a free mug doesn’t mean it should be stashed in your drawer or kitchen never to see the light of day again. Chuck it!</p> <p><strong>Your car becomes “extra” storage</strong> – If you keep more than just spare tire and pair of shoes in your car boot, then you are hoarder territory. If you need to keep DVDs and camping gear in the car because they wont fit in the house, it’s time for drop-off to the Salvos. </p> <p><strong>Daily life becomes musical chairs</strong> – If there is no where to sit and eat dinner because every chair is piled high with papers and you can’t sleep comfortably because the bed is covered in clothes, seek help immediately!</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Update on deadly Sea World helicopter crash

<p>A pilot “did not recall” his fellow pilot making a standard taxing call to say he was taking off before their helicopters collided and crashed, killing four people and injuring nine others on the Gold Coast.</p> <p>Air crash investigators said the pilot, Michael James, told them he saw five passengers boarding the second helicopter at a helipad near Sea World as he was coming in to land his aircraft with six passengers at another helipad close by.</p> <p>The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the pilot thought the second helicopter would pass behind his aircraft and that he doesn’t remember the other pilot radioing him to announce his departure.</p> <p>“They did not recall the pilot of XKQ making a standard “taxiing” call announcing their intention to depart.” the ATSB's preliminary report into the crash said.</p> <p>There was a third helicopter pilot nearby at the time, and he recalled hearing Mr James’ inbound call but did not recall hearing a taxi call from the other pilot taking off.</p> <p>A fourth helicopter pilot said he could not recall hearing calls from either of the two pilots involved in the crash before their aircrafts collided.</p> <p>ATSB commissioner Angus Mitchel said that evidence “did not necessarily mean that a taxiing call was not made” by the pilot taking off, and investigators would probe the radio calls leading up to the crash.</p> <p>The report said that Mr James also told the ATSB he never saw the second helicopter take off from the helipad.</p> <p>“While video footage taken by passengers in both helicopters on mobile phones contained images of the other helicopter, this does not mean that the other helicopter was visible to either pilot,” Mr Mitchell said.</p> <p>“The investigation will look closely at the issues both pilots faced in seeing the other helicopter.”</p> <p>The findings are part of a preliminary report into the collision led by Mr Mitchell.</p> <p>“We're looking at everything that may have contributed, whether that be equipment, whether that be procedures, whether that be individual actions … they will all be part.” he said.</p> <p>The report also stated the operator “was aware that there was a problem with Mr James’ aircraft transponder”.</p> <p>“The transponder was not transmitting secondary surveillance radar responses that were detected by radar surveillance equipment for the accident flight or previous flights,” the report said, in reference to Mr James’ chopper.</p> <p>“Efforts to diagnose and address the transponder problem were ongoing.”</p> <p>According to the report, both aircrafts had been fitted with a traffic collision avoidance system, however, it was not fully integrated into either of the helicopters.</p> <p>The report found the system only provided the pilots with auditory alerts, not visual information.</p> <p>Four people died, and nine people were injured, including three in critical condition as a result of the two aircrafts colliding mid-air and crashing into the sandbar.</p> <p>Pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40, and his passengers, including British couple Ron and Diane, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, all died.</p> <p>Ms Tadros' son Nicholas, 10, has been undergoing medical procedures since the incident and last week had his leg amputated from the knee down.</p> <p>Victorian mother Winnie de Silva, 33, and her nine-year-old son are recovering from injuries sustained from the crash.</p> <p>The pilot of the second helicopter, Mr James, managed to land his chopper safely, but he and two of his passengers were injured by shards of glass flying out when the aircraft’s windshield smashed.</p> <p>The injured passengers were New Zealand women Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart, who had been on holiday with their husbands, Riaan Steenberg and Edward Swart.</p> <p>The full ATSB report into the accident by the Air Transport Safety Bureau will not be expected until at least September 2024.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

News

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"A living miracle": Deadly helicopter crash survivor speaks after waking from coma

<p>The young survivor of the deadly helicopter crash in Queensland has woken from his coma and spoken to his father for the first time since the tragedy. </p> <p>Nicholas Tadros was one of seven people on-board a joy ride helicopter that crashed near SeaWorld theme park on the Gold Coast.</p> <p>Four people died in the incident, including his mother Vanessa. </p> <p>The family's parish priest Suresh Kumar described the boy as a "living miracle" after he woke up from an induced coma almost one month after the horrific crash. </p> <p>“This little boy is a living miracle friends,” Father Kumar said in a post to Facebook on Saturday.</p> <p>The priest was overjoyed to reveal that Nicholas did not have any lasting brain injuries and was able to speak to his father Simon for the first time over the weekend.</p> <p>“A billion thanks to God. He doesn’t have brain injury,” Father Kumar said.</p> <p>“Simon is able to talk to him and Nicholas responds very clearly with names, dates etc though his voice is bit slur.”</p> <p>The priest went on to suggest that Nicholas’s miraculous survival could have been a result of the heroic acts of his late mother. </p> <p>“His mum Vanessa might have grabbed his head and protected him at the impact. She is a hero,” Father Kumar said.</p> <p>“Nicholas will be able to tell us when he is able to recollect. May Vanessa’s soul rest in peace.”</p> <p>Nicholas still has a long road to recovery ahead of him, as the medical team in charge of his care are working to save his leg form amputation after it was "shattered very badly" during the crash. </p> <p>“We have got to keep praying that his leg is not amputated as the danger of losing his leg is still looming,” Father Kumar said. </p> <p>“Overall, our little champ is fighting the good fight and keeps improving.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News</em></p>

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"Don't die!": Chezzi Denyer takes on snake while Grant hides inside

<p>Grant Denyer has shared a video to instagram of his incredibly brave wife – Chezzi – defending the family home (and her own pet dog) from an advancing brown snake that had been lurking in the garden.</p> <p>As the slithering brown snake made its way towards the house, Grant remained<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> sheltered inside along with their daughters Sunday, Scout and Sailor, while Chezzi stood firm and attempted to shoo the invader away with a pair of barbecue tongs and a broom.</span></p> <p>After posting the video of the scary encounter, Grant wrote “Go Chez!" before going on to reveal why it was Chezzi who was taking on the snake rather than himself:</p> <p>“When Mr Brown comes to visit, trust the chick who had snakes as a kid to take care of it.</p> <p>“Mumma bear protecting the dog and family while TV Dad filmed it all from safely behind double glazed glass.</p> <p>“Didn’t think I ever saw Steve Irwin use BBQ tongs tho. Was she scaring it away or cooking it?”</p> <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/CnJd0Ctjf8Z/?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/CnJd0Ctjf8Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Grant Denyer (@grantdenyer)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Grant can also be heard shouting in the video, “You see it, Chez? It’s coming for the stairs.”</p> <p>As the snake gets closer to the back stairs, Grant yells again: “CHEZ?”, sounding truly worried.</p> <p>The camera then pans to Chezzi trying to shoo the snake away.</p> <p>“That’s the washerwoman Chez,” Grant can be heard saying in the background.</p> <p>One of the girls then shouts out, “I love you Mum!” and Grant adds, “Don’t die!”</p> <p>“Aw, this is really scary,” Sailor can be heard saying.</p> <p>“Mummy’s very brave.”</p> <p>After the encounter was over and the video had been posted, Chezzi herself took to the comments section, writing: “Just a Mum trying to cook dinner on time when the kids spot a big snake coming for the dog.”</p> <p>“Safely relocated the big brown to the bottom side of the paddock away from the kids ... and finished dinner on time.”</p> <p>Adding eye-roll emojis, she said: “And the eye rolls were for Grant and his helpful commentary from inside.”</p> <p>Of course Grant and Chezzi's Instagram followers did not remain neutral when it came to assessing who was the hero in the incident. </p> <p>The Morning Show co-host Larry Emdur even chimed in, joking: <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">“Bro, firstly I love it how you scream for Chezzi (what a brave husband and protective father you are ). </span>secondly grab a snake survival kit from my mates at @survivalfirstaid immediately.<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">"</span></p> <p>“Mum is so brave…I love you mum!” added TV personality Lisa Wilkinson, while podcaster Abbie Chatfield simply wrote: “Hell yeah!”</p> <p>“Chezzi Denyer you are a legend,” one fan wrote.</p> <p>“The girls’ commentary is the best!” noted another.</p> <p>“Not all heroes wear capes, some hold barbecue tongs,” observed a third.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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