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New details emerge in Sam Kerr incident

<p>Court documents have revealed that Sam Kerr was taken into custody was taken into custody and placed in a holding cell on the night she <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/sam-kerr-s-alleged-racial-comments-revealed-by-uk-paper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegedly verbally abused</a> a UK police officer. </p> <p>The Matildas captain has pleaded not guilty to the public disorder charge of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress towards a police officer in Twickenham, London, on January 30, 2023.</p> <p><em>The Sun </em>reported that Kerr allegedly vomited in a taxi, was involved in a dispute about the taxi fare, and allegedly called an attending police officer a “stupid white b*****d”, which her legal team have argued that she actually called him a "stupid white cop".</p> <p>Kerr was <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/sam-kerr-s-lawyers-request-police-station-cctv-footage-interview-be-retained-20240314-p5fc9w.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> placed in a police custody suite inside a police station and was interviewed during that time.</p> <p>According to court transcripts, there were also numerous body cam clips filmed by police during the alleged incident, which will be used as evidence in court. </p> <p>Kerr's legal team have reportedly requested for video footage of the incident to be made available to them, and  last week they asked the Kingston Crown Court for any CCTV footage from outside a Twickenham station or from inside the custody suite to be provided to them.</p> <p>According to News Corp, her legal team is also yet to receive footage taken from two police body cam clips, and the transcript and audio from her interview while she was detained over the incident. </p> <p><em>The Daily Telegraph </em>reported that during her plea hearing, Kerr was also warned about delaying any decision to change her plea to guilty — should that change of plea occur.</p> <p>“Should there be any change in your position … the sooner you plead guilty to this matter, if that is your intention and your wish, the earlier you do that the better, do you understand?” Judge Judith Elaine Coello  said.</p> <p>“You will lose credit as time goes on and should you be convicted after trial; you will lose all credit you might otherwise have obtained. Are you clear on all of that?”</p> <p>Kerr is due to face trial in February 2025, and if found guilty could face up to six months in jail or an unlimited fine. </p> <p>Her lawyers are preparing to apply for the charges to be dismissed next month. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

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New details emerge in fatal mushroom poisoning incident

<p>The former spouse of the Victorian woman responsible for preparing a meal for three individuals who tragically passed away, was placed in a medically induced coma last year following an unexpected severe digestive ailment.</p> <p>The revelation surfaces as <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/forensic-tests-on-food-dehydrator-found-at-tip-after-mushroom-deaths-20230808-p5dusv.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Age Newspaper reports</a> that law enforcement have carried out forensic testing on a dehydrator found at a waste disposal site near Erin Patterson's home in Leongatha, southeast of Melbourne.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Investigators are now exploring whether this apparatus was utilised to preserve the mushrooms before being discarded.</span></p> <p>The Age has additionally gained access to Erin's ex-husband Simon's social media posts, in which he recounts a mysterious severe gastrointestinal illness that nearly claimed his life.</p> <p>"I collapsed at home and subsequently spent 16 days in an induced coma, undergoing three emergency surgeries mainly targeting my small intestine, along with another planned surgical procedure," he wrote. "My family was summoned twice to bid me farewell as my chances of survival were minimal."</p> <p>Within the same social media post, he extended gratitude to Ms. Patterson for her support. Despite their separation, the two maintain an amicable relationship.</p> <p>Patterson, aged 48, cooked the fateful lunch which law enforcement suspect might have contained death cap mushrooms.</p> <p>The mother of two is now under police scrutiny after the demise of her ex-husband Simon Patterson's parents, Gail and Don Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson.</p> <p>Heather's husband, Ian, is currently in critical condition at Melbourne's Austin Hospital and is awaiting a liver transplant.</p> <p>All four individuals exhibited symptoms consistent with death cap mushroom poisoning following the lunch, which occurred on July 29.</p> <p>Ms Patterson has consistently <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/i-didn-t-do-anything-i-love-them-woman-who-cooked-meal-with-deadly-mushrooms-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maintained her innocence</a>, expressing that she held strong affection for her in-laws, particularly considering Gail's role as a motherly figure. Police have also characterised the case as intricate and potentially devoid of malicious intent.</p> <p>Death cap mushrooms possess the potential to cause grave damage to the liver and kidneys, leading to fatality. Symptoms include abdominal discomfort vomiting, and nausea, yet much of the harm can transpire before symptoms surface.</p> <p>Ms Patterson herself remained unaffected by the luncheon she organised, and her two children have been taken into protective custody as a preventive measure, according to police statements.</p> <p>Detective Inspector Dean Thomas of the Homicide Squad indicated that authorities are yet to determine whether they are dealing with a potential crime or an unfortunate accident.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook / A Current Affair</em></p>

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Fan throws mother’s ashes on stage at Pink concert

<p>Singing sensation Pink was left momentarily speechless after a fan threw a bag of their mother’s ashes on stage mid-performance.</p> <p>The singer was just four songs into her headlining set at the British Summer Time festival in London’s Hyde Park when she grabbed a large package of white powder that had been thrown across the stage.</p> <p>“Is this your mum?” a confused Pink asked.</p> <p>“I don’t know how I feel about this.”</p> <p>Simply stunned, the singer then placed the package down behind the front-of-stage speakers and continued performing the current song, <em>Just Like A Pill</em>.</p> <p>Pink did not speak out about the bizarre situation, but social media users put the concert-goer on blast for the act.</p> <p>“Someone gave their Mothers ashes to Pink. I need yall to have boundaries like girl what?” one fan wrote.</p> <p>“She handled it well cause I’d definitely be mad that someone handed me their mom’s ashes,” another added.</p> <p>“I feel like security at a concert will be like going thru TSA if people don’t stop being WEIRD,” a third wrote.</p> <p>Other online users had more extreme takes, “I would have started snorting their mother on stage,” one person wrote on twitter, while another insisted they would’ve “sprinkled it on the crowd.”</p> <p>This incident follows a string of boundary-breaking events at pop stars’ concerts, with singer Bebe Rexha receiving stitches after a fan threw a phone at her head, and another singer Ava Max having to end her show abruptly after a concert-goer rushed the stage and slapped her in the face.</p> <p>Pink will be returning to Australia for a string of stadium shows in February 2024.</p> <p>While the star hasn’t touched on the matter, there’s a good chance she'd recommend leaving the deceased at home.</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

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"I've been attacked": Barry Humphries' response to Comedy Festival incident

<p>Anti-trans campaigner Graham Linehan has shared an email he received from the late Barry Humphries in the response to the fallout from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival incident. </p> <p>In 2019, Humphries name was removed from one of the key awards at the annual comedy festival after he made comments ridiculing transgender people, included labelling gender affirmation surgery as “self-mutilation”.</p> <p>In an interview in 2018, Humphries branded being transgender “a fashion” and criticised teachers who support trans youth in schools, declaring it a "pretty evil" practice. </p> <p>As a result, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which was partly founded by Humphries, renamed their 'Barry Award' amid the controversy. </p> <p>Now, just days after Humphries passing, writer and anti-trans campaigner Graham Linehan has shared an email he allegedly received from Humphries after the renaming of the award. </p> <p>The email purportedly from Humphries said, “Thanks for your letter. I’ve been banned by the Melbourne Comedy Festival which Peter Cook and I launched! I’ve been attacked and branded fascist and ‘transphobic’ by the ‘they’ brigade, and accused of racism by people who have never met an [Indigenous person]."</p> <p>“That actors who have become rich and famous by performing in JKR’s plays and films and then vindictively excoriated her, seems to me a cowardly betrayal. Thanks for writing to me and good luck against a powerful and malign foe.”</p> <p>Humphries appears to be referring to J.K. Rowling by “JKR”, as the <em>Harry Potter</em> creator is one of the most high-profile anti-trans campaigners and refers to herself as “TERF”, an acronym for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist”.</p> <p>Linehan co-created TV comedies including <em>Father Ted</em>, <em>Black Books</em> and <em>The IT Crowd</em> but has in recent years become better known for his strident anti-trans views.</p> <p>In the wake of Humphries’ death, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2019 decision has come under attack by some commentators, who accused the festival of “cancelling” the comedian.</p> <p>However, festival’s director Susan Provan defended the organisation for their decision, while also paying tribute to Humphries' influence on comedy. </p> <p>She told ABC radio in Melbourne, “We’ve never cancelled Barry Humphries. There seems to be some misconceptions going on around there. We changed the name of an award, which… was the right decision to make when we did that."</p> <p>“We have celebrated, and continue to celebrate Barry, an incredible comedian, comic artists, who took Australian comedy global. We will always celebrate that he was amazing. And we really value his contribution to the comedy festival too.”</p> <p>Provan added the decision had been made in 2019 because Humphries’ “comments did not reflect the values of our community”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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“You’ve got another thing coming”: Adelaide private school teacher loses it on the train

<p>Police are investigating after an Adelaide private school teacher was filmed yelling and allegedly shoving a teenage boy on a train. The man has since been stood down from his role.</p> <p>The incident occurred at about 3:40 pm on Saturday on a train travelling between Lynton and Eden Hills Railway Stations, with footage of the alleged assault being uploaded to social media.</p> <p>The footage shows the St John’s Grammar School teacher standing in the aisle of the train, yelling at a group of teenage boys sitting down with their mountain bikes.</p> <p>“Boys, if you think I’m not going to kick you off at the next station you’ve got another thing coming,” he yells.</p> <p>“I’m not f***ing around with you kids,” he says in another video.</p> <p>One of the videos cuts to slow-motion footage, showing the teacher appearing to shove one of the teenagers with the words “Moments before disaster” on the screen.</p> <p>On Wednesday, a South Australian police spokesman told <a href="http://news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> that the incident was still under investigation.</p> <p>“A man allegedly assaulted a teenage boy and was verbally abusive towards him,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p><a href="https://7news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News </a>has said that the footage didn’t capture the entire incident.</p> <p>Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.</p> <p>St John’s Grammar School confirmed it was aware of the altercation and the man appearing in the footage was a “longstanding” teacher of the school.</p> <p>“The teacher has been stood down indefinitely until further notice while the school conducts an initial investigation,” the school said in a statement.</p> <p>The school claims the incident did not directly involve any students from St John’s Grammar School.</p> <p>On Monday afternoon, a letter was sent to all parents of students at the school informing them of the incident.</p> <p>St John’s Grammar School is an Anglican early learning, primary and secondary school in the Adelaide Hills, costing just under $19,000 per year for students in years 10 to 12.</p> <p><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

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Man who filmed rollercoaster incident opens up

<p>A traumatised witness of the rollercoaster accident at Melbourne's Royal Show has spoken out about the moment Shylah Rodden was struck by the ride. </p> <p>Jordan was filming his sister and his partner having fun on the Rebel Coaster ride on Sunday when he captured the tragic moment the 26-year-old was hit by the rollercoaster travelling up to 70km/h.</p> <p>Jordan said he "hasn't slept since" witnessing the horrific accident, as he saw Shylah get dragged halfway up the ride's next loop before falling nine metres to the ground. </p> <p>He said he watched Shylah walk to the track and bend down to retrieve something, all without noticing the rollercoaster hurtling towards her. </p> <p>"It all happened so quickly but so slowly. All of a sudden, I saw someone getting taken up but at the same time I'm thinking 'f**k, my sister, my partner'," he told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/vic/eyewitness-who-filmed-melbourne-show-rollercoaster-disaster-reveals-what-really-happened-c-8384953" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener"><em>7Ne</em>ws</a>.</p> <p>Ms Rodden remains in a coma with "horrific" facial injuries her family has described as "life-changing".</p> <p>However, the thing that surprised Jordan was how Ms Rodden reacted immediately after she was hit. </p> <p>"I didn't hear her scream. The screams that I heard came from onlookers, I think. It happened so fast," he said.</p> <p>Shylah's father told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11249351/Melbourne-woman-Shylah-Rodden-26-fighting-life-mystery-rollercoaster-tragedy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a> he suspects his daughter will be in a coma for a long time, as she battles to overcome her injuries. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“Obviously I can't talk to my daughter. She's going to be in a coma for quite a while,” Mr Rodden said.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“The injuries are horrific. Horrific. She's brain damaged. It's pelvic, her arms, legs, back, neck - there's hardly a thing that's not broken. I just can't work out how the hell so much damage has been done. Even the doctors have said they haven't seen anything as bad as this for a long time.”</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><em>Image credits: 7News / Facebook</em></p>

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Tragic details emerge in rollercoaster incident

<p dir="ltr">New details have emerged about the woman <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-screaming-was-so-loud-young-woman-struck-by-roller-coaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who was struck by a rollercoaster</a> at Melbourne’s Royal Show as her family hits back at online bullies.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/the-injuries-are-horrific-rollercoaster-victim-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shylah Rodden</a> remains in a critical condition after walking onto a section of the Rebel Coaster ride and being struck by one of the carriages shortly before 6pm on Sunday, suffering severe facial injuries.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since the tragic incident, it has been revealed that the Rodden family lost Shylah’s brother, Jason, less than two months ago.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a social media post dated July 27, Shylah said her “world came crashing down”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Dad sat me down and told me that my brother had passed away," she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He wasn't just my big brother, he was my best friend, my everything, the person I looked up to and inspired to be like.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He taught me so much in life, he showed me the difference between right and wrong and he was never afraid to tell me how he really feels.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It doesn't feel real, I keep thinking you'll call me back."</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to the media on Monday, Shylah’s father Alan Rodden said he was still unsure as to what to believe about the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There are a lot of stories going around and I don't know which one is true and if someone is covering their tracks," he told the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11249799/Royal-Melbourne-rollercoaster-incident-Shylah-Rodden-familys-online-abuse-trolls.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Rodden said his 26-year-old daughter’s injuries were “horrific” and that she was fighting for her life.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The injuries are horrific. Horrific. She's brain-damaged. It's pelvic, her arms, legs, back, neck - there's hardly a thing that's not broken," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I just can't work out how the hell so much damage has been done. Even the doctors have said they haven't seen anything as bad as this for a long time."</p> <p dir="ltr">Shylah’s sister Caisha told the outlet she was appalled at the online abuse directed at her sister, who is reportedly in a coma.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s sad and disgusting to see the false stories and cover up when my sister is fighting for my life,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">After police alleged she was trying to retrieve her mobile phone when she was hit, critics have said she was in the wrong, and Caisha said that rumours circulating about the details of the accident have caused more pain for her family as they struggle to cope.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Definitely misinformation regarding the accident, which is really sad and causing more distress for our family,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Shylah is in critical condition and we won't know more until later today as we will be discussing with police and giving some eye witness statements.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Caisha also revealed that her sister had been working at the show that day and had been helping at a friend’s stall when she was sent on a break with another worker, with both deciding to take the opportunity to go on some rides.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the incident still under investigation by WorkSafe, Brad Jenkins, the CEO of the Melbourne Royal Show has refused to speculate on details surrounding it, including whether the ride was surrounded by a fence or how Shylah got onto the tracks.</p> <p dir="ltr">"That's a subject for WorkSafe and police. That's part of the investigation. I wouldn't want to comment on that until the investigation goes through the process,” he told <em>ABC Mornings </em>host Virginia Trioli.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Jenkins did say that the operator of the ride was “devastated”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Carnival operators are very close knit,” he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The show's about trying to put smiles on people's faces."</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1b3e462a-7fff-e0c4-0ba2-77c12f98fe2a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

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“No-one’s to blame”: Parents speak after tragic driveway incident

<p>The parents of a toddler who died outside their family home in Lake Macquarie, NSW, have understandably been left absolutely heartbroken, saying they feel “completely numb” after the shocking tragedy.</p> <p>The almost two-year-old was killed after she ran outside and was struck by a car in the family’s driveway on Monday August 15.</p> <p>Mother Jacintha McPherson said she was still coming to terms with the terrible accident that took her beloved daughter Payton’s life.</p> <p>"I've been on autopilot," McPherson said. I'm just in survival mode and supporting everyone at the moment. How are you expected to get over it?"</p> <p>Inquiries are ongoing and McPherson said the family are still in shock after the tragic accident. "It was just an accident, kids being kids, and no-one's to blame, it's no one's fault," she said.</p> <p>Herself and extended family are coming together in memory of the toddler who brought “joy” and “love” into their lives.</p> <p>"Typical two-year-old, full of life, full of beans, full of love, the attitude. The memory of our baby girl is important, and you know, trying to give her the send-off that she deserves is what's important."</p> <p>McPherson has praised the work of emergency service workers and cannot thank them enough.</p> <p>"I can't thank the police and ambulance and all the doctors that turned up on Monday, it was a shock to all of them, it really was, and they handled themselves so well and they provided everyone with so much support," she said.</p> <p>"They didn't know her. They didn't have to, but they treated her with so much respect and dignity and that's all a mum can ask for."</p> <p><em>Image: NBN</em></p>

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Rex Hunt captured in alleged road rage incident

<p dir="ltr">Former veteran AFL commentator and renowned fishing journalist/TV personality Rex Hunt has been allegedly caught on camera threatening a driver with a gardening tool during a road rage incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hunt was involved in what appears to be a small car accident at Beaumaris in Melbourne’s south-east on Tuesday morning.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 73-year-old is then seen getting out of his car to confront the driver who drives off.</p> <p dir="ltr">But that wasn’t enough for Hunt who allegedly followed the other driver to a side street where the fight allegedly ensued. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dashcam footage from the driver who followed the pair allegedly shows the other man throwing a punch at the former AFL commentator.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">NINE EXCLUSIVE: Legendary AFL commentator Rex Hunt is under pressure this morning, after he threatened a driver with a garden fork in an alleged road rage incident. <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristineAhern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChristineAhern</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> </p> <p>DETAILS: <a href="https://t.co/HWt531N1Bx">https://t.co/HWt531N1Bx</a> <a href="https://t.co/kinpgwq4vT">pic.twitter.com/kinpgwq4vT</a></p> <p>— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1552020173519032346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Hunt then goes back to his car and grabs a gardening tool and threatens the driver, saying “You wanna die? You wanna die? Do you want to die?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Horrified witnesses eventually broke up the pair with Hunt driving around the block a few times before eventually leaving. </p> <p dir="ltr">Witnesses told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dash-cam-footage-records-road-rage-incident-with-afl-legend/8e64e5a5-8c7f-439a-84c3-2adb0c08dce6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine News</a> that the other man had allegedly “run after Rex in an aggressive manner” before “throwing punches at trees”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Victoria Police said they were not notified of the incident. </p> <p dir="ltr">Images: Nine News</p>

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“I tried to protect her”: Victoria and David Beckham recount terrifying stalking incident

<p dir="ltr">David and Victoria Beckham have opened up about their ordeal with a stalker who has been charged with harassing the former athlete.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Beckhams are being represented by their lawyers in a Westminster Magistrate Court where 58-year-old Sharon Bell is facing stalking charges.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bell believed she was in a relationship with Beckham and, after trying to contact him through a series of letters, claimed he and his wife were conspiring to “steal her eggs from inside her body”, as reported by <em>The Daily Mail</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">One of the letters Bell sent to the football star read: “I do love you and have done so since we were children.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement read to the court, the father of four said he doesn’t have a relationship with Bell and had never seen her before.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I felt like the language in the letters was escalating and becoming more emotional and threatening towards me and my family and this worried me,” he said in his statement, addressing the impact the letters had on him.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court also heard of a terrifying event involving the couple’s youngest child, 11-year-old Harper.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bell reportedly appeared at Harper’s school in an attempt to abduct her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m Harper’s mother. I’m here to pick her up,” she reportedly told the school.</p> <p dir="ltr">After police were called to the school, Bell was taken away.</p> <p dir="ltr">A statement from Victoria was also read out in court by prosecutor Arizuna Asante, detailing the fashion designer’s concern for her young daughter following the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Due to the volume of attention [my husband and I receive from fans], we are rarely informed of the nature of communications from fans,” her statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I tried to protect her and I am worried about her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am very concerned and anxious about Harper going to the park or being taken on school trips.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Prosecutor Asante added: “She is now scared to go out and it has made things harder for her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She is worried, especially when Harper goes on school trips.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Bell, who is currently detained under the Mental Health Act, was deemed a risk to the couple's children because she was “obsessed with the family” by District Judge Michael Snow.</p> <p dir="ltr">Judge Snow charged Bell with stalking, though she will not face a criminal trial because of her mental health.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-67a13fe3-7fff-4486-81a6-ed6c3eb84440"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Elderly resident rescued from a potentially fatal flooding incident

<p>A 72-year-old woman has been rescued from her car with only moments to spare after she was swept off the road and trapped in neck-deep flood water during an extreme weather event.</p> <p>Police responded to the elderly woman's triple zero call around 2:30 pm on Wednesday the 6th of July, after a flooded rural crossing in Collombatti, north of Kempsey on the NSW mid-north coast, swept her car downstream and wedged it in a line of trees.</p> <p>In the panicked call she said she was trapped inside the car with water up to her chest.</p> <p>A sergeant from Mid North Coast Police District used a 4WD winch cable as a safety line before entering the floodwater to find the vehicle.</p> <p>The officer, with the help of five other police, opened the woman's car door as water began to reach her neck, this incident could've been fatal.</p> <p>It is believed she was trapped in the car for about 45 minutes. She was then taken to the Kempsey Hospital where she was treated for hypothermia and exhaustion.</p> <p>The officers were not injured during the incident and the command is considering recommending all officers to be recognised for their efforts.</p> <p>About 60,000 people are still feeling the threat of widespread flooding in the Sydney, Hunter and mid-north coast regions following a week-long rain event.</p> <p><em>Image: NSW Police</em></p>

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Daniel Johns ordered to complete community service over drunk driving incident

<p>Daniel Johns has narrowly avoided jail time with a 10-month intensive corrections order to be served in the community over a high-range drink-driving car crash.</p> <p>The former Silverchair frontman has also been disqualified from driving for seven months and ordered to fit an alcohol-reading interlock device to his car for 24 months when he gets his driver's licence back.</p> <p>In March this year, Johns was charged with high-range drink driving after a head-on crash at North Arm Cove, north of Newcastle.</p> <p>When tested, he returned a blood alcohol reading three times the legal limit.</p> <p>The police report states that Johns was heading north when his SUV crossed onto the wrong side of the Pacific Highway and collided with a light commercial truck travelling in the opposite direction.</p> <p>Both vehicles ended up on a nearby nature strip, with the 51-year-old driver of the van and his 55-year-old female passenger being treated at the scene by paramedics. </p> <p>Johns entered rehabilitation of his own will for four weeks after the crash and the court was told he had not touched alcohol since.</p> <p>In his sentencing submission, defence lawyer Bryan Wrench said his client suffered from complex mental health issues from his time as a child musical star.</p> <p>"He was a very successful musician. He was 14 when that came to him in an unwanted fashion and that came with attacks and vitriol," Mr Wrench said.</p> <p>"He is a recluse, his house is his only safe place."</p> <p>These defence submissions are what helped Johns avoid time behind bars, as Magistrate Ian Cheetham said Johns was best served to continue with psychiatric treatment in the community.</p> <p>"There is no doubt a custodial sentence will not achieve an appropriate result for him or the community," Magistrate Cheetham said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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"Very lucky": Queen in near-miss road incident

<p dir="ltr">Queen Elizabeth II has had a near-miss, after the car she was in was forced to swerve to avoid being hit by another vehicle coming towards them at speed.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Queen was sitting in the front passenger seat of her Range Rover as it left Wood Farm - where she is staying on the Sandringham estate - and pulled out onto a quiet country road, per <em><a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/queen-elizabeth-car-forced-to-swerve-during-birthday-drive-near-sandringham/24e31303-c8e2-40d4-8f99-a4f998c9ec89" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">A white Nissan Juke was driving towards them at speed - with onlookers saying it was travelling at around 50 km/h - forcing the Range Rover to swerve onto the grass to avoid a collision.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Nissan came to a stop before driving on again.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though no-one was injured, a witness told <em><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/04/21/queens-car-forced-swerve-birthday-trip-drive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Telegraph</a></em> UK the road was a common spot for speedsters.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We sometimes get cars going much faster along that road so the Queen was very lucky,” the witness said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The near-miss occurred at around 10.30am on Thursday, April 21, the same day she turned 96.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her birthday was celebrated with family and friends at Wood Farm, the cottage which was much loved by her late husband Prince Philip.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Queen’s family also took to social media to share sweet messages celebrating her milestone, accompanied by plenty of photos.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy 96th Birthday Granny!” Princess Eugenie wrote on Instagram.</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/p/CcnduGAoGOp/?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/p/CcnduGAoGOp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“You have been such an inspiration to me and so many across the world. Thank you for your support, love and strength. Xx.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Charles and Camilla wished the monarch “a particularly special 96th birthday” as “we celebrate her Platinum Jubilee this year”, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hailed her as “an inspiration” to many in “the UK, the Commonwealth and the world”. </p> <p dir="ltr">To see a special gallery of photos from the monarch’s life, click <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/honouring-queen-elizabeth-ii-on-her-96th-birthday?fbclid=IwAR32l_B_h-U01YcSM5_3JnT98MjIV_G9LSDipkbdTzm0aX9ZTPE2TFodMaM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4cbb412c-7fff-9744-0973-20e98d786003"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"One life is all we have": Tragic post from beauty queen who died after mysterious incident

<p>Current Miss Alabama for America, Zoe Sozo Bethel has died after suffering horrific injuries in an accident – about which very little is currently known or has been made public.</p> <p>Aged just 27, Ms Bethel died from sustained injuries at 5:30 am on the 18th of February, just eight days after she was involved in the tragic accident.</p> <p>Her family confirmed on Monday February 21 that Zoe had died in Miami, Florida, saying that she “passed from this life into the next.” The type of accident was not specified.</p> <p>In the touching social media tribute, Zoe’s family said that the young woman “touched the hearts of many people.”</p> <p>The tragic news of Zoe’s passing came just days after her family confirmed that she had been involved in an accident.</p> <p>“Zoe had an accident Thursday night, February 10th, &amp; sustained severe damage to her brain/brainstem &amp; is in a coma,” the family wrote on her Instagram.</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/p/CaDa9oRuoj8/?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/p/CaDa9oRuoj8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Zoe Sozo Bethel (@zosobe)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>At the time, they also shared a fundraising page for Zoe’s medical bills, which has received over $41,000 ($A56,900) in donations.</p> <p>“Unfortunately the doctors are saying the damage cannot be repaired &amp; that she may not have much time left,” the family wrote at that time.</p> <p>The family implored Zoe’s 25,000 followers for prayers, however unfortunately later confirmed that she had passed away due to the severity of her injuries.</p> <p>Just a few weeks before her death, the beauty queen had shared messages of hope on her Instagram account – in one she captioned a photo of herself wearing a red top with a quote she said attributed to Joan of Arc.</p> <p>“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying,” Zoe wrote on January the 18th.</p>

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"Just shattering": Outpouring of grief after fatal primary school incident

<p>At least five children have died after a jumping castle flew into the air at a primary school in Tasmania. </p> <p>The chaos unfolded around 10am on Thursday morning at the Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport on the north coast of Tasmania. </p> <p>The jumping castle was lifted about 10 metres into the air when a strong gust of wind came.</p> <p>At the time of writing it was unclear how many children were on the jumping castle at the time, but there are reports of several critical injuries, as multiple ambulances and two rescue helicopters attended the scene. </p> <p>“A number of the children have been taken to hospital and some are in a critical condition,” Tasmanian Police Western District Commander Debbie Williams said during a press conference on Thursday afternoon.</p> <p>“This is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the family and the wider school community, and also our first responders. There is no doubt this has been a very confronting and distressing scene.”</p> <p>During the press conference at the school, the Police commander confirmed that two children had passed away from the devastating incident – however, follow-up reports on Thursday evening placed the figures at five confirmed fatalities, all from year 5 and year 6 at the school. </p> <p><span>“Counselling is being made available to the families affected by this in the school community along with the first responders," she said</span></p> <p><span>When informed of the tragedy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the incident was "just shattering".</span></p> <p>“It is just unthinkably heartbreaking. Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such a horrific tragedy, at this time of year, it just breaks your heart,” he said.</p> <p>“And I just want to say, on behalf of all Australians – to the parents and families and friends, all who were there, to the other young children there and witnessing these events, I just pray you‘ll have great family around you and great friends and you can come through this horrific tragedy.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC News</em></p>

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INXS guitarist Tim Farriss sues over severed finger incident

<p><span>Lead <em>INXS</em> guitarist Tim Farriss has explained to a Sydney court why he is suing a boat owner after his major accident.</span><br /><br /><span>Farriss says he was forced into retirement after a boating accident severed one of his fingers.</span><br /><br /><span>Farriss hired Omega Clipper, 34 from John Axford to celebrate an anniversary with his wife, Beth, during the Australia Day long weekend in 2015.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843566/inxs-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c7f396031de2458e9ea750e07ca36dac" /><br /><br /><span>The musician took issue with kinks in a “rusty and dirty” anchor chain at Akuna Bay, in Sydney's northern beaches.</span><br /><br /><span>Court documents have claimed it became a major issue when the foot-controlled deck stopped working.</span><br /><br /><span>He was then given instructions via text message, the winch became working again.</span><br /><br /><span>Horrifically, his left hand was caught in the machinery and he lost a finger.</span><br /><br /><span>Farriss is suing Mr Axford in the NSW Supreme Court for negligence and breach of Australian Consumer Law.</span><br /><br /><span>"How would you now describe your occupation?" his barrister, Adrian Williams, asked him</span><br /><br /><span>"Forced retirement," Farriss replied.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843565/inxs-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ffce8c1f3f334a718315f1a2ab2f1f8b" /><br /><br /><span>Mr Williams told the court that Farriss's reattached finger was "useless" and the musician was depressed.</span><br /><br /><span>"It is in a state now where he cannot play the guitar and he cannot compose in the manner he was accustomed to," Mr Williams said.</span><br /><br /><span>Farriss has claimed he has extensive injuries.</span><br /><br /><span>"My hand was covered in rust, blood and mud, but I could see one of my fingers had been severed and the others were disfigured, badly lacerated and bleeding," he recalled in the documents.</span><br /><br /><span>The 64-year-old said he finds it difficult to look at his injuries without wanting to faint.</span><br /><br /><span>He argues that his instructions should have been clearer and that the equipment should have been better maintained.</span><br /><br /><span>The court’s major question is whether <em>INXS</em> is going to embark on a comeback tour after drummer Jon Farriss announced on stage, during a 2012 Perth show, that it would likely be their last.</span><br /><br /><span>Tim Farriss told the court he was "shocked" by the comment at the time, but said it ended up producing "great marketing opportunities".</span><br /><br /><span>Farriss has been accused of "downplaying" his "extensive" experience with boats, a claim the guitarist denied.</span><br /><br /><span>John Turnbull, who is for the defendant, said there would be a "significant factual dispute" about Farriss's position when the accident happened.</span><br /><br /><span>"At some point, Mr Farriss must have loosened the winch clutch and stepped on the up button or perhaps the down button, but of course only he knows what happened," he said.</span><br /><br /><span>"Our case is this is a misadventure, sadly, by Mr Farriss who has undoubtedly been injured as a result of, somehow or another, the chain and his fingers ... coming into contact with each other."</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Turnbull argued there was "no doubt" a risk of harm from the machinery, but not for someone who would have been "acting reasonably".</span><br /><br /><span>"A reasonable person, though, had alternative options available," he said.</span><br /><br /><span>"A reasonable person would not have been injured if they had exercised reasonable care."</span><br /><br /><span>Farriss told the court he has nightmares about both his hands and his feet being dragged into the winch.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Turnbull suggested to the musician that he had accidentally stepped on the “up” button on the deck, which activated the winch.</span><br /><br /><span>The defence went on to say the version of events was recorded by an ambulance officer at the scene.</span><br /><br /><span>"That's what you told the ambulance operator," he said.</span><br /><br /><span>"No, I didn't tell him that," Farriss replied.</span><br /><br /><span>"That might be something he assumed."</span><br /><br /><span>The hearing is expected to run the rest of the week.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Music

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Tragic incident kills baby and leaves mother fighting for life

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a three-month old baby who was struck by a train in Melbourne last night.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The child’s mother was also hit and is in critical condition in hospital under police guard.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Emergency services were called to Kumbada Avenue, in the suburb of Upwey in Melbourne’s east, at around 5.10pm on Sunday following reports the pair were hit by a train.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The child was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries but later died.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The area was cordoned off while police investigated.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: The Herald Sun</span></em></p>

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Tourist survives 35m fall off a CLIFF

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Tourist Alex Tridico, 28, has survived a fall off a 35-metre cliff into the sea in the UK.</p> <p>Tridico fell off Old Harry Rocks in Dorset while he was out for a walk with some friends.</p> <p>He told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14839044/tourist-incredible-escape-death-dorset-cliff/" target="_blank"><em>The Sun</em></a><span> </span>that he believes he survived by pushing away from the edge of the cliff as he fell.</p> <p>“It’s just sheer luck I survived, everybody is stunned I’m not dead, I’ve only got minor injuries considering how far I fell,” he explained.</p> <p>"I had about three or four seconds when I realised I was going to drop, I thought 'right, well this is it I'm going to die'.</p> <p>"It was terrifying, but I knew I had to push myself away from the cliff edge, otherwise I'd land in too shallow water.</p> <p>"I'm incredibly lucky to still be alive."</p> <p>Tridico currently remains in hospital with a punctured lung and three fractured ribs.</p> <p>He was luckily rescued by some kayakers who gave him first aid before he was whisked away by an ambulance.</p> <p>Lifeboatman Ian Brown said that it was a miracle Alex survived the fall.</p> <p>"The tide was in at the time and he landed in the water.</p> <p>"It wouldn't have been that deep, probably 4ft at most.</p> <p>"He is incredibly lucky to have suffered relatively minor injuries."</p> <p><em>Photo credits:<span> </span></em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14839044/tourist-incredible-escape-death-dorset-cliff/" target="_blank"><em>The Sun</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div>

Travel Trouble

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The bizarre item Jessica Rowe saved from burning car

<p>Jessica Rowe and her daughter Allegra were lucky to escape unharmed after their car burst into flames in Sydney on Thursday afternoon.</p> <p>Rowe was outside her daughter's school when her Volvo suddenly burst into flames on a major road, New South Head Road.</p> <p>A school bus driver named Miev initially saw smoke "billowing" from underneath the Volvo XC 60 and "jumped out of his bus" to alert Rowe, urging her to get out of the vehicle.</p> <p>Rowe and Allegra both fled and within minutes the car was completely engulfed in flames.</p> <p>“Jess was saying to me earlier that if the school bus driver hadn’t jumped out of his bus and run over to Jess’ car and told them to get out right now it could have been a much more serious outcome,” Rowe’s manager, David Wilson, told news.com.au.</p> <p>“The whole family is so very grateful to him for his quick action and courage. Approaching a car that was clearly in serious trouble meant he was also at risk of putting himself in harms way, and that’s amazing.”</p> <p>Speaking about the incident this morning on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O, Rowe revealed the bizarre item that she managed to grab from the vehicle before it went up in flames.</p> <p>“I do like a costume … so I had a cat head in the boot,” Rowe told the radio duo. “Sometimes I like to embarrass my children. I pick them up and I put the cat head on. Luckily I could rescue that from the boot.”</p> <p>Rowe's husband Peter Overton was not happy when she told him she managed to grab the cat head costume.</p> <p>“He said to me last night, ‘pussycat, that is not funny. Put it in the bin. You’re not keeping that,’” Rowe said.</p> <p>Rowe took to Instagram last night to thank the kind school bus driver, Mev, who got us out of the car, called the fire brigade, cleared the road and then stayed to drive us home.”</p> <p>She also thanked the police and paramedics and “the mums &amp; dads who stopped to help”.</p> <p>“We love you,” she wrote.</p>

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Ashley Judd opens up about traumatic incident in Congo jungle

<p>Ashley Judd has gone into detail about her horrific experience after shattering her leg in the Congolese jungle, revealing it was locals who saved her.</p> <p>The beloved actress, who was in the Congo to track endangered Bonobos, explained that she sustained “massive catastrophic injuries” after tripping over a fallen tree. “What was next was an incredibly harrowing 55 hours,” she said. She then told fans how she lay on the forest floor in agony, with the belief that her “internal bleeding would have likely killed her".</p> <p>However, she says she owes all her thanks to a man named Dieumerci, who “stretched out his leg and put it under my grossly misshapen left leg to try to keep it still. It was broken in four places and had nerve damage. Dieumerci (“Thanks be to God”) remained seated, without fidgeting or flinching, for five hours on the rainforest floor.”</p> <p>The actress then described another local man named Papa Jean who spent five hours searching for her, gave her a stick to bite on, then went on to readjust the shattered pieces of her leg.</p> <p>“It took five hours, but eventually he found me, wretched and wild on the ground, and calmly assessed my broken leg. He told me what he had to do,” she wrote.</p> <p>“I bit a stick. I held onto Maud. And Papa Jean, with certainty, began to manipulate and adjust my broken bones back into something like a position I could be transported in, while I screamed and writhed. How he did that so methodically while I was like an animal is beyond me. He saved me.”</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLW2-QohZps/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLW2-QohZps/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ashley Judd (@ashley_judd)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She then went on to say a group of men improvised a hammock and spent three hours carrying Judd through the forest to find transportation.</p> <p>The actress’ story does not end there though, as she told fans that her dear friend, a man named Maradona, volunteered to ride with her for six hours on a motorbike and kept her from falling off.</p> <p>She wrote: “Didier drove the motorbike. I sat facing backwards, his back my backrest. When I would begin to slump, to pass out, he would call to me to re-set my position to lean on him. Maradona rode on the very back of the motorbike, I faced him.</p> <p>“He held my broken leg under the heel and I held the shattered top part together with my two hands. Together we did this for six hours on an irregular, rutted and pocked dirt road that has gullies for rain run off during the rainy season. Maradona was the only person to come forward to volunteer for this task.”</p> <p>Judd wrote that she made the decision to come forward about the accident as a way to spread the word about “what it means to be Congolese in extreme poverty with no access to health care, any medication for pain, any type of service, or choices.”</p> <p>“The difference between a Congolese person and me is disaster insurance that allowed me, 55 hours after my accident, to get to an operating table in South Africa,” she says, adding that villages in<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://deadline.com/tag/congo/" target="_blank">Congo</a><span> </span>lack not only electricity but “a simple pill to kill the pain when you’ve shattered a leg in four places and have nerve damage.”</p> <p>The actress now lies in her hospital bed in South Africa, saying: “I wake up weeping in gratitude, deeply moved by each person who contributed something life giving and spirit salving during my gruelling 55 hour odyssey.”</p>

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