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Parents busted for making their healthy child use a wheelchair to claim benefits

<p>A cruel mother and father have been jailed for over six years for forcing their healthy child to use a wheelchair in order to claim benefit payments. </p> <p>In 2012, Louise Law and her ex-husband Martin forced their then seven-year-old daughter into the wheelchair, as a ploy to gain a mobility car and disability allowance payments despite their being nothing wrong with her. </p> <p>The parents carried on with the scam for four years while they "fabricated illnesses and exaggerated symptoms" to teachers and NHS workers, all while raking in the extensive payments. </p> <p>The crown court in East Yorkshire, England, heard that the child suffered "gratuitous degradation" at being forced to use the wheelchair, as they were bullied at school and deprived of an ordinary childhood. </p> <p>In court, Louise Law admitted an offence of child cruelty, however she changed her plea on the day of a scheduled trial and was jailed for six years and nine months.</p> <p>Martin Law, now split from his wife, is now a long-term resident of a care home and was ruled unfit to enter a plea - although a jury convicted him of child cruelty, and was made subject of a guardianship order.</p> <p>Passing sentence, Judge Kate Rayfield told Mrs Law, "She missed out on so much of her childhood because of what you put her through."</p> <p>"Despite all of her tests revealing nothing wrong, you continued to subject her to appointments and investigations. You did the talking yourselves, telling the doctors lies."</p> <p>"This was a scam... You were telling her to report symptoms that she never said that she had."</p> <p>When the child reached the age of 18 in 2022, she was interviewed by police as she said the faux medical treatment from her parents began when she was six years old. </p> <p>A few initial medical appointments progressed to around 30 hospital appointments, including overnight stays.</p> <p>Prosecutor Louise Reevell told the court, "Her parents made her think that she could not walk properly. She would go to school in a wheelchair but she didn't really need it."</p> <p>Despite medical professionals proving that the child did not need the extensive medical treatment, her parents still claimed that the illnesses and symptoms of their daughter were genuine.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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"Do better": Baggage handlers captured recklessly throwing wheelchairs

<p>American Airlines has been forced to apologise after two baggage handlers were captured recklessly throwing around wheelchairs. </p> <p>The video of the staffers was captured and posted to TikTok, showing two men in hi-vis at Miami Airport throwing a wheelchair down a slide. </p> <p>The chair hits the bottom with such force that it is catapulted off the chute.</p> <p>In the caption of the video, the poster revealed it was not the first mobility device to suffer such a fate, as she wrote, "Dang, after I saw them do this and laugh with the first two wheelchairs I had to get it on film."</p> <p>She added that it wasn't what she would call "handling with care" for a mobility device.</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7303306999909960990&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40haez93%2Fvideo%2F7303306999909960990%3Flang%3Den&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast8-p-0068-tx2%2FoIRPINBLSaBIEAVIxqpEaik1LBxVjiEZAq5m5%3Fx-expires%3D1700863200%26x-signature%3DumASXIu6Qa1eNNxX0Jshk1pfrJQ%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>The video has racked up over 2 million viewers, with many flocking to the comments to share their thoughts.</p> <p>"This makes me rage. That is literally someone's lifeline," one person wrote. </p> <p>"Knowing our healthcare system that basic wheelchair was soooooo f-ing expensive," another added. </p> <p>A commenter clarified, "these chairs cost upwards of $3k plus. They aren't easily replaceable and insurance only covers new chairs every 5 years".</p> <p>Another person wrote, "From a wheelchair user, thank you for posting this and raising awareness," while another angry viewer simply wrote, "Do better American Airlines". </p> <p>After the video quickly went viral on social media, the airline issued a statement on the incident, as American Airlines spokesperson Amy Lawrence told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2023/11/20/american-airlines-wheelchair-miami-mishandling-video/71655649007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>USA Today</em></a> in a statement: "We recognise how important it is to support the independence of customers with disabilities by ensuring the proper care of mobility devices throughout their journey with us."</p> <p>"This visual is deeply concerning and we are gathering more details so that we can address them with our team. We will continue to work hard to improve our handling of assistive devices across our network."</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Shocking footage exposes police officer attacking “defenceless” wheelchair user

<p dir="ltr">Shocking CCTV footage has captured the moment a police officer strikes at a wheelchair user in Shepparton, North Victoria. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kevin Scott was at home celebrating his 36th birthday on February 28, when the officer arrived in response to a noise complaint. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the footage, Scott can be seen wheeling towards the police officer and appeared to lightly kick the officer in the leg. </p> <p dir="ltr">In response, the officer strikes him in the head and is later seen shoving Scott backwards. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I couldn’t do nothing,” Scott recalled.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I seen him shut his fist and I wheeled back. Next minute he just hit me straight in the mouth, in the jaw. When I pointed at my camera, that’s when he walked off,” he said. </p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to <em>7News</em>, Scott said that he was “defenceless” and that the attack was unprovoked. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kay Scott, his sister, has also spoken out on the incident and said that the attack was “shocking” and “disgusting”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It would be different if my brother spat or tried to throw a punch or put up a fight with them but he never did,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He was in a wheelchair, defenceless. We need to be able to feel safe in our community, people need to be aware that this does happen,” she added. </p> <p dir="ltr">Scott struggles with his health due to drug and alcohol addiction. </p> <p dir="ltr">Victoria Police have confirmed that they are aware of the incident and have launched an investigation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The male sergeant in the video has been identified and transferred to other duties while the investigation is carried out,” they said in a statement to <em>7News</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Watch the entire footage <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/vic/cctv-footage-emerges-of-police-officer-striking-defenceless-wheelchair-user-in-shepparton-c-9987037" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">7News</span></em></p>

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Sir Elton John responds to images of him in wheelchair

<p>Elton John has insisted that he's fine after pictures surfaced of him in a wheelchair during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour earlier this week.</p> <p>The 75-year-old music legend assured fans via Instagram that he was in "top health," explaining how his team offered to push him in a wheelchair following their arrival at Leipzig Airport, Germany, and another long show ahead.</p> <p>"I want to thank all my fans for reaching out to ask about my health, after the tabloids ran a silly story about my 'looking frail" in a wheelchair," his post began.</p> <p>"The true story is that I'm in top health, loving my shows and playing and singing at my very best. I give 100% every night and never want to disappoint, especially after everyone has waited so long to get back to seeing shows. Your response to every show has been phenomenal and I'm loving every minute of it."</p> <p>John went on to explain that upon their arrival at the airport, part of it was closed, meaning that "it was an extremely long walk" for the singer "to get to the plane."</p> <p>"Last night was another blockbuster show in Bern and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at this weekend's sold-out show in Milan. Thanks for all your kind words of support!" he concluded his post.</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/CeTOUmIjanf/?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/CeTOUmIjanf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Photos of the Rocketman hitmaker surfaced on Thursday of John being pushed by one of his team members at the airport. Several outlets reported that the performer "looked frail" and "fragile" as he stepped out with his crew.</p> <p>In November 2021, John discussed his recent hip injury publicly. He explained that he was forced to postpone some dates on his tour but has since had surgery.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Paralympian told she can’t board plane with wheelchair

<p dir="ltr">A paralympian has been left embarrassed after Jetstar staff refused to allow her to board with her wheelchair. </p> <p dir="ltr">Karni Liddell represented Australia at the 1996 and 2000 Paralympic Games and had booked with Jetstar to fly from Brisbane to Proserpine on Wednesday. </p> <p dir="ltr">She was however told she would not be allowed to board the plane because there was a lithium battery on the wheelchair - even though she had a dangerous goods certificate issued by Qantas and Jetstar.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was told on the phone beforehand that I could fly, but I couldn’t bring my wheelchair,” she said on Sunrise on Thursday. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I asked her again to repeat it because I actually thought it was quite funny.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I said ‘that would be like me telling you to take your legs off, to jump on the plane and fly without your legs’ and she said ‘stop being so rude’.”</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/CeQYUC0lJ3m/?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/CeQYUC0lJ3m/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by karniliddell (@karniliddell)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Karni explained that this is not the first time she has been discriminated against on recalling about 10 incidents over the past few years.</p> <p dir="ltr">She said every time she arrived at the airport she was riddled with anxiety and is questioning why it’s so hard to accommodate those who need a bit of extra help.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s so common for us, we are always fighting to fly. So I just want to find out why? Why is it so hard?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jetstar has since made a statement in response to the horrific incident which saw Karni miss out on an income. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Unfortunately her booking was made through a travel vendor and did not include the requirement to travel with a 25-kilogram lithium-battery-powered wheelchair,” the statement read. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Carrying a 25-kilogram lithium battery on our aircraft requires special clearance in advance of the flight’s departure.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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World first: paratriathlete bungee jumps from 50m in wheelchair

<p dir="ltr">An Aussie paratriathlete has become the first to bungee jump from a whopping 50m while in a wheelchair.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rohan Sills, a former carpenter, became paralysed following a serious workplace incident that saw him fall three metres down a stairwell at a construction site in 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">Three years later, Rohan continues to refuse to allow his condition to stop him from doing what he loves. </p> <p dir="ltr">He has now broken the previous record of bungee jumping from 50m while in a wheelchair thanks to Sky Park in Cairns. </p> <p dir="ltr">Several thrilling videos were shared to Rohan’s Instagram showing his excitement to roll his wheelchair off the rooftop. </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/tv/CaVtRpYlgH4/?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/tv/CaVtRpYlgH4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rohan Sills (@rohansills)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“First ever wheelchair bungee jump off the roof in Australia and it was epic!” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Massive shout out to the crew @skyparkcairns for making it possible. If you’re interested in giving it a go then give them a call and they will do their best to help you out.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans were left in awe at his bravery and commended him for not giving up on his dreams.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Man you are the real hero because you are chasing your own dreams. God will give you the power,” one wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“This is superrrrr inspiring! What a lovely spirit!” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congratulations!!! It looks amazing!” someone else wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rohan did another bungee jump last year at the same park but this time wanted to go higher. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Man who abducted wheelchair-bound partner dies two days after her

<p dir="ltr">A man who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/man-charged-with-abducting-wheelchair-bound-partner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abducted his wheelchair-bound partner</a> from a Perth nursing home and attempted to cross the border with her has died just two days after her.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ralph “Terry” Gibbs, 80, died after his car collided with a utility truck on Wednesday morning south of Bowen, in Queensland’s north.</p> <p dir="ltr">His death came just 48 hours after that of 84-year-old Carol Lisle, his partner of 15 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 84-year-old, passed away in an aged care facility in Mandurah, Western Australia, where she was living with dementia and Parkinson’s disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">They died just a week after Mr Gibbs appeared before a Perth magistrate over charges of deprivation of liberty and endangering Ms Lisle’s life, after he took her out of her aged care home in January and tried to drive her across the border during heatwave conditions.</p> <p dir="ltr">He received a seven-month suspended sentence and a restraining order to prevent him from contacting Ms Lisle.</p> <p dir="ltr">Outside court, Mr Gibbs described Ms Lisle as “my little sweetheart” and said he fought “for over a year to get her back so we can see each other because she has dementia and may not last much longer”.</p> <p dir="ltr">A close friend of Ms Lisle, who didn’t want to be named, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-24/ralph-gibbs-kidnapped-partner-from-nursing-home-dies-after-her/100856128" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told the <em>ABC</em></a><em> </em>she passed away in the early hours on Monday morning.</p> <p dir="ltr">Having known Ms Lisle for 24 years, the friend said she was loved and well-looked after at the nursing home, and that she had been very unwell since she was taken by Mr Gibbs in January.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Carol’s friends are devastated at her passing and believe the separation from her loved ones contributed to her death,” the friend said.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a <a href="https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2022/02/23/fatal-crash-bowen-4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, Queensland Police said Mr Gibbs was driving north along the Bruce Highway early on Wednesday morning when he collided with the other vehicle which was being driven by a 60-year-old man.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gibbs died at the scene of the crash, while the other driver was airlifted to a local hospital and is believed to be in a serious condition.</p> <p dir="ltr">Queensland’s Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: WA Police</em></p>

Caring

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Man charged with abducting wheelchair-bound partner

<p dir="ltr">An 80-year-old man has been charged after allegedly taking his wheelchair-bound partner out of a care facility and driving her 1500 kilometres away in an attempt to cross the border.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/ralph-gibbs-allegedly-removes-sick-partner-from-care-home-drives-across-the-country-c-5190590" target="_blank">allege</a><span> </span>that Ralph Gibbs was visiting Carol Lisle, 84, at her care facility in Mandurah, WA, and took the opportunity to remove her from the facility, placing her in his car and driving away.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846623/lisle1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/35e3e992e0b148daabd7ed41408b6a46" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Missing couple Carol Lisle and Ralph Gibbs were found just shy of the NT border on Tuesday. Image: 9News</em></p> <p dir="ltr">It is also alleged that he made plans prior to visiting her to remove her from the facility and leave WA.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Gibbs allegedly did not have the legal authority to remove Ms Lisle, his partner of more than a decade, from the facility.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Lisle suffers from Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and allegedly did not have the capacity to make the decision to leave the facility for herself.</p> <p dir="ltr">Due to Ms Lisle’s need for a high level of care, Mr Gibbs has also been accused of putting her health and safety at risk, as well as not considering the level of care she required.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair were first reported missing on the night of Sunday, January 2, and were located two days later near Warakurna, just over an hour away from the NT border.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846624/lisle2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a99c6772e9c54c1b9dffd07974e5f53d" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Carol Lisle, a wheelchair-bound woman living in a care home, was found 1,500 kilometres from her home. Image: Western Australia Police</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Lisle required urgent medical attention and was taken to a Warakurna nursing home. She was later flown to Perth and admitted to the Peel Health Campus.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Gibbs<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/wa/wa-man-charged-with-kidnapping-woman-c-5190348" target="_blank">has been charged</a><span> </span>with deprivation of liberty and endangering the life, health and safety of a person.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was due to appear at Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, with<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://thewest.com.au/news/court-justice/ralph-terry-gibbs-granted-bail-over-alleged-kidnapping-of-sick-partner-carol-lisle-from-care-home-c-5189916" target="_blank"><em>The West Australian</em></a><span> </span>reporting that he was granted bail.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Western Australia Police</em></p>

News

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Wheelchair-bound bride's amazing feat on her big day

<p>A Los Angeles bride has given her husband-to-be an emotional surprise when they met at the aisle. </p> <p>Chelsie Hill, who uses a wheelchair, walked proudly down the aisle with her father and a decorated walking frame to be eye-to-eye with her groom Jay Bloomfield. </p> <p>"As soon as I saw Jay, his jaw dropped", the 29-year-old bride told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.insider.com/bride-wheelchair-surprised-groom-by-walking-down-the-aisle-2021-11" target="_blank">Insider</a> of the emotional moment. </p> <p>Chelsie was paralysed from the waist down in a car accident in 2010, but nothing could stop her from standing next to her groom on their big day. </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/reel/CVl4CX2FGHV/?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> <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/reel/CVl4CX2FGHV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by intimate wedding photographer (@ashabailey_)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The moment was captured by their wedding photographer and shared to Instagram, with the caption reading, "There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd."</p> <p>In order to help Chelsie's dream become a reality, she wore leg braces under her gown and had the support of her father, who Chelsie said is her biggest supporter. </p> <p><span>"My dad and I have talked about this moment forever," Chelsie gushed on Instagram. </span></p> <p><span>"He’s always had his tough guy face on trying to keep it together but he’s always been my big teddy bear."</span></p> <p><span>"Walking with my dad down the aisle was so special, every step, every breath, I didn’t take it for granted whatsoever. I’ll never forget this moment with my daddy."</span></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/reel/CV0ieZMjw2b/?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> <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/reel/CV0ieZMjw2b/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Chelsie Hill (@chelsiehill)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>The videos from the wedding have racked up thousands of views, with commenters saying how moved they were by Chelsie's </span>strength. </p> <p>Later in the evening, Chelsie was also standing for her first dance with Jay, in their first moments of being husband and wife. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram @ashabailey_ @chelsiehill</em></p>

Relationships

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Veteran alleges he was refused service because of his wheelchair

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A war veteran has claimed he was refused service at a suburban restaurant because of his wheelchair.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joel Sardi, a former soldier who served in Afghanistan, became a quadriplegic when he fell three metres onto his back almost seven years ago.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Sardi said his attempt to make a reservation at Ginger Garlic in Eltham, Victoria, on Saturday night was refused due to the space he and his wheelchair would take up, despite having visited the venue many times before.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He was quite aggressively telling ‘you don’t know anything about the restaurant and you won’t fit in there because there’s sizzling hot plates and you take up too much space,” Mr Sardi told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">7NEWS</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Last night was the worst I’ve ever felt because of my injury. I was infuriated.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Sardi, who is a public speaker, shared his story about the incident in a video posted to Instagram.</span></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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQnf3N1pT1d/?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/tv/CQnf3N1pT1d/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by JOELS JOURNEY (@joelsardi)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His post received hundreds of thousands of views, as well as messages from others sharing their sympathy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Sardi is considering lodging an official complaint with the Human Rights Commission.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But he has warned against those showing criticism down on the restaurant, and has said: “I don’t want to see people suffer from this. I want people to learn from it.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ginger Garlic declined to comment.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: 7NEWS</span></em></p>

Legal

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Son opens up about murder of wheelchair-bound mother

<div class="body_text "> <p>The son of South Australian wife killer Peter Dansie has opened up about the drowning murder of his wheelchair-bound mother.</p> <p>He spoke to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/son-of-south-australian-wifekiller-opens-up-about-drowning-murder-of-wheelchairbound-mother/03a2d210-6922-4c9c-b4e4-4f00216bcc87" target="_blank"><em>9News</em></a><span> </span>exclusively about the murder, where Grant’s mother Helen drowned after her husband Peter pushed her wheelchair into a pond in the Adelaide parklands in April 2017.</p> <p>"To think that's how she spent her last moments, just in utter fear in a dark cold, pond and there was nobody to help her… there was nothing she could do, she was completely alone," Grant said sadly.</p> <p>In December, Peter was sentenced to 25 years behind bars for Helen’s murder and Grant revealed how he helped detectives arrest his father.</p> <p>"I always knew that he was a horrible person, a vindictive person, focused on power and control, but I didn't think he had it in him to do that," Grant said of his father.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835038/peter-dansie.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7da41441e0534afb84b73a5b1191da0f" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Peter Dansie</em></p> <p>Grant said that detectives had just two questions for him.</p> <p>"They had two questions – first, are you willing to testify? And second, are you willing to wear a wire?"</p> <p>Grant quickly agreed to both and met with his estranged father for the first time in 17 years to hear why he did it.</p> <p>"He didn't care. He showed no emotion. He showed no remorse. He showed no love for this woman," he said.</p> <p>Inconsistencies in Peter’s story to his son helped police arrest and ultimately convict the 70 year old.</p> <p>However, Grant worries as to how he’ll tell his children what happened to their grandparents.</p> <p>"I still haven't concluded how to do that properly - it's kind of hard. We've just said that their grandparents have died," he said.</p> <p>As Peter is trying to appeal his conviction, his son is confident he won’t be going anywhere.</p> <p>"The thought that he will be in jail for life is actually quite nice," Grant said.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/son-of-south-australian-wifekiller-opens-up-about-drowning-murder-of-wheelchairbound-mother/03a2d210-6922-4c9c-b4e4-4f00216bcc87" target="_blank">9News</a></em></p> </div>

Legal

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Cheeky! Prince Harry pens hilarious note to Wimbledon wheelchair champion Dylan Alcott

<p>Wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott received a nice surprise in the mail, as he took to Twitter to show off a cheeky letter from none other than Prince Harry himself.</p> <p>The royal heaped praise on Alcott, commending him for his Wimbledon win and most popular new talent at the Logies.</p> <p>He also appreciated him for his work “raising awareness and changing perceptions of disability”.</p> <p>But while the top half of the note was quite formal, it was the PS that had fans chuckling, as Harry hilariously asked about Alcott’s underwear situation.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Pen pals with the Duke of Sussex himself - Prince Harry.. What an absolute legend ... Also very impressed he watches the <a href="https://twitter.com/TVWEEKmag?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TVWEEKmag</a> logies..! <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoyalFamily</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KensingtonRoyal</a> <a href="https://t.co/I328TqnMaX">pic.twitter.com/I328TqnMaX</a></p> — Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanAlcott/status/1163385140308918273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">19 August 2019</a></blockquote> <p>The letter reads: “Dear Dylan,</p> <p>I wanted to pass on my congratulations for your recent win at Wimbledon and your most popular new talent award!</p> <p>Thank you for the special contribution that you made to sharing the stories of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women on the Invictus Games Today show.</p> <p>Your achievements are extraordinary, and the impact you have had in raising awareness and changing perceptions of disability is really inspiring.</p> <p>I wish you the very best of luck for the future, on-air and on-court!</p> <p>All the best, Harry</p> <p>PS – I’m wondering if you wore your Invictus Games budgie smugglers on the big night to accept it? Mine have come in handy in this recent UK heatwave!”</p> <p>The 28-year-old won the Wimbledon title in mid-July for his ninth wheelchair Grand Slam title, including third straight this year as he nears a calendar Grand Slam.</p>

Body

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Cabin crew hospitalised after “mystery odour” on flight

<p>Five airline crew have been hospitalised as a precaution due to noticing a mysterious odour whilst departing from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale in Florida.</p> <p>After the plane landed in Florida at around 11am PST, American Airlines confirmed to Fox News about the incident.</p> <p>“Shortly before landing, crew members complained of an odour on board,” a spokeswoman for the carrier told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/travel/american-airlines-staffers-florida-airport-odor">Fox News</a>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Breaking: Five passengers transported to Broward health after reporting feeling sick on a plane at <a href="https://twitter.com/FLLFlyer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLLFlyer</a>. No word on the cause. <a href="https://twitter.com/WPLGLocal10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WPLGLocal10</a> <a href="https://t.co/lumRGSdjYb">pic.twitter.com/lumRGSdjYb</a></p> — Ian Margol (@IanMargolWPLG) <a href="https://twitter.com/IanMargolWPLG/status/1083414718818250752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">10 January 2019</a></blockquote> <p>“The aircraft, an Airbus 320 with 137 passengers and a crew of five, landed safely and taxied to the gate. Two pilots and three flight attendants asked to be taken to the hospital as a precaution.</p> <p>“No passengers requested medical attention. The aircraft is being evaluated by our maintenance team.”</p> <p>No word has been received as to whether or not the crew members are in good health.</p> <p>According to a witness, they wouldn’t let anyone else board the plane.</p> <p>"I heard one of the security guys walk by, and he's like, 'I need four wheelchairs. We need one ASAP," passenger Andrew O'Donnell told ABC 10, according to <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1070769/florida-flights-american-airlines-plane-pilot-cabin-crew-sick">express.co.uk</a>.</p> <p>"They just sort of wheeled everybody off and they said they smelled an odour on the plane.</p> <p>“And when that happened, they said that they obviously weren't going to let anybody else on."</p> <p>Have you ever noticed anything unusual on one of your flights? Let us know in the comments.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Airport officers under scrutiny after prolonged pat-down of 96-year-old woman in wheelchair

<p><span>A daughter has recorded the moment her 96-year-old wheelchair-bound mother was subjected to a prolonged security pat-down at a US airport.</span></p> <p><span>The video, which has over 9 million views, shows Evelyn LaBrier being searched at Dulles Airport in Washington DC.</span></p> <p><span>Evelyn’s daughter, Jeanne Clarkson, becomes irritated throughout the search and is heard saying: “What the hell do you think she’s going to do? Set off a shoe bomb?</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjeanneclarkson%2Fvideos%2F10211494393131675%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=264" width="264" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br /></span></p> <p><span>“I was just shocked. I’ve travelled with her before, I’ve been in a wheelchair myself unable to walk through the machines and I’ve never had that kind of a pat-down ever,” Jeanne said.</span></p> <p><span>"I couldn’t believe they were doing this to my 96-year-old mother. It was just shock and frustration because they would not talk to me. I felt helpless.”</span></p> <p><span>In the footage, a Transportation Security Administration officer is seen manoeuvring the woman’s arms to search her.</span></p> <p><span>Another TSA officer moves in front of Jeanne, blocking the phone camera and her view.</span></p> <p><span>“She didn’t know what to say. She does not want to fly again ever,” Jeanne said.</span></p> <p><span>“She didn’t know what they were looking for. She was scared.</span></p> <p><span>“She was just following directions. She said she didn’t know what to do.”</span></p> <p><span>Washington Dulles Airport released a statement in response to the controversy surrounding the viral video.</span></p> <p><span>“Many of you have reached out to us to express concern over a video of a security screening taking place at Dulles International Airport. Security screening at our checkpoints is directed and conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). We have shared customer comments with the TSA for their immediate review and appropriate action,” the airport said.</span></p> <p><span>Many who viewed the footage expressed their concerns over the treatment of the elderly woman.</span></p> <p><span>“This was a 96 year old woman, who was searched repeatedly over and over. I think my concern would have been to treat this elderly woman more kindly with Compassion, not subjecting her to this uncalled body search.”</span></p> <p><span>Another said, “That lady looked like she was going to cry!! That is BEYOND harassment... to give her bad memories like that!”</span></p> <p><span>However, some viewers did not think there was anything wrong with the way the TSA officers conducted the search.</span></p> <p><span>“I know I will probably receive a lot of backlash, but it seemed to me that they treated her with nothing but respect. Their job is to keep people safe. And sometimes that includes searching people,” a Facebook user wrote.</span></p> <p><span>Do you think there is anything wrong with the way the elderly woman was searched? Let us know in the comments below.</span></p>

Travel Trouble

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Meet the goldfish with a “wheelchair”

<p>While it’s not uncommon to see dogs using custom wheelchairs to help them walk, a goldfish with one is certainly not something you see every day. An inventive aquarium worker named Derek has become an online sensation, after he crafted a makeshift “wheelchair” to help a goldfish. The cute little aquatic critter was brought into the shop by its owner, who said it was struggling to float upright due to a bladder disorder.</p> <p><img width="499" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34289/image__499x665.jpg" alt="fish (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Derek sent the sweet photo to his friend, Taylor, who then shared it to Twitter, where it has been retweeted more than 25,000 times and received over 75,000 likes.</p> <p>Chatting to <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/tanyachen/goldfish-wheelchair" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BuzzFeed</span></strong></a>, Derek revealed how he created the clever apparatus. “I got some airline tubing that people usually use in their tank and just placed it around the goldfish. I added some valves to the bottom of it, which acted as a ‘chair’ to prop him up. I added weights to the bottom of the ‘chair’ and something to keep him afloat on top (Styrofoam), and slowly removed pieces until I achieved just the right buoyancy to make it easy for him to swim around without feeling like he’s dragging around a chair.”</p> <p>Yesterday, Taylor issued an update to the goldfish’s many new fans, writing, “just wanted to let you guys know wheelchair fish is still doing well and got an even more comfortable wheelchair.”</p> <p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34290/fish-wheelchair_498x245.jpg" alt="Fish Wheelchair" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><em>Images: @taylorndean / Twitter.</em></p>

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Dad transforms son’s wheelchair into Ghostbusters car

<p>A father in the US has come up with the most ingenious way to give his disabled son the perfect costume for Halloween. Each year, Ryan Scott Miller transforms 9-year-old Jeremy’s wheelchair into the perfect Hollywood hot-rod, and this year – by popular demand – Jeremy will be rocking around the neighbourhood in a Ghostbusters car.</p> <p>Jeremy took votes from his schoolmates as to what his next costume should be, and they decided on the Ecto-1 car featured in the classic 1984 film, complete with a ladder, siren, and speakers – to blare out the Ghostbusters theme song, of course!</p> <p>In previous years, Ryan has turned Jeremy’s wheelchair into a snowspeeder from Star Wars and a motorbike from Captain America (see gallery above).</p> <p>Ryan shared the photos on <a href="http://imgur.com/a/6xsZg" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Imgur</span></strong></a> with the caption, “nailed it”. We couldn’t agree more!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/10/video-captures-moment-tooth-fairy-collects-boys-tooth/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Video captures moment tooth fairy collects boy’s tooth</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/10/baby-gets-jealous-and-cries-when-her-parents-kiss/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Baby gets jealous and cries when her parents kiss</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/10/liver-donor-marries-woman-he-saved/" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Liver donor marries the woman whose life he saved</span></strong></em></a></p>

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Groom carries his wheelchair-bound wife down the aisle

<p>After a tragic car accident left her in a wheelchair just five weeks before her wedding, Hannah Patterson was told that while she would make a full recovery, she would not be able to walk in time for her big day. However, at the last minute, her loving husband-to-be, Scott, stepped in and carried Hannah down the aisle.</p> <p>“Obviously, being in the wheelchair and not able to walk was very upsetting for me on my wedding day, but I had cried at the rehearsal so I didn’t cry on the day,” she told <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/groom-carries-bride-aisle-car-accident-breaks-pelvis/story?id=42775317" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ABC News</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>“I was determined to stand for my vows,” she added. “It was hard on me to stand for that long even with Stuart holding me up, but it doesn’t seem obvious in the pictures and video the pain I was in.</p> <p>“Stuart has never left my side during all of this,” she said. “I know it has been hard on him to see me like this, but he was strong for both of us. He always made me see how blessed I was... I had to try to be thankful I was still there to get married.”</p> <p>Hannah is still on the road to recovery, having broken her pelvis in three places, punctured a kidney, broken ribs, had a concussion and a partial loss of hearing. “I am doing better,” she said. “I am able to use a cane in the house now.”</p> <p>Take a look at the incredible moment in the gallery above and tell us in the comments, what’s the most memorable thing that happened on your wedding day?</p> <p><em>Images: Sarah Grace Photography</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/10/grandmother-finds-love-again-25-years-after-death-of-husband/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Grandmother finds love again 25 years after death of husband</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/10/stef-hayward-on-recreating-her-wedding-photo-30-years-later/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">We travelled to the UK to recreate our wedding photo</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/10/mum-with-ms-shares-beautiful-dance-with-son-at-wedding/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Mum with MS shares beautiful dance with son at wedding</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Parents design homemade wheelchair for paralysed toddler

<p>To say Evelyn Moore has been through the wars would be an understatement. At just four months Evelyn was diagnosed with a spinal tumour that required urgent attention.</p> <p>But eight intensive rounds of chemotherapy took their toll on Evelyn’s young body and left her paralysed from the arms down. Her parents had been so preoccupied with the treatments they couldn’t get enough insurance to cover the cost of the wheelchair.</p> <p>But Evelyn’s mother Kim wasn’t going to give up that easy.</p> <p>After researching options online, Kim came across a do-it-yourself wheelchair for babies on Pinterest and asked her handyman husband Brad, if he could make it.</p> <p>It cost about $100 to make, but it did the trick and now at 13 months Evelyn is skilfully moving it around the home. She’s got such a gorgeous smile, it’s a terrible shame to think that she’s been through so much pain in her young life.</p> <p>But we’re sure with Evelyn’s fighting spirit and her parent’s ingenuity, she will be able to pull through. Leave any messages of support in the comments.</p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / The Canadian Press</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/health/caring/2016/08/wheelchair-allows-terminally-ill-patients-to-go-to-beach/"><strong>Smart wheelchair enables terminally ill patients to visit beach</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/06/disabled-travel-blogger-anthony-tipling-bower/"><strong>Travel blogger aims to set ‘wheel’ in every country</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/managing-mobility-limitations-on-extended-trips/"><strong>Managing mobility limitations on extended trips</strong></a></em></span></p>

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Smart wheelchair enables terminally ill patients to visit beach

<p>When we think abstractly of what we want our final days to be like, many of us turn to thoughts of family, friends, our favourite foods and visiting our favourite places. For a long time, that final wish was unable to be fulfilled due to limitations in wheelchair technology. Today, however, that’s all changed.</p> <p>A Gold Coast palliative care facility has been gifted four all-terrain wheelchairs (worth $50,000) to help terminally ill patients live out their final days with joy, enabling them to once more visit the beaches they used to love.</p> <p>Before he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease, 65-year-old Tony Lambert enjoyed few things more than a stroll along Main Beach with his family. Unfortunately, after losing the use of his arms and legs to the disease, this was no longer a possibility. “He just [sat] on the boardwalk and [watched] his family enjoy that time on the beach without him,” Gold Coast Health Community Palliative Care team leader Julie-Ann Hendry told <a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/health/article/2016/06/17/how-clever-wheelchair-helping-terminally-ill-patients-rediscover-beach" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">SBS</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>Today, though, things have taken a positive turn. Thanks to the “beach wheelchair”, Lambert can finally return to some normality. “This has meant so much to me – I’ve had my swimmers ready for weeks,” he said. “Just being down here, to smell the beach, feel the sand, is great. It means we can be a family again, being together [at the beach] instead of all spread out.”</p> <p>In addition to the two owned by the local council, there are only six of these special wheelchairs available along the Gold Coast for use among up to 1,000 palliative care patients. Hendry hopes that Lambert’s story will inspire other councils to purchase the chairs, making them available at every beach club in Australia. “If we can replicate this across hundreds of thousands of surf clubs, it would just really help people going through really tough times,” she said.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/07/poem-captures-the-heartache-of-losing-a-loved-one/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Poem captures the heartache of losing a loved one</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/06/caring-for-someone-with-a-terminal-illness/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Caring for someone with a terminal illness</em></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/06/stigma-keeping-cancer-patients-from-palliative-care/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Cancer patients are not getting palliative care due to stigma</strong></em></span></a></p>

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