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AFP commander resigns after drink driving accident

<p>Former Australian Federal Police commander Danielle Anne Woodward has resigned after she drunkenly crashed her car into a tree following a police function in Canberra.</p> <p>The Olympic medalist pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge in the ACT Magistrates Court after blowing nearly three times the legal limit in November 2023. </p> <p>Woodward had attended an end-of-year function on the night of the accident, and intended to walk home or catch an Uber, but felt unwell after drinking champagne, so she decided to take the short drive back home. </p> <p>However, she crashed into a tree on her way home causing “extensive front-end damage” to her Mercedes-Benz. </p> <p>After getting help from members of the public, she immediately reported the incident to her supervisor and told him she had alcohol in her system.</p> <p>She also reportedly co-operated with lower-ranking officials who attended the scene, with the defence saying that she was "frank in her submission". </p> <p>"She was certainly not belligerent," Woodward's lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith told the court. </p> <p>She was then arrested and taken to the police station for a breath analysis, which came back with a reading of 0.148. </p> <p>A police statement of facts also said that officers found Woodward with a flushed face and sleepy, watery eyes.</p> <p>“Police could smell a strong odour of intoxicating liquor emanating from [Woodward] and formed the opinion that [she] was well under the influence,” the statement of facts read. </p> <p>The court also heard that Woodward had been experiencing a "high level" of stress from her job, so had "at times resorted to alcohol, in a way she has been able to control."</p> <p>"The offending conduct is not only out of character … [but] her actions are usually the complete opposite. They're usually designed to benefit and protect the community," prosecutor Samuel Carmichael said.</p> <p>Woodward's lawyer asked Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker to record a non-conviction, as this was a "one off" offence, and the media coverage of the accident had already caused her "an unusual degree of reputational damage", which has impacted her mental health and career. </p> <p>While Magistrate Walker agreed to a non-conviction, she said that a general deterrence still needed to be served, with Woodward disqualified from driving for six months, taking into account a 90-day immediate suspension notice that was issued after the crash.</p> <p>The Chief Magistrate told the court: "What ultimately influences me … is Ms Woodward is a woman suffering from ill health.</p> <p>"It is often people of good standing in this community … who find themselves before the court for this type of offence."</p> <p>She also said that Woodward had shown “obvious and palpable” remorse, and was not someone who would ordinarily demonstrate “this level of stupidity”. </p> <p>Woodward was a highly decorated police officer who worked for the AFP for almost four decades. She became a commander in 2022 and received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2002.</p> <p>In 2020 she was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the Australia Day honours. </p> <p>Prior to her role in the AFP, she was a a triple Olympian in slalom canoeing and won a silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. </p> <p><em>Image: ABC News</em></p>

Legal

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Kyle Sandilands abandons radio show after nasty accident

<p dir="ltr">Kyle Sandilands was forced to abandon his daily radio show on Wednesday morning, after a nasty accident prevented him from heading into the studio. </p> <p dir="ltr">KIISFM was forced to play a pre-recorded episode of the <em>Kyle and Jackie O Show</em>, as just moments before he was set to go on air, Sandilands took a tumble down the stairs. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kyle took Thursday off the show as well to recover from his accident, but called in to speak to his co-host Jackie O to share what happened. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I fell from the top of my internal staircase and rolled, rattled and bumped all the way to the bottom, and I was left splayed out like a Christmas dinner,” Sandilands said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a big marble staircase, very wide and very long, and in some design flaw, the light [switch] is at the bottom, not at the top, it was pitch black and my foot went,” he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sandilands said he was home alone at the time, with his wife Tegan Kynaston and their one-year-old son Otto spending the night away.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So the normal routine wasn’t happening, the nanny wasn’t there because the baby wasn’t there, and the lighting situation wasn’t sorted out,” Sandilands said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I carry everything in [my] hat, my wallet, keys, cigarettes … That all went everywhere, and I was left at the bottom of the floor.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was so injured I thought, ‘That’s it for me. This is the beginning of the end.’”</p> <p dir="ltr">While he said he was left “rattled” by the accident, Sandilands went on to confirm he was doing “fine” now, and was hoping to be back on the air for Friday morning’s show. </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 18pt;"><em>Image credits: KIISFM</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-e52ac76e-7fff-4c97-37d8-2bedfb88f925"></span></p>

Caring

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“I’m in trouble here”: Hughesy recalls disastrous surfing accident

<p dir="ltr">Dave Hughes has recalled the details of a horrific surfing accident on New Year’s Eve, that resulted in him being rushed to hospital in excruciating pain. </p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking candidly on his <em>Hughesy, Ed &amp; Erin</em> radio show, the 53-year-old shared what happened on the Surfers Paradise beach as he was ringing in the New Year. </p> <p dir="ltr">He told his co-hosts Erin Molan and Ed Kavalee that he was having surfing lessons when the disaster unfolded. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s New Year’s Eve, I decide to go surfing and I crash on a huge wave,” Hughesy began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve all got out big boards, and the problem is, the boards are too big.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“So, and, I didn’t listen properly when the instructor said, ‘If you’re going to fall off your board, fall off backwards, don’t fall off forwards’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“And I didn’t really realise why, but I found out why.”</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2HC0_ILybf/?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/C2HC0_ILybf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Hughesy, Ed &amp; Erin (@hughesyedanderin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">While still sporting a sling on his arm from the accident, Hughesy explained that he fell forwards off a wave, and the surfboard took the next wave, which was directly behind him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The board got a really good wave and the board smashed into my back and dislocated my shoulder,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was immediately like, ‘I am in trouble here’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“The instructor saw me and said, ‘are you okay?’ and I said, ‘I don’t think so.’”</p> <p dir="ltr">“He started laughing! And I’m like, ‘no, I’m really, I’m really in pain’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Still trying to keep his sense of humour through the ordeal, Hughesy described the pain as “worse than childbirth”, with the situation only getting worse when he “sat on the beach crying for an hour” waiting for the ambulance to arrive. </p> <p dir="ltr">Hughesy <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/hughesy-gives-health-update-after-being-rushed-to-hospital">first shared</a> the news of his accident in the days after he was released from hospital, sharing a series of photos to his Instagram from the fateful day. </p> <p dir="ltr">He shared that he had "morphine and the rest of them" after enduring "two hours of the worst pain of my life", thanking the hospital staff who treated him, as well as the Surfers Paradise Surf Club before admitting he will "be in a sling for a while". </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram / 2DayFM</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Are Australia’s roads becoming more dangerous? Here’s what the data says

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-stevenson-330220">Mark Stevenson</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-thompson-96100">Jason Thompson</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p>In 2022, there were nearly <a href="https://www.bitre.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/road_trauma_2022.pdf">1,200 road crash deaths</a> in Australia – a figure that has remained largely the same over the past decade. However, some states and territories have seen dramatic increases in just the last five years, such as the ACT (100%), Tasmania (59.4%) and Queensland (21.2%).</p> <p>Serious injuries from road crashes have also been <a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiMGVlZDM0YzQtNWI3Mi00YzAyLWI5YjUtZGQyYzc3YjJmMmY3IiwidCI6ImFhMjFiNjQwLWJhYzItNDU2ZC04NTA1LWYyY2MwN2Y1MTc4NCJ9">on the rise</a>, from 35,000 in 2013 to 39,866 in 2019.</p> <p>These statistics highlight the need for an urgent rethink of road safety policies if we are to achieve Australia’s <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australias-road-deaths-rise-despite-push-to-halve-fatalities-by-2030/vcl7yj50g">target</a> of a 50% decrease in fatalities and a 30% decrease in serious injuries by 2030. We are clearly not on track to meet these targets.</p> <p>People are worth more than statistics, though. And it is not surprising we haven’t seen decreases in road deaths when we rely on strategies first implemented three to four decades ago. Change is needed to prevent the ongoing trauma caused by road crashes to Australian families.</p> <p><iframe id="DTp1X" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/DTp1X/1/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <h2>Why have road trauma rates not declined?</h2> <p>Australia has long had an international reputation for pioneering road safety measures, such as seat belt restraints, speed management strategies (including speed cameras) and drink-driving laws, among others. In fact, Australia was the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00137361">first country</a> in the world to introduce laws for compulsory seat belt use.</p> <p>These initiatives have been highly successful in reducing road deaths from their peak in 1970, when <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article412001?opendocument&amp;tabname=Summary&amp;prodno=1301.0&amp;issue=2001&amp;num=&amp;view=">3,798</a> were recorded. But in the past two decades, further progress has stalled. We must ask ourselves why.</p> <p>One theory to explain why road deaths may have increased in many states in the past couple of years is the pandemic. The previously empty roads are now congested again, which may have led to impatience and speeding. Or perhaps, some people have seemingly forgotten how to drive safely. However, there is another, perhaps simpler explanation.</p> <p>This chart shows how closely road deaths have tracked with domestic fuel sales in Australia – measured in millions of litres of fuel – since 2019. In simple terms, when driving rates decreased at the beginning of the pandemic, deaths and injuries went down. When driving rates increased again in early 2021, deaths and injuries went up.</p> <p>In fact, there is scant evidence to suggest people’s driving behaviours changed during this time. Our recent unpublished research followed approximately 800 drivers from January 2020 to March 2023 using monitoring systems inside their cars to measure their behaviour. We found no differences in driver behaviours during this time.</p> <p>Rather, there’s a more likely reason why road deaths and injuries continue to be so high: the amount of time we spend driving continues to increase, while our strategies to target the risks associated with driving haven’t changed.</p> <p>Unfortunately, government agencies continue to rely on strategies implemented over the past 20-30 years, which were effective when they were first introduced, but are now subject to the law of diminishing marginal returns. This means continually throwing more resources at existing speed management strategies, for example, will likely only see marginal benefits.</p> <h2>A new approach not focused on cars</h2> <p>There is increasing urgency to investigate and implement new road safety strategies based on emerging technologies and a redesign of our cities instead.</p> <p>For example, a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001457521003092">recent Australian trial</a> using new driving monitoring technology showed promise in reducing risky driving behaviours that could cause crashes. The monitoring systems provided feedback to the driver (via a smartphone app) and encouraged safer driving using financial incentives akin to insurance premiums. This new strategy is being explored further in three states: New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.</p> <p>Encouraging people to transition from private car trips to public transport is another road safety strategy that has seldom been considered by governments. Rather, the driver, car and road remain the focus.</p> <p>This <a href="https://www.roadsafety.gov.au/nrss/fact-sheets/vision-zero-safe-system">“safe system” approach</a> puts an emphasis on building safe road infrastructure for cars, while ignoring urban design changes that de-emphasise the need for cars. We should be encouraging more people to commute by rail, tram and bus (all lower-risk modes per kilometre travelled), while at the same time delivering safe infrastructure for sustainable transport such as bicycles/e-bicycles or walking.</p> <p>If we continue to tinker with strategies implemented many decades ago, we will never get close to achieving the lofty government targets on road deaths and injuries by 2030.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213240/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-stevenson-330220"><em>Mark Stevenson</em></a><em>, Professor of Urban Transport and Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-thompson-96100">Jason Thompson</a>, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Melbourne School of Design, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-australias-roads-becoming-more-dangerous-heres-what-the-data-says-213240">original article</a>.</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Location, Location, Location host loses both parents in tragic accident

<p>In heart-wrenching news has shaken the world of television, beloved <em>Location, Location, Location </em>host Phil Spencer has spoken out about the devastating loss of his parents in a tragic accident on their family farm.</p> <p>Spencer paid a somber tribute to his father Richard, known affectionately as David, aged 89, and his mother Anne, 82, who were both tragically lost.</p> <p>In a poignant display of love, Phil, now 53, shared an image of the couple and wrote: "Very sadly both of my amazing parents died on Friday.</p> <p>"As a family we are all trying to hold onto the fact Mum and Dad went together and that neither will ever have to mourn the loss of the other one. Which is a blessing in itself."</p> <p>Spencer went on to disclose the harrowing details surrounding the accident, giving a glimpse into the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day: "The car, going very slowly, toppled over a bridge on the farm drive, upside down into the river. There were no physical injuries and I very much doubt they would have even fought it - they would have held hands under the water and quietly slipped away.</p> <p>Spencer acknowledged the heroic efforts of his brother, who valiantly attempted to save their parents in the aftermath of the crash.</p> <p>"As many farmers do - my brother had a penknife and so was able to cut the seat belts - he pulled them out of the river but they never regained consciousness.</p> <p>"Although desperately sad and shocked beyond all belief - all family are clear that if there can ever be such a thing as having a 'good end' - this was it."</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Spencer also recalled a poignant conversation he had with his mother, a conversation now weighed down by the melancholy of hindsight: "Although they were both on extremely good form in the days before (hence the sudden idea to go out to lunch), Mums Parkinson's and Dads Dementia had been worsening and the long term future was set to be a challenge.</span></p> <p>"So much so that Mum said to me only a week ago that she had resigned to thinking 'now it looks like we will probably go together'. And so they did."</p> <p>As he concluded his heartfelt statement, Spencer mused on the overwhelming nature of their passing, acknowledging the future comfort that might come from the knowledge that they departed from a place they held dear.</p> <p>"It feels horrendous right now, but after almost 60 years of marriage - to die together on the farm they so loved will, I know, be a comfort in the future.</p> <p>"Mum Dad are together which is precisely where they would have wanted to be. ❤️"</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/CwKpOWJr4Wj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwKpOWJr4Wj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Phil Spencer (@philspencertv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Kirstie Allsopp, Phil's co-host on <em>Location, Location, Location</em>, a dear friend, was among the first to respond, her words echoing the collective grief felt by many: "Such a brave and loving statement and so typical of you & your lovely family. So many people have you all in their thoughts and prayers. xxx"</p> <p>Tragically, David and Anne were en route to a local pub for lunch when their car veered off the access road, plunging into a shallow river on their estate.</p> <p>Emergency services, fire brigade and police attended the scene, and an air ambulance landing nearby at the Littlebourne farm in Kent.</p> <p>Despite efforts to save them, Richard succumbed at the hospital, with Anne following suit shortly thereafter.</p> <p>Kirstie reflected: “I’ve spoken to Phil and it’s tragic for the Spencer family, but his parents were together and that’s something that is a great source of solace to them all.</p> <p>“The family is very loving and close. There are four children, Phil, Robert, Caryn and Helen, and they had eight grandchildren.</p> <p>“This is awful for all of the family, but they were together at the end and they were lovely people."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Harry Potter publisher killed in boating accident

<p>A tragic boating incident off the Amalfi Coast in Italy has claimed the life of prominent publishing executive Adrienne Vaughan.</p> <p>Aged 45, Vaughan held the position of President at Bloomsbury Publishing's US division. The distressing accident occurred when she was thrown overboard from a motorboat and suffered fatal injuries from contact with the vessel's propeller.</p> <p>The ill-fated incident took place as Vaughan, accompanied by her spouse and two children, was en route to Positano on a motorboat. Regrettably, the motorboat collided with a sailboat, resulting in the tragic accident. The motorboat had been under the guidance of a hired skipper at the time of the collision.</p> <p>Tragically, the sailboat that was struck was carrying over 80 tourists from the United States and Germany, who were joyously celebrating a wedding onboard. An attendee recording the wedding festivities inadvertently captured the harrowing moment when a woman struggled in the water.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="it">Incidente sulla costa amalfitana in cui ha perso la vita una turista americana. Il motoscafo della turista si è scontrato con un veliero dove si stava festeggiando un matrimonio. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amalfi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#amalfi</a> <a href="https://t.co/dn6TfT3I9s">pic.twitter.com/dn6TfT3I9s</a></p> <p>— Colonnello Kurtz (@danilomik1) <a href="https://twitter.com/danilomik1/status/1687448152108916736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Despite efforts to rescue her, Vaughan was retrieved from the water and transported to a dock. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries before a helicopter ambulance could arrive, as reported by state television.</p> <p>Italian authorities, specifically the Amalfi coast guard office, have initiated an investigation into the incident. However, at the time of reporting, the coast guard office had not provided further information in response to inquiries.</p> <p>Vaughan's husband, Mike White, sustained a shoulder injury and was subsequently hospitalised. Thankfully, their two young children emerged from the incident unscathed. Remarkably, no individuals aboard the sailboat suffered injuries.</p> <p>In a disheartening turn of events, a blood test conducted on the motorboat's skipper indicated the presence of substances in their system. The specifics of the substance were not explicitly mentioned by the Italian news agency ANSA, which reported the incident. The skipper, approximately 30 years old and of Italian nationality, sustained fractures to their pelvis and ribs.</p> <p>The investigation into this tragic incident is being overseen by prosecutors in the southern port city of Salerno. As of now, the courthouse has not provided any additional insights into the matter.</p> <p>Adrienne Vaughan was a distinguished figure in the publishing industry. Holding a master's degree in business from New York University, she had previously held roles at prestigious organizations such as Disney Book Group and Oxford University Press. In 2020, she joined Bloomsbury as an executive editor and COO, later being promoted to President. She was also an active member of the Association of American Publishers, a prominent industry trade group.</p> <p>In the wake of this devastating loss, the Association of American Publishers' board chair, Julia Reidhead, and President/CEO, Maria A. Pallante, released a joint statement: "Adrienne Vaughan was a leader of dazzling talent and infectious passion and had a deep commitment to authors and readers. Most of all she was an extraordinary human being, and those of us who had the opportunity to work with her will be forever fortunate."</p> <p><em>Images: Bloomsbury / Twitter</em></p>

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Lidia Thorpe injured in car accident

<p>Former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has been involved in a car accident in Melbourne and is expected to be absent from parliament for a week after suffering injuries.</p> <p>The incident occurred late last week, and Thorpe was sitting in her car when it was rear-ended by another vehicle, allegedly causing her to suffer whiplash and bruising.</p> <p>Thorpe was told by her doctor that she could not travel to Canberra for at least a week following the midwinter break.</p> <p>At the time of writing, her media team were yet to make an official statement about the accident but they have confirmed the details of the crash.</p> <p>They revealed that the car was stationary when it was rear-ended and have confirmed that Thorpe is expected to return to parliamentary duties next week.</p> <p>Thorpe has been gaining attention recently due to her outspoken <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/lidia-thorpe-and-pauline-hanson-team-up-for-voice-to-parliament-no-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opposition to the Voice to Parliament</a>.</p> <p>The incident comes just two weeks after the former Greens senator told <em>The Project</em> about her safety concerns, and that as she is currently under “formal protection” after receiving death threats and abuse.</p> <p>“I’m an outspoken person and I am a target at the same time,” she said.</p> <p>“There are a lot of people out there that don’t want me in that role or in this role … that don’t want me in parliament, that don’t want me alive.</p> <p>“I’ve felt very unsafe over the last few weeks.”</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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‘Psychological debriefing’ right after an accident or trauma can do more harm than good – here’s why

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-bryant-161">Richard Bryant</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p>The recent <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-18/hunter-valley-wedding-bus-crash-survivors-remain-in-hospital/102487630">tragic bus accident</a> in the New South Wales Hunter Valley has again raised the issue of how we address the potential psychological effects of traumatic events.</p> <p>It is interesting we revisit the same debate after each disaster, and few lessons have apparently been learned after decades of research. After the Hunter Valley accident, immediate psychological counselling was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/15/hunter-valley-bus-crash-company-issued-with-defect-notices-after-police-raid">offered to those affected</a>.</p> <p>While we can’t say what form of counselling was offered, the traditional approach is known as “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1118833/">psychological debriefing</a>”. This typically involves counsellors providing trauma survivors with a single counselling intervention within days of the event.</p> <p>Although the content of the intervention can vary, it usually involves education about stress reactions, encouragement to disclose their memories of the experience, some basic stress-coping strategies and possibly referral information.</p> <p>But the evidence shows this approach, however well-meaning, may not help – or worse, do harm.</p> <h2>The belief that feelings must be shared</h2> <p>The encouragement of people to discuss their emotional reactions to a trauma is the result of a long-held notion in psychology (dating back to the classic writings of Sigmund Freud) that disclosure of one’s emotions is invariably beneficial for one’s mental health.</p> <p>Emanating from this perspective, the impetus for psychological debriefing has traditionally been rooted in the notion trauma survivors are vulnerable to psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), if they do not “talk through their trauma” by receiving this very <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1529100610387086">early intervention</a>.</p> <p>The scenario of trauma counsellors appearing in the acute aftermath of traumatic events has been commonplace for decades in Australia and elsewhere.</p> <p>Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City in 2001, up to 9,000 counsellors were mobilised and more than <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/22/nyregion/finding-cure-for-hearts-broken-sept-11-is-as-difficult-as-explaining-the-cost.html">US$200 million</a> was projected to meet a surge in mental health needs. But fewer people than expected sought help under this program and $90 million remained <a href="https://theconversation.com/9-11-anniversary-a-watershed-for-psychological-response-to-disasters-2975">unspent</a>.</p> <h2>What do we know about psychological reactions to disasters?</h2> <p>The overwhelming evidence indicates the majority of people will <a href="http://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/journals/pspi/weighing-the-costs-of-disaster.html">adapt</a> to traumatic events without any psychological intervention.</p> <p>Long-term studies indicate approximately 75% of trauma survivors will not experience any long-term distress. Others will experience short-term distress and subsequently adapt. A minority (usually about 10%) will <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1529100610387086">experience chronic psychological problems</a>.</p> <p>This last group are the ones who require care and attention to reduce their mental health problems. Experts now agree other trauma survivors can rely on their own <a href="https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/coping-after-a-traumatic-event">coping resources and social networks</a> to adapt to their traumatic experience.</p> <p>The finding across many studies that most people adapt to traumatic experiences <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1529100610387086">without formal mental health interventions</a> has been a major impetus for questioning the value of psychological debriefing in the immediate aftermath of disasters.</p> <p>In short, the evidence tells us universal interventions – such as psychological debriefing for everyone involved in a disaster – that attempt to prevent PTSD and other psychological disorders in trauma survivors are not indicated. These attempts <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1529100610387086#bibr448-1529100610387086">do not prevent</a> the disorder they are targeting.</p> <h2>Not a new conclusion</h2> <p>In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the World Health Organization listed a warning (which <a href="https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/treatment-care/mental-health-gap-action-programme/evidence-centre/other-significant-emotional-and-medical-unexplained-somatic-complaints/psychological-debriefing-in-people-exposed-to-a-recent-traumatic-event">still stands</a>) that people should not be given single-session psychological debriefing because it is <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1529100610387086#bibr448-1529100610387086">not supported</a> by evidence.</p> <p>Worse than merely being ineffective, debriefing can be <a href="https://www.jenonline.org/article/S0099-1767(19)30453-2/fulltext#:%7E:text=It%20is%20for%20these%20reasons,%2C%20anxiety%20or%20depressive%20symptoms.%E2%80%9D">harmful for some people</a> and may increase the risk of PTSD.</p> <p>The group of trauma survivors that are most vulnerable to the toxic effects of debriefing are those who are more distressed in the acute phase right after the trauma. This group of people have worse mental health outcomes if they are provided with early debriefing.</p> <p>This may be because their trauma memories are over-consolidated as a result of the emotional disclosure so shortly after the event, when <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181836/#:%7E:text=Brain%20areas%20implicated%20in%20the,norepinephrine%20responses%20to%20subsequent%20stressors.">stress hormones</a> are still highly active.</p> <p>In normal clinical practice a person would be assessed in terms of their suitability for any psychological intervention. But in the case of universal psychological debriefing there is no prior assessment. Therefore, there’s no assessment of the risks the intervention may pose for the person.</p> <h2>Replacing debriefing</h2> <p>Most international bodies have shifted away from psychological debriefing. Early intervention might now be offered as “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/psychological-first-aid">psychological first aid</a>”.</p> <p>This newer approach is meant to provide <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241548205">fundamental support and coping strategies</a> to help the person manage the immediate aftermath of adversity. One of the most important differences between psychological first aid and psychological debriefing is that it does not encourage people to disclose their emotional responses to the trauma.</p> <p>But despite the increasing popularity of psychological first aid, it is difficult to assess its effectiveness as it does not explicitly aim to prevent a disorder, such as PTSD.</p> <h2>Wanting to help</h2> <p>So if there is so much evidence, why do we keep having this debate about the optimal way to assist psychological adaptation after disasters? Perhaps it’s because it’s human nature to want to help.</p> <p>The evidence suggests we should monitor the most vulnerable people and target resources towards them when they need it – usually some weeks or months later when the dust of the trauma has settled. Counsellors might want to promote their activities in the acute phase after disasters, but it may not be in the best interest of the trauma survivors.</p> <p>In short, we need to develop better strategies to ensure we are meeting the needs of the survivors, rather than the counsellors.</p> <hr /> <p><em>If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/208139/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></em></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-bryant-161">Richard Bryant</a>, Professor &amp; Director of Traumatic Stress Clinic, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/psychological-debriefing-right-after-an-accident-or-trauma-can-do-more-harm-than-good-heres-why-208139">original article</a>.</em></p>

Caring

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Tragic accident claims pregnant Hollyoaks actress at just 38

<p dir="ltr">Former <em>Hollyoaks</em> actress, best known for her role at Jess Holt on the Channel 4 series, has died at 38. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actress was reportedly travelling with her two sons and nephew when she stopped to answer a phone call on the M66 hard shoulder near Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 38 year old - who is believed to have been 18 weeks pregnant at the time of the incident - was then struck by a speeding vehicle. Frankie, her nine-year-old son Tommy and two-year-old Rocky, as well as her four-year-old nephew Tobias, were all airlifted to hospital. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Mirror </em>have reported that Tommy and Tobias were put into medically included comas, while Frankie sadly passed away with her partner, Calvin, “frantically by her side”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The devastating crash occurred on May 14, but the news has only come to the public’s attention since Frankie’s former co-star, Paul Danan, paid a series of emotional tributes on social media. </p> <p dir="ltr">Frankie had been on <em>Hollyoaks </em>between 2000 and 2001, where Paul had had the honour of playing her character’s boyfriend, Sol Patrick. </p> <p dir="ltr">Paul shared pictures of their time together working on <em>Hollyoaks</em>, as well as some more recent pictures of his late friend, along with the caption “I just heard the most shocking upsetting news I've heard in such a long time. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Another good good friend who was such a special person has sadly passed away while carrying her unborn baby and her 2 little boys and nephew who were in the car too. They had a terrible car accident.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He went on to share that the driver responsible for the crash had been charged, before linking the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/pregnant-mum-frankie-3-children-fight-for-life">GoFundMe</a> that had been set up to support Frankie’s loved ones and “to help them get through the most traumatic incident they have been through.”</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/Ctw7j6TLcg4/?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/Ctw7j6TLcg4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Paul L Danan (@pauldanan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">He later shared another series of images and a new caption, writing of his heartbreak over how “Frankie will never get to see her family again” and how “her unborn child … never even got a chance in life, let alone her two little Gorgeous boys and nephew [who] won't see their mum or aunty again.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Paul wrote that his “heart and prayers” went out to Frankie’s boys and her husband, and added that the horrific news “just solidifies things for me about driving dangerously or fast especially when not in a good head space. Look at what can happen, it's actually just too painful to even think about right now.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: GoFundMe</em></p>

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Russell Crowe loses best friend in tragic accident

<p><em>Gladiator</em> star Russell Crowe has announced the tragic passing of his puppy, Louis. </p> <p>The actor broke the news on Twitter, explaining that his “tiny, cheeky, [and] brave” boy had been hit by a truck, and despite the best efforts of vets, had lost his life. </p> <p>"This is Louis the Papillion. 16 months old. Tiny, cheeky, brave. He won my heart," he wrote alongside an image of the pup. </p> <p>“Unfortunately today, on the second anniversary of my fathers passing, Louis was hit by a truck.</p> <p>"We tried to get him to the vet, but he died in my arms while I was telling him how much we loved him."</p> <p>Condolences poured in through Russell’s comment section, with many noting that their hearts were breaking for his family in this difficult time. </p> <p>“We are heartbroken for you and so deeply sorry for your loss. Louis will be in your heart forever. Sending all of our love, comfort, and strength,” wrote animal rights group PETA. </p> <p>“So sorry to hear this Russel. My heart goes out to you,” said fellow actor Vincent D’Onofrio. </p> <p>“I am so sorry! What a beautiful face and those eyes. I like to think our pets wait for us to join them one day, loyal as ever,” self-proclaimed ‘dog devotee’ Alicia Rancilio shared. </p> <p>And as <em>Today</em>’s Michelle Stephenson summed it up, “Well this is just so heartbreaking”. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is Louis the Papillion.<br />16 months old.<br />Tiny, cheeky, brave. He won my heart.<br />Unfortunately today, on the second anniversary of my fathers passing, Louis was hit by a truck.<br />We tried to get him to the vet, but he died in my arms while I was telling him how much we loved him. <a href="https://t.co/zIwzUz8Ljx">pic.twitter.com/zIwzUz8Ljx</a></p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1641302352161562624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Russell’s loss came as a sort of double tragedy, hitting him just two years after his father had passed away at the age of 85. </p> <p>The 58-year-old made that painful news public through Twitter as well, writing at the time that “I arrived back in the bush last night. Today, although the sun is shining and the torrential rain has abated, this date will forever be tinged with sadness. </p> <p>“My dear old man, my beautiful dad, the most gentle of men, has passed away.”</p> <p>Despite the grief sure to be weighing heavily on his shoulders, Russell and his family will always have their happy memories with Louis - and Russell’s dad - to hold on to. </p> <p>Like the dress up day Russell and Louis shared in December 2021, where Russell overcame his distaste for “dressing dogs up” to match his little friend. </p> <p>After sharing that it wasn’t his thing - as well as a photo of the two with their heads together and a smile on Russell’s face - he went on to explain in a tweet that a friend had bought a Ralph Lauren polo shirt for “little Louis … so he can match with dad. </p> <p>“I think the other dogs on the farm are going to get jealous. Pretty funny.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’m not at all a fan of dressing dogs up, but, a friend bought little Louis a ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/RalphLauren?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RalphLauren</a>⁩ polo so he can match with dad. I think the other dogs on the farm are going to get jealous. Pretty funny. <a href="https://t.co/odmCZwfvA8">pic.twitter.com/odmCZwfvA8</a></p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1605404835599159296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Paramedic who attended fatal accident did not realise it was her own daughter

<p><strong><em>WARNING: Distressing content</em></strong></p> <p>A paramedic who unknowingly responded to a serious car crash, involving her own daughter has publicly spoken out about the tragedy.</p> <p>Jayme Erickson from Alberta, Canada was dispatched to a collision at 4:30 pm on November 15 and tended to two injured patients.</p> <p>One of the patients was critically injured and trapped inside a vehicle.</p> <p>In a Facebook post, Erickson explained she tended to the critically injured person trying to free them from the wreckage.</p> <p>Once the air ambulance arrived and took over, Erickson’s shift was done for the day and she went home. However, once she walked through the door, she received the life changing news that her daughter was involved in an accident.</p> <p>“The Royal Canadian Mountain Police were at my door to inform me that my daughter had been in an accident,” Erickson wrote.</p> <p>“The critically injured patient I had just attended to was my own flesh and blood. My only child. My mini-me. My daughter, Montana.”</p> <p>Erickson said she had not recognised the patient as her own daughter because of the horrific nature of her injuries.</p> <p>She rushed to hospital where she was told her 17-year-old would not make it.</p> <p>“I will cherish the memories we made and the time we had together. I am shattered. I am broken. I am missing a piece of me. I am left to pick up the pieces and expected to carry on,” Erickson wrote.</p> <p>Erickson fronted the media on Wednesday, a week after the crash, alongside her co-workers and friends and family.</p> <p>Speaking about her unimaginable loss, several colleagues comforted Erickson when she began to break down.</p> <p>“(Montana) meant the world to all of us,” she said.</p> <p>“This tragedy is not only felt here by this community, it’s felt throughout the province and maybe even the country.</p> <p>“I think every first responder can relate to the pain that we’re feeling. Nobody wants to go through anything like this.”</p> <p>Erickson described her daughter as a “firecracker” and a “fighter”.</p> <p>“She fought until the day she died,” she said.</p> <p>A fundraiser has been set up to help Montana’s parents as they try to navigate the world without their daughter.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p> <p>A paramedic who unknowingly responded to a serious car crash, involving her own daughter has publicly spoken out about the tragedy.</p> <p>Jayme Erickson from Alberta, Canada was dispatched to a collision at 4:30 pm on November 15 and tended to two injured patients.</p> <p>One of the patients was critically injured and trapped inside a vehicle.</p> <p>In a Facebook post, Erickson explained she tended to the critically injured person trying to free them from the wreckage.</p> <p>Once the air ambulance arrived and took over, Erickson’s shift was done for the day and she went home. However, once she walked through the door, she received the life changing news that her daughter was involved in an accident.</p> <p>“The Royal Canadian Mountain Police were at my door to inform me that my daughter had been in an accident,” Erickson wrote.</p> <p>“The critically injured patient I had just attended to was my own flesh and blood. My only child. My mini-me. My daughter, Montana.”</p> <p>Erickson said she had not recognised the patient as her own daughter because of the horrific nature of her injuries.</p> <p>She rushed to hospital where she was told her 17-year-old would not make it.</p> <p>“I will cherish the memories we made and the time we had together. I am shattered. I am broken. I am missing a piece of me. I am left to pick up the pieces and expected to carry on,” Erickson wrote.</p> <p>Erickson fronted the media on Wednesday, a week after the crash, alongside her co-workers and friends and family.</p> <p>Speaking about her unimaginable loss, several colleagues comforted Erickson when she began to break down.</p> <p>“(Montana) meant the world to all of us,” she said.</p> <p>“This tragedy is not only felt here by this community, it’s felt throughout the province and maybe even the country.</p> <p>“I think every first responder can relate to the pain that we’re feeling. Nobody wants to go through anything like this.”</p> <p>Erickson described her daughter as a “firecracker” and a “fighter”.</p> <p>“She fought until the day she died,” she said.</p> <p>A fundraiser has been set up to help Montana’s parents as they try to navigate the world without their daughter.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

Caring

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Two dead in Antarctic cruising accident

<p dir="ltr">Two passengers on a cruise in Antarctica have died after their small boat overturned near the shore.</p> <p dir="ltr">The passengers were among six on a Zodiac boat excursion near Elephant Island on November 15, when the vessel overturned near the shore.</p> <p dir="ltr">Quark Expeditions, the operator of the World Explorer cruise ship the passengers were travelling on, confirmed the news in a statement several days later.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are deeply saddened to confirm that there has been a tragic accident during a zodiac excursion from the ship World Explorer, chartered by Quark Expeditions, near Elephant Island in the Antarctic on November 15,” the company said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Quark Expeditions said the weather conditions were calm, with “light winds” and a “smooth sea”, and that the accident seemed to have been caused by a breaking wave.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The other four passengers and two staff are recovering under the care and observation of our doctors and medical staff on board,” they added.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The ship is currently returning back to port.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With the company currently investigating the incident further, they confirmed that they are in close contact with the next of kin.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our priority right now is supporting them, our passengers and crew while we investigate further,” they said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We will continue to work with, and offer our assistance to, those involved during this difficult time, including full cooperation with the relevant authorities.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2b47f30f-7fff-7c6d-432e-648a5438f582"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @quarkexpeditions (Instagram)</em></p>

Cruising

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The 5 things you must do if you’re in a car accident

<p>While you may be safe on the road, car accidents are an all too common part of life for many motorists. Organising police reports, insurance claims, and getting compensation for any injuries are by no means simple tasks – they can be expensive, stressful and time consuming.</p> <p>Greg Masselos, principal lawyer at Masselos &amp; Co in Sydney, says that motor accident compensation law is a complex and highly specialised area of law. “To make sure you get the best possible outcome for your case, you need to consult an expert personal injury lawyer, preferably a specialist accredited by the NSW Law Society, ” he advises.</p> <p>Here Mr Masselos shares his top five tips around the things you must do if you ever find yourself in a car accident.</p> <p><strong>1. Report the accident to police</strong></p> <p>If either party in the accident is injured, it’s your legal duty to notify the police. The best way to do this is to pop into a nearby police station to report the incident or call the Police Assistance Line (131 444). When you do this you will be given a COPS Event Number as confirmation that the accident was reported, so make sure you write this down and keep it somewhere safe.  </p> <p><strong>2. Submit an Accident Notification Form</strong></p> <p>If you were injured in the accident you may be entitled to compensation, irrespective of which party was at fault. You have 28 days to submit an Accident Notification Form which may entitle you to claim up to $5,000 to cover treatment expenses and economic losses incurred in the six months after the accident. You will need a Medical Certificate completed by your doctor.</p> <p><strong>3. Consult your doctor</strong></p> <p>Even if you’ve been lucky enough to escape with minor injuries, it’s still important to report all your symptoms to a doctor. Not only does this ensure your treatment progresses without unnecessary delays, as Mr Masselos notes, “It will also avoid disputes with the insurance company should an injury that you considered minor at the time of the accident become more of a problem as time goes by.  A good paper trail in your doctor’s records can save a lot of arguments down the track.”</p> <p><strong>4. Lodge a Personal Injury Claim Form</strong></p> <p>If you’ve sustained an injury in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you’re required to lodge a Personal Injury Claim Form within six months of the accident with the compulsory third party (CTP) insurer of the vehicle at fault. For accidents with multiple vehicles where responsibility may be a bit more contentious, forms may have to be submitted to the CTP insurers of each car. Forms are required to be submitted with Medical Certificates and as Mr Masselos notes, “The claim form is a lengthy document and you should consider obtaining legal advice before you lodge it.”</p> <p>Late claims with satisfactory explanations can be considered, but these applications are often considerably more difficult and time consuming. It does seem like a lot of work during what is often a period of great stress, but Mr Masselos advises that it is worth the extra effort to cover yourself: “Lodging a Personal Injury Claim Form and Medical Certificate within six months of the accident does not oblige you to proceed with your claim, however it protects your ability to claim damages in the future, and for that reason it is prudent to lodge the form in most, if not all, circumstances.  It also ensures that your treatment expenses will be paid up front by the insurer.”</p> <p><strong>5. Find out if you have other rights to compensation</strong></p> <p>Lodging a motor accident compensation claim does not stop you from claiming additional benefits from other insurers. An example of this would be claiming workers compensation benefits for a car accident that occurred in the course of your work, or benefits claimed under a private insurance policy. While this doesn’t stop you from lodging a claim, in certain circumstances money paid under those policies will need to be refunded should you recover damages from the CTP insurer.</p> <p>As Mr Masselos explains: “Medicare and private health insurers will usually pay for treatment expenses following a motor vehicle accident, but they will usually be entitled to recover those benefits when you ultimately receive your damages.”</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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"Too young to leave us": Aussie woman killed in holiday accident

<p>A young woman from Melbourne has tragically died while on holiday with her family after a devastating motorcycle crash. </p> <p>Saarah Hannah Bulbul, 25, was on the back of the bike when the rider lost control and crashed on July 28 in Istanbul, Turkey, according to <a title="www.heraldsun.com.au" href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/saarah-bulbul-tributes-for-mitcham-lawyer-former-vermont-secondary-college-student/news-story/9f4af8645dcf99c1fa8cbf531cf0420b" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="9f4af8645dcf99c1fa8cbf531cf0420b" data-tgev-label="leader" data-tgev-metric="ev">The Herald Sun.</a></p> <p>While the driver managed to escape uninjured, Sarah died from her injuries on the way to the hospital.</p> <p>Ms Bulbul was travelling through Turkey with her parents and two sisters before the tragic accident, as the family will remain in Turkey, confirming Saarah will be buried at a family cemetery there.</p> <p>“We’re all devastated, she genuinely was full of life and had everything she ever wanted and everything was going right for her,” Saarah’s heartbroken sister Nesi told the Herald Sun.</p> <p>“It’s just way too quick and soon, and it doesn’t seem real yet.”</p> <p>Ms Bulbul was about 10 months into her first job as a lawyer with Grindal Legal in South Melbourne, after completing her degree at the city’s Swinbourne University. </p> <p>“She loved her job and she was smashing it, she loved working there and recently they told her she was going places,” sister Nesi said.</p> <p>Ms Bulbul's former high school principal Tony Jacobs described Ms Bulbul as “a vibrant, animated and energetic member of the school community”.</p> <p>“Saarah will always be remembered and sadly missed by all school friends and teachers,” Mr Jacobs said.</p> <p>“Our thoughts go out to the family and closest friends over the loss of someone too young to leave us.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / LinkedIn</em></p>

News

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Who’s liable if you’re injured or killed riding an e-scooter?

<p>The rental e-scooter craze is sweeping the globe, with millions of the vehicles dotting pavements in <a href="https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_gl/topics/automotive-and-transportation/automotive-transportation-pdfs/ey-micromobility-moving-cities-into-a-sustainable-future.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 600 cities</a>. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200608-how-sustainable-are-electric-scooters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studies predict</a> there will be 4.6 million shared e-scooters in operation worldwide by 2024.</p> <p>While e-scooters <a href="https://www.mearth.com.au/blogs/news/why-electric-scooters-are-greener-than-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have been praised</a> as a greener form of transport, they have also caused scores of injuries and even deaths. Australia’s e-scooter fleet is comparatively small at <a href="https://micromobilityreport.com.au/infrastructure/bike-scooter-share/2022-a-year-of-change/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 10,000 units</a>, yet major hospitals in <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/melbourne-emergency-department-sees-escooter-injuries-daily/9cdd73d5-0bee-4546-ab65-2cf650201e5b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melbourne</a>, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-22/electric-e-scooter-e-bike-injuries-brisbane-emergency-department/100313526" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brisbane</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-15/warning-issued-to-escooter-riders-in-perth/101242834" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Perth</a> are reporting “daily” presentations with e-scooter related traumas to both riders and pedestrians.</p> <p>Worse, according to media reports at least seven Australians have been killed through falls or collisions since their <a href="https://raine.co/blogs/news/electric-scooter-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduction in 2018</a>, including a <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/qld/queensland-boy-15-dies-five-days-after-suffering-critical-injuries-in-e-scooter-crash-c-7563230" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15-year-old Queensland boy last week</a>.</p> <p>Although the National Transport Commission <a href="https://www.ntc.gov.au/sites/default/files/assets/files/NTC-Decision-RIS-PMDs.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommended</a> in 2020 that e-scooters be limited to a speed of 10 km/hr on footpaths and 25km/hr on roads or bike lanes, most states have allowed higher speeds on footpaths.</p> <p>Many riders also shun the helmet requirement imposed by the e-scooter terms of use and the <a href="https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/__legislation/lz/c/r/australian%20road%20rules/current/2014.205.auth.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Road Rules</a>. It therefore seems that more carnage is on the horizon.</p> <p>We need a uniform regulatory framework balancing the risks and benefits of e-scooters, and clarifying avenues for compensation.</p> <h2>Who’s liable for e-scooter injuries?</h2> <p>The <a href="https://pcc.gov.au/uniform/Australian-Road-Rules-10December2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Road Rules</a> empower the states to prohibit e-scooters on public roads and footpaths. Most states have banned them by default, but many local councils have authorised <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-safety-programs/e-scooter-trials-in-victoria" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporary trials</a>, which are still in effect.</p> <p>Obviously, if you crash due to your own misuse or recklessness, you are personally responsible for your injuries or those you cause to others.</p> <p>But if the accident is caused by a fault with the e-scooter, that might be different. Some of the e-scooter companies, such as Neuron, <a href="https://www.rideneuron.com/terms-of-service/au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state that they exclude liability</a> for injury except where it’s caused by their negligence.</p> <p>Where you’ve crashed due to uneven pavement or damaged road, the disrepair will generally need to be known or otherwise significant to prove the local council breached its duty of care to you. You would then seek compensation through the council’s public liability insurer. You would likely have to try to do the same if you trip over a dormant e-scooter that has been dumped in random locations, as they often are.</p> <p>Third parties who are injured by an e-scooter rider are in a difficult position. This is because <a href="https://jade.io/article/67447" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only parties to a contract</a> can incur rights and obligations under the contract. E-scooter contracts are between the user and the respective company, so those who are struck by e-scooters, or trip over a dormant one, have no contractual rights against the company.</p> <p>An injured third party would have to sue the rider directly. But attaining the rider’s personal details could be difficult if they drive off or are evasive, and they will <a href="https://attwoodmarshall.com.au/escooter-laws/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">likely be unable to pay compensation</a>.</p> <p>Complicating matters is the fact minors also ride e-scooters. <a href="https://www.li.me/en-au/user-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lime</a> and <a href="https://www.rideneuron.com/terms-of-service/au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neuron</a> forbid minors from using their vehicles, but <a href="https://global-uploads.webflow.com/5b685812f109cf81a7d99e25/61b3143240d08942f78415ce_Terms%20of%20Services%20-%20Beam%20Australia%20(website)%20-%20December%202021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beam</a> allows people under 16 to ride with parental consent. E-scooters are colourful, funky, and marketed in a manner appealing to young and likely inexperienced riders.</p> <p>Each of the e-scooter companies’ terms warn that breaching the terms of use, such as riding as an unauthorised minor, can void insurance entitlements, meaning many unwary parents or caregivers may be left to foot hefty medical and legal bills.</p> <h2>Excluding liability through the fine print</h2> <p>When a user downloads and accesses the relevant app to activate an e-scooter, they agree to the terms of service. <a href="https://jade.io/article/68500" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The law states</a> that you’re bound by the terms you sign (physically or digitally), even if you don’t read them – and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/03/terms-of-service-online-contracts-fine-print" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most people don’t</a>.</p> <p>Australia’s biggest e-scooter companies – <a href="https://www.li.me/en-au/user-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lime</a>, <a href="https://global-uploads.webflow.com/5b685812f109cf81a7d99e25/61b3143240d08942f78415ce_Terms%20of%20Services%20-%20Beam%20Australia%20(website)%20-%20December%202021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beam</a>, and <a href="https://www.rideneuron.com/terms-of-service/au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neuron</a> – all have lengthy user agreements, each containing exclusion clauses. These clauses restrict or exclude the companies’ liability if you’re injured while using them.</p> <p>But are they watertight?</p> <p>It depends on wording. Beam’s agreement, for example, states that the company isn’t liable to users “for any death, disability or personal injury […] howsoever caused” arising directly or indirectly in connection with use of its e-scooters. Such statements, though broad, are <a href="https://jade.io/article/65000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">generally sufficient</a> to exclude negligence liability. The reference to “indirect” injury also implies a user being injured by a third party (such as an errant rider, driver, or pedestrian) would have no recourse against the company.</p> <p>However, the courts <a href="https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/1953/2.html&amp;query=(white)+AND+(v)+AND+(john)+AND+(warwick)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have also said</a> that where liability can arise on two or more different bases – such as negligence and breach of contract – then you need to use more specific wording in your exclusion clause. Lime, Beam, and Neuron all mention negligence, so they would likely be covered.</p> <h2>Insurance as a panacea?</h2> <p>Compulsory third-party insurance is <a href="https://www.qbe.com/au/news/ctp-explained" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required</a> with motor vehicle registration in Australia. But this isn’t so with e-scooters, as they’re not classified as registrable vehicles. Extending the compulsory third-party insurance scheme to e-scooters might help resolve some of the liability questions that linger.</p> <p>However, the <a href="https://mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/riding_motorised_scooters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Australian Government</a> has observed this isn’t possible because e-scooters don’t meet <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/vehicle-design-regulation/australian-design-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national standards</a> that govern registrable vehicles.</p> <p>While some home and contents insurance policies may offer some coverage for e-scooter injuries, this hasn’t been tested and young victims almost certainly won’t have this insurance.</p> <p>Workplace insurance might also apply if the accident occurred on the way to, or during, work. Again, this will depend on the relevant policy and whether the rider was obeying all road rules and the e-scooter’s terms of use.</p> <p>If a rider is hit by a car, the driver’s compulsory third party insurance would cover any resulting injury or death.</p> <p>The e-scooter companies have started introducing third party liability insurance schemes which might protect riders from claims brought by, for example, injured pedestrians. However, the policies generally have numerous exclusions, such as where riders breach the terms of use (for example for not wearing a helmet or being underage).</p> <h2>The need for a unified approach</h2> <p>Multiple stakeholders are involved in rental e-scooter arrangements. From a regulatory perspective, state and local governments have a duty to consider and protect all members of the community when they allow and control e-scooter trials. The chosen approach can also impact redress mechanisms for those injured by e-scooters.</p> <p>At the moment, there’s different approaches across Australia. So it’s essential that all levels of government work together to craft a uniform regulatory framework.</p> <p>Additional safety measures can help curb the injury and death count, such as more precise “geofencing” to restrict e-scooters to certain areas and remote deactivation for breach of safety rules. Ensuring only those with a driver’s licence are authorised to ride e-scooters could also help, and this could be implemented by linking e-scooter app sign-up to state government licence databases.</p> <p>In the meantime, law enforcement is critical to ensure riders are riding e-scooters in a safe and legal manner.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/whos-liable-if-youre-injured-or-killed-riding-an-e-scooter-187436" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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NYC firefighter killed in tragic holiday accident

<p dir="ltr">A US family experienced a tragic start to their family holiday, with shocking footage emerging of the moment a tree fell on their SUV, killing father-of-two Casey Skudin.</p> <p dir="ltr">Last month, Mr Skudin, from Long Beach, New York, was driving with his wife Angela and their two kids through the state of North Carolina at the start of the trip when a tree toppled over and crushed their car.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family were reportedly planning to celebrate Mr Skudin’s 46th birthday and Father’s Day that weekend at the Biltmore Estate, a popular tourist spot in Asheville.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8a99234f-7fff-ff00-96ca-0484dcdb36d3">Phone footage taken from inside the car, shared by the <em>New York Post</em>, showed the car approaching a bend on a tree-lined road when, without warning, a huge tree branch appeared to snap off as the car passed beneath, shattering the windscreen.</span></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/firefighter-death-damage.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The family’s car was crushed after a tree branch fell on it. </em></p> <p dir="ltr">The phone appeared to drop near the glove box, with Ms Skudin’s blonde hair visible in the frame.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Is everybody ok?” she asked, before looking at her husband and realising the extent of his injuries.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh my God! Casey!” she screamed, before the video was cut off.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their youngest son, 10-year-old Channing, was reportedly knocked unconscious and suffered broken bones, while their eldest, Benjamin, 19, was also knocked out.</p> <p dir="ltr">Both Benjamin and Ms Skudin walked away with minor injuries.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Skudin, a highly-decorated veteran firefighter, reportedly broke his neck. </p> <p dir="ltr">In a post shared to Facebook, Ms Skudin revealed that her husband had a pulse “for the entire hour it took to remove the 4,000lb tree that fell directly on him”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was crazy. I was the only one that wasn’t knocked out," Ms Skudin told the <em>New York Post</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Just watching your husband die and you can’t do anything is really insane."</p> <p dir="ltr">In a heartbreaking Facebook post, Ms Skudin said her husband’s death had left a “gaping hole” in her life.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am left shattered while I navigate this new existence, one I never wanted to know. I have nothing left to do with my days but fight for you, for our family, for the hero they took," she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sharing a photo of her husband’s casket, Ms Skudin wrote: "Honoring you [sic] has been my absolute pleasure &amp; I will continue to do so until our souls meet again."</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/firefighter-death1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Angela Skudin shared images of her husband's casket after he was killed in a freak accident while driving.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">The father-of-two is being remembered as an “adoring husband”, a “stellar father”, and a “courageous firefighter”.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/casey-skudin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe page</a> set up for the family, his death is described as a “catastrophic loss” for his family, friends, and members of the Long Beach community.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Angela, Ben, and CJ have an overwhelming amount of healing ahead of them. We hope to support them by taking away any stress along the way," it reads.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Skudin is now suing Biltmore Estate for $AU 228 million for “grossly negligent conduct” and seeking compensation for medical costs, funeral expenses, lost wages and punitive damages, according to reports.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her lawsuit claims the fallen tree was rotten and had been held up with cables.</p> <p dir="ltr">It argues that Biltmore “knew it would cause great harm when it fell” and that the estate should have taken “appropriate measure of cutting the tree down and eliminating the potentially fatal risk”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the tragedy, Biltmore issued a statement admitting they were “deeply saddened by this news”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Our heartfelt thoughts are with the family and their loved ones, and we are offering assistance at this time," they reportedly wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">They have denied any wrongdoing in the statement.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7347f48c-7fff-200e-cdc4-315bb153d1ad"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Angela Skudin (Facebook)</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Life support of 12-year-old turned off after devastating accident

<p>The parents of 12-year-old Josh Field have made the heart-breaking decision to switch off their son's life support, after he was left fighting for his life following a devastating accident.</p> <p>They said their "Joshy" would be remembered as a "hero", as the young boy would live on through donating his organs to help others live.</p> <p>Josh suffered catastrophic head injuries when he fell from an unfinished home at a construction site in Maddington, Western Australia, on Monday.</p> <p>The 12-year-old was with his cousins and little brother, who looked on as he fell from a wall and was struck on the head by a metal beam.</p> <p>He was rushed to Perth Children's Hospital with critical injuries and has remained on life support until his family made the difficult decision to say goodbye.</p> <p>“Words can’t even explain it, he’s so much more than anyone can imagine,” older sister Charnte told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/wa/life-support-to-be-switched-off-for-josh-field-12-after-tragic-maddington-construction-site-fall--c-6761586" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>.</p> <p>“Even though we’ve lost him, he’s still here, he will still live on."</p> <p>“He’s a hero, he’s donating his heart, his lungs, his kidneys to save others.”</p> <p>Joshy’s older brother Jady said it was hard for it to sink in, adding the family felt “broken”.</p> <p>“It still feels like I’m dreaming,” he told 7News</p> <p>“We’ve lost the most exciting, happy person in our life... he helped us."</p> <p>His family have said that Joshy was a "beautiful soul" who was taken too early by the devastating accident.</p> <p>The family have set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/jyrte-joshuas-funeral?utm_source=facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> account to help cover Joshy's funeral costs.</p> <p><em>Image credits: 7News</em></p>

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Nine presenter hospitalised after accident

<p dir="ltr">Channel 9 presenter Leila McKinnon has revealed that she was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 49-year-old shared photos to Instagram of herself in a hospital bed and some leg X-rays after suffering a serious accident.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hey what did you do on the school holidays? I don’t want to show off or anything but I got a fancy piercing in my knee,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">She then asked her followers to guess how the accident occurred, giving them options.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Did I? a) throw myself into a mosh pit to get closer to Harry Styles? b) throw myself at a mountain at high speed? c) throw myself down the stairs in a high-heel related accident?”</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/CczeWCpLoLN/?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/CczeWCpLoLN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Leila McKinnon (@leilamckinnon)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">It’s been since confirmed that the <em>Ninja Warrior</em> host suffered a skiing incident, which suggests her second option is the answer.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Today Show</em> co-host Karl Stefanovic left a comment on Leila’s Instagram, wishing her a speedy recovery. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh no Lala. That’s two of my co hosts down with dickyknees. Argh. Get well. X,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">Karl was referring to his co-host Allison Langdon who wound up in hospital after suffering a disastrous hydrofoiling accident while on-air in February last year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other media personalities and talk show hosts left their well wishes as well. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Eek. Hope it’s a speedy recovery … just think of the knitting you’ll rip through,” Tim Davies commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Bugger. Knees aren’t safe at Nine. They should all be trembling,” Tracey Grimshaw wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Ohhhh noooo- ouch!!! Hope you feel better soon. Lots love,” Jessica Rowe commented.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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