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Eye infections might seem like a minor complaint – but in some cases they can cause blindness and even death

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-taylor-283950">Adam Taylor</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a> When you think of eye infections, what comes to mind? Puffy, swollen bruised feeling eyelids that get glued together with gunk overnight? That feeling of having grit in your eye that can’t be cleaned away? Eye infections may seem like a relatively minor – if unsightly and inconvenient – complaint, but they can also be far more serious. Take the deadly outbreak of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5022785/">antibiotic resistant</a> bacteria <a href="https://www.cff.org/managing-cf/burkholderia-cepacia-complex-b-cepacia">Burkholderia cepacia</a> in 2023-24, for example. Between January 2023 and February 2024, contaminated brands of lubricating eye gel were linked to the infection of at least 52 patients. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/contaminated-eye-gel-outbreak-death-b2523446.html">One person died</a> and at least 25 others suffered serious infections. The outbreak has now subsided and products are <a href="https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/specific-brands-of-carbomer-eye-gel-recall-of-aacarb-eye-gel-aacomer-eye-gel-and-puroptics-eye-gel-potential-risk-of-infection-dsi-slash-2023-slash-11#update-2-april-2024">back on the shelves</a> but it isn’t the first time that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8335909/">medicinal products</a> have led to outbreaks of B cepacia. The bacterium is an opportunistic pathogen known to pose a significant risk to people with cystic fibrosis, chronic lung conditions and weakened immune systems. The infection likely progresses from the mucous membranes of the eyelids to the lungs where it leads to pneumonia and septicaemia causing <a href="https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/17/2/295">death in days</a>. But it’s not just B cepacia that can threaten our health. Something as simple as rubbing our eyes can introduce pathogens leading to infection, blindness and, in the worst case, death. Bacteria account for up to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16148850/">70% of eye infections</a> and globally <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9032492/">over 6 million people</a> have blindness or moderate visual impairment from ocular infection. Contact lens wearers are at <a href="https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/contact-lens-related-eye-infections">increased risk</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pWsx8i1kaxs?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The eye is a unique structure. It converts light energy to chemical and then electrical energy, which is transmitted to the brain and converted to a picture. The eye uses about <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11556/">6 million cones and 120 million rods</a> which detect colour and light. Eye cells have <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8775779/">no ability to regenerate</a> so, once damaged or injured, cannot be repaired or replaced. The body tries its best to preserve the eyes by encasing them in a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531490/">bony protective frame</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482428/">limiting exposure</a> having eyelids to defend against the environmental damage and ensure the eyes are kept lubricated. Despite our bodies’ best efforts to shield the eyes from harm, there are a number of common eye infections that can result from introducing potential pathogens into the eyes. <h2>Conjunctivitis</h2> The outer-most layer of the eye, the sclera, bears the brunt of exposure and to help protect it, it is lined by a thin moist membrane called the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24329-conjunctiva">conjunctiva</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RZ4danuJwd0?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The conjunctiva is <a href="https://innovations.bmj.com/content/9/4/253">highly vascularised</a>, which means it has lots of blood vessels. When microbes enter the eye, it is this layer that mounts an immune response causing <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8328962/">blood vessels to dilate</a> in the conjunctiva. This results in <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/about/symptoms.html">“pink eye”</a>, a common form of conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis can be caused by bacteria, allergens or viruses and typically heals by itself. <h2>Blepharitis</h2> Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid and usually affects both sides. It can cause itchy eyes and dandruff-like flakes. It’s most commonly caused by <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/09273948.2013.870214">Staphylococcus bacteria</a>, or the <a href="https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/blepharitis/background-information/causes/">dysfunction of the glands</a> of the eyelids. It can be treated by <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blepharitis/">cleaning the eyes</a> regularly. <h2>Stye</h2> A stye (also called <a href="https://www.college-optometrists.org/clinical-guidance/clinical-management-guidelines/hordeolum">hordeolum</a>) is a painful infection of the upper or lower eyelid. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370090/">Internal styes</a> are caused by infection of an oil-producing gland inside the eyelid, whereas <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28723014/">external styes</a> develop at the base of the eyelash because of an infection of the hair follicle. Both are caused by bacteria, typically <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/1874715">the S aureus form of the Staphylococcus species</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/INKrGOdy824?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Styes can be treated by holding a clean flannel soaked in warm water against the affected eye for five to ten minutes, three or four times a day. Do not try to burst styes – this could spread the infection. <h2>Keratitis</h2> Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea, the transparent part of the eye that light passes through. The cornea is part of the eye’s main barrier against dirt, germs, and disease. Severe keratitis can cause ulcers, damage to the eye and even blindness. The most common type is bacterial keratitis; however, it can also be caused by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7998329/">amoeba</a>, which can migrate to other parts of the body – including the brain – and cause infection and <a href="https://theconversation.com/nasal-rinsing-why-flushing-the-nasal-passages-with-tap-water-to-tackle-hay-fever-could-be-fatal-225811">even death</a>. Noninfectious keratitis is most commonly caused by wearing contact lenses for too long, especially while sleeping. This can cause scratches, dryness and soreness of the cornea, which leads to inflammation. <h2>Uveitis</h2> <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/uveitis/">Uveitis</a> is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. Although relatively rare, it is a serious condition and usually results from viral infections such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8501150/">herpes simplex</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29023181/">herpes zoster</a> or <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-09126-6_40">trauma</a>. Depending on where the inflammation is in the eye, the symptoms can be anything from redness, pain and floaters to blurred vision and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1772296/">partial blindness</a>. <h2>Exogenous endophthalmitis</h2> This is a rare but serious infection caused by eye surgery complications, penetrating ocular trauma (being stabbed in the eye with a sharp object) or foreign bodies in the eye. Foreign bodies can be anything from dirt and dust to small projectiles such as shards of metal from drilling, explosives or soil from farm machinery and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7286045/">many other sources</a>. <h2>Dacryocystitis</h2> Dacryocystitis is the inflammation of the nasolacrimal sac, which drains tears away from the eye into the nose. This condition can be <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8443113/">acute</a>, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/6700662">chronic</a> or <a href="https://www.jebmh.com/articles/a-study-of-congenital-dacryocystitis.pdf.pdf">acquired at birth</a>. Most cases are caused by <a href="https://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12886-020-01792-4">Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus</a> bacteria. The condition mainly affects newborns and those over 40. Seventy-five per cent of cases are women and it’s most commonly found in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039673/">white adults</a>. It can lead to the stagnation of tears, creating a breeding ground for microbes. <h2>Careful with contacts</h2> Proper eye hygiene reduces the risk of all these conditions – and this is even more important for contact lens wearers. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uENHAntJOIA?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Appropriate hygienic cleaning of lenses is paramount. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30789440/">Non-sterile water</a>, <a href="https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care">spit</a> and other fluids can transfer <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/bacteria-living-your-contact-lens-solution">potentially dangerous</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482476/">microbes</a> into the eye – a warm, moist environment that makes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria – leading to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9542356/">localised infection</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972779/">blindness</a> or progress to a more serious <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9835757/">systemic infection or death</a>. Any persistent and painful redness or swelling of eyes should be checked by a registered health professional.<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/227252/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-taylor-283950">Adam Taylor</a>, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/eye-infections-might-seem-like-a-minor-complaint-but-in-some-cases-they-can-cause-blindness-and-even-death-227252">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Paw-sitive update on missing blind dog

Bowie, the beloved blind Australian Shepherd that stole the hearts of many, has proven that anything is paw-sible after he was found safe and sound. The pup who went missing on Wednesday after he was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/urgent-calls-for-help-after-blind-dog-stolen-from-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stolen in broad daylight</a>, is set to be reunited with his fur-ever family, the Durmans, after the two-day search came to a fruitful end. Despite their house being trashed and their car being stolen when they returned home from a ski trip, once they found out Bowie was missing the pup was their main concern. “Once we realised Bowie was gone, the cars and everything was immaterial to that,” dad Luke Durman said on Wednesday. “The focus was, we just wanted Bowie back.” Bowie was found near the small NSW town of Macksville on Friday, after initial reports that the dog was spotted in nearby Utungun, according to the NSW police. “A short time later, an officer attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a grey SUV on Taylors Arm Road, Congarinni,” police said in a statement. A 48-year-old man, who barked up the wrong tree, was arrested in Northern NSW over the theft of the Durman family’s dog, and is assisting police with their inquiries at Macksville Police station. Image: 7News

Family & Pets

Urgent calls for help after blind dog stolen from home

A desperate search is underway after a family’s beloved blind dog was stolen from their Gold Coast home in broad daylight. Police are calling for public assistance to help find Bowie, the beautiful Australian shepherd with black, white and gold fur, and blue eyes. They believe that the dog was stolen after a group of people broke into the family’s home along Regatta Parade in Southport some time between 10am and 1.15pm on Wednesday. Police also report that a few other things were stolen including the resident’s grey 2022 Hyundai Tucson station wagon with the Queensland plate number 021FO8. Anyone with information is urged to call the police. Images: Queensland Police Service

Family & Pets

Why legendary actor refused James Bond audition

Game of Thrones actor Charles Dance has revealed why he decided against auditioning for the infamous role of James Bond after Roger Moore left the series. Although Dance is renowned for playing authoritarian characters, he was advised by his agent to skip the audition. The actor previously admitted that he was offered a screen test for 007. “No, of course, I didn’t turn down James Bond! What happened was, my agent called and said: ‘I urge you not to do it. Just think how you’ll feel if you don’t get it. It will kill your career stone-dead.’ She was probably right. If I’d got it, I would have probably f***ed it up.” he said. Ultimately Dance never auditioned for Bond but owes a lot of his career to the iconic spy as he was briefly involved in the 1981 Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Producers eventually settled on Timothy Dalton to tackle the role in 1987’s The Living Daylights and 1989’s Licence To Kill. Image credit: Getty

Movies

5 reasons you should go on a blind date

Does the thought of going on a blind date make you cringe? It’s a common reaction but blind dates aren’t like the disaster stories shown in movies and, contrary to popular opinion, can lead to long-term relationships. Still not convinced? Here are five reasons to give blind dating a go. 1. Broaden your social circle Once you reach your 60s and beyond it’s common for your social circle to shrink and it can be harder to make new friends and meet new people. Blind dates are a great way to meet a variety of people who you might not have ever gotten a chance to meet before. If you hit it off, that’s great; but if not, there’s no damage done. You might even make a new friend. 2. Friends and family know your taste Sometimes our friends and family know us better than we know ourselves. And at the very least, you know they’re not going to set you up with someone horrible. 3. Your confidence will grow If you’ve only recently gotten back into dating, going on a few dates can help boost your confidence and encourage you to get back into the dating arena. When you open yourself to people, even if it’s just for a coffee date, the process will become much easier. 4. You might meet the right person There are so many horror stories out there in the dating world that you don’t often hear about the success stories. Although you shouldn’t expect to find “the one” on every blind date, the important thing is you’re taking chances and when you take chances anything is possible! 5. If nothing else, you have a great story If your blind date doesn’t work out, there’s no harm done. As it’s a blind date, you never have to see your date again. And if it does end up being a disaster, chalk it up to an experience and a funny story to share. Image: Getty

Relationships

"Last chance to see": Touching reason for kids' world travels

A couple has gone above and beyond for their children to see the world before they lose their vision. Canadian couple Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier have four children, Mia, Colin, Laurent and Leo, of which three were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of rare eye diseases that affect the retina, and which makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss. The devastating news shocked the parents, and they tragically now expect their children Mia, Colin and Laurent to be “completely blind by mid-life”. As a result, the young couple first focused on helping their children with basic life skills – before they were told to help with their imaginative memories as well. “I thought, ‘I’m not going to show her an elephant in a book, I’m going to take her to see a real elephant’,” Mrs Lemay said. “And I’m going to fill her visual memory with the best, most beautiful images I can.” Plans were soon put in place to take the entire family out for trips and help them experience their best life before losing their vision. “With the diagnosis, we have an urgency. There’s great things to do at home, but there’s nothing better than travelling,” Mr Pelletier said. “Not only the scenery, but also the different cultures and people.” Unfortunately, due to Covid the family had to delay their trip but as soon as travel restrictions eased they headed off to Namibia, where they got up close to elephants, zebras, giraffes and more. They then flew to Zambia, Tanzania and Mongolia before heading off to Indonesia and Turkey. “So we’re really trying to make them see things that they wouldn’t have seen at home and have the most incredible experiences,” Mr Pelletier explained. The parents said they hope these adventures would help them realise how fortunate they are, despite the challenges they face. “No matter how hard their life is going to be, I wanted to show them that they are lucky just to have running water in their home and to be able to go to school every day with nice colourful books,” Mrs Lemay said. “And we never know what’s going to impress them. We will tell ourselves [they will think] something is wonderful and then they see puppies in the street and it’s the best thing in their life.” Images: Instagram

International Travel

P-plater who killed blind man and his guide dog jailed

A P-plater who caused the death of a man and his guide dog in 2019 has been sentenced to jail. 24-year-old Billy-Jo Salter was sentenced to three years and nine months’ jail after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death and destruction of evidence. Salter was 21-years-old when he caused the death of 62-year-old Raymond Meadows and his guide dog Gerry while he was driving on the Calder Highway at Wedderburn in northwestern Victoria on June 2, 2019. The court heard that it was dark but Mr Meadows was wearing a high-vis vest and a backpack with flashing lights as he and his dog walked along the road’s shoulder, heading to the gym. Gerry died almost immediately after being hit by Salter’s car, while Mr Meadows died en route to the hospital. Salter stopped at the scene and was not found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Salter removed the memory card from his dashcam at the scene, and later had his friend destroy it. For several months following the crash, he told police that Mr Meadows and his dog had been walking on the road, but analysis of the scene proved they had been on the shoulder. Investigations also revealed that Salter had not applied the brakes or stirred the car in the five seconds before the crash, using cruise control to travel at 94km/h. Judge Rosemary Carlin said Salter's actions were indicative of "a total abdication" of his responsibility as a driver. "To drive for five seconds at that speed in the dark without exerting any control at all over your car and without keeping a proper lookout for whatever reason is highly irresponsible and risky behaviour," she said. The judge also said his lies about what had happened and destruction of the dashcam footage had deprived Mr Meadows’ family of closure. She described the destruction of the footage as “serious, planned offending” and said, "you have refused to tell the truth about what happened and you destroyed the only evidence.” The court heard that Salter had suffered an abusive childhood, was experiencing health problems, and lived with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He was sentenced to a non-parole period of two years and three months. Image: 9 News

Legal

Bride's touching gesture for blind husband on wedding day

Kelly Ann Ferraro surprised her husband, Paralympian, musician, motivational speaker and blind man Anthony S Ferraro, by wearing a tactile wedding dress on their big day. "I've also said she's my eyes in this world, but for her to have a dress custom made so I could feel and touch it meant the world to me," Anthony Ferraro told USA TODAY. "I could feel her. I could feel she looked beautiful." Kelly Ann was continuing a tradition she started on the couple’s first date in 2018, when she wore a velvet dress so he could “feel how she looked”. Her wedding dress was embedded with woven cotton flowers and lace, and in a Tiktok video shared by Anthony, he sounded overjoyed that he was able to “feel how beautiful she was” on their wedding day. <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7018660125703556357"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@asfvision" target="_blank" title="@asfvision">@asfvision</a> 🤍🎥I married my camera person @turmericteatime <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blind" target="_blank" title="blind">#blind</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/wedding" target="_blank" title="wedding">#wedding</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/relationshipgoals" target="_blank" title="relationshipgoals">#relationshipgoals</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lucky" target="_blank" title="lucky">#lucky</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pov" target="_blank" title="pov">#pov</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/A-Thousand-Years-224206288400887808" target="_blank" title="♬ A Thousand Years - Christina Perri">♬ A Thousand Years - Christina Perri</a></blockquote> The couple’s first date took place at the New York premiere of Anthony’s documentary, ‘A Shot in the Dark’, which chronicles his journey as a blind wrestler and athlete. After meeting Anthony, Kelly Ann researched blindness, including blindness experienced by those who can perceive some light, like Anthony. She learned to place pillows and bubble wrap around sharp objects in their shared apartment, and after learning that he loved the feeling of velvet and soft fabrics, a tactile wedding dress seemed like an obvious choice. Kelly Ann collaborated with Loulette Bride to create a dress that featured woven cotton flowers, a velvet waistband, and soft, gentle fabris like chiffon and lace. Speaking to USA Today, Kelly Ann said, "The whole time at the aisle I was whispering to him 'touch my dress, touch my dress,' and it made me so happy to know he could feel and enjoy my dress as much as I did.” Kelly Ann and Anthony’s mother planned the whole wedding with Anthony’s comfort in mind. Prior to the ceremony, Kelly Ann wrote Anthony a letter in braille. They were married on a beachfront property in Maine, and the wedding was held during the day since Anthony can perceive shadows and light. The reception was held in a tent, and the poles were wrapped in bubble wrap disguised with decorations so Anthony could safely move around. "The thoughtfulness and work behind making our wedding accessible for me meant everything. She's truly my best friend and like I said, 'my eyes in the world,'" Anthony said. Describing Kelly Ann as his “partner in crime”, Anthony says in the viral video of their wedding day, “I can’t wait to spend so much more time together and create so many more beautiful memories on our adventures in life.” "Our story sheds a lot of light on just joy and unity, even for those with disabilities like me who didn't think love was possible," Anthony said. "The world needs more light and I hope our story shows some of that." Image: Anthony S. Ferraro/Tiktok

Beauty & Style

Why a gazebo railing in Naples has gone viral

A photo of an unsuspecting hand railing in Naples, Italy, has gone viral for a very unexpected reason. The railing sits on top of a hill that is connected to the popular tourist destination St Elmo’s castle. Each year, thousands of people trek up the stairs to observe the picturesque view from the top that overlooks the Tyrrhenian sea and Italy’s Mount Vesuvius. However, instead of the view catching a Twitter user's attention, it was the detailed hand railing. The 92-foot-long piece of steel is etched with braille, describing the stunning view for the blind. The unique railing was installed in 2015 by artist Paolo Puddu and is titled “Follow the Shape”, which has been a permanent fixture of the castle ever since. Blind visitors are encouraged to run their hands along the railing to read verses from The Land and The Man: a poetry series from Italian author Giuseppe de Lorenzo. The inscription is carved in both Italian and English, as tourists are prompted to imagine the stunning view in front of them. Twitter user, Rob N Roll, shared the image online, which welcomed a flood of messages praising the unique art installation. He captioned his image, “This railing on a gazebo in Naples has braille describing the view for blind people. More of this please.” Image credit: Twitter - Rob N Roll

Art

Nick Kyrgios’ sister stuns on The Voice

Sunday night's blind auditions on The Voice showcased a range of raw talent, including one very unique singer. Halimah Kyrgios, older sister to tennis champion Nick Kyrgios, took to the stage to prove her own as a dedicated songstress. The 31-year-old shocked all four of the judges with her rendition of Tina Arena's classic song Chains, as they all fought for her attention. In the end, Halimah chose Rita Ora to be her coach, with Rita saying, "I did not expect her to pick me, I’m really flattered. That’s an Australian song, a classic and I’m glad she trusts me. There’s a lot we can do together." Before taking to the stage, Halimah talked about how she wanted to be seen as more than just Nick Kyrgios' sister. "I’m not very out there like he is. Having Nick in the limelight has been a good and bad thing. There is added pressure," she said. "I really just want to focus on people knowing me as Halimah, not Nick’s sister." She discussed their childhood growing up together, and shared that she would often sing and dance with her little brother. Much to Halimah's surprise, The Voice host Sonia Kruger said that Nick had tuned into the audition over a video call. Sonia told the tennis star, "She was amazing!", to which Nick responded, "She always is." Image credits: Channel Seven/Instagram @kyrgios_halimah

Music

“Sublime”: Guy Sebastian blown away at The Voice audition

A talented singer from Sydney has wowed the judges of The Voice with her extraordinary performance at the blind auditions. 23-year-old Bella Taylor Smith moved the judges to tears and has become a very early favourite to win the show. After an emotional performance of Beyonce's Ave Maria, judge Guy Sebastian praised her by saying, “You could be on any stage, that voice is sublime.” He fought for her attention saying, “I think you have a future and I want be a part of it... Your voice is crazy.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 293.18936877076413px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842926/the-voice.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ef883112d8ed49139cb013c7eacd1ef3" /> Image credit: Channel Nine Keith Urban also fought for Bella to be on his team as he said, “It’s not just your ability with your voice, with your gift, it’s the humanity that you’ve got inside there, and the things you’ve been through and I don’t even know what they are yet but I can hear them." Guy was ultimately chosen by Bella to be her mentor, leaving Keith Urban, Jessica Mauboy and Rita Ora down on their luck. Guy found common ground with Bella as she spoke about her background in church, as Guy became emotional when Bella said she didn’t think she could “lay claim” to her gift. Singer and judge Rita Ora said, “I will never probably forget this audition, honestly, that was a true amazing performance.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 279.874213836478px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842927/the-voice-2.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/632b4e7e076c41aba4b6610669c075c9" /> Image credit: Channel Nine Viewers of the audition took to online spaces to praise the young singer and her talents, with one person commenting, “Bella just moved me to tears! I’m calling it now … she’s gonna win!” Another commenter said, “That was hands down the single greatest blind audition I’ve ever seen,” with several others vowing to vote for the young songstress in the competition. Image Credits: Channel Nine

Music

Blind man's heartwarming reunion with his dog

A man from Melbourne was nine years old when he suffered a brain tumour prompting him to undergo several surgeries to remove it. When he turned 21, the damage of the surgeries changed his life forever, permanently removing his eyesight. Since then, Mr Toogood has gotten through life with the help of his family, but most of all his loving sister Lisa who has guided him through the darkness. When his sister isn't around, Mr Toogood relies on his best friend, a cavoodle named Sam who keeps him company with unconditional love. "So, Matt and Sam have spent the last five years together, he doesn't leave Matt's side whenever he's home, he follows him around, inside, outside, so yeah, they're the best companions to each other," Lisa told A Current Affair. Mr Toogood and Sam were separated for months after Mr Toogood broke his ankle and was hospitalised to undergo rehabilitation. During his time in hospital, Sam was given to another family to be looked after. But, once Mr Toogood went home after hospital, the new owners of Sam refused to give him back. "I love my dog, and I'd love him to come back," Mr Toogood said. Lisa approached the family to ask for Sam back but they threatened legal action telling her, "we could drag this out, it's going to cost whoever a fortune, I know all the court systems are backed up for six to 12 months because of COVID." Lisa had to regretfully break the news to Mr Toogood, telling him Sam wouldn't be able to come home because the family denied he was the rightful owner, despite Sam's microchip being registered in his name. "To have him ring me at night, every day and say 'I miss my dog, where is he? Why would someone do this to me? He was always by my side?' It's just not fair, and it's really hard," Lisa said. Mr Toogood and Lisa decided to ask Anne-Marie's help, a pet detective and founder of Arthur & Co, who tracked Sam down and negotiated with the family for his release. Richard, who is a private investigator and worked for Anne-Marie, went inside the family's house to retrieve Sam. After 15 minutes of negotiation, Richard emerged from the house holding Sam, ready to give him back to Mr Toogood. "My heart is bursting with happiness," Lisa said after seeing Sam in Richard's arms. Richard and Lisa took Sam to the local vet who gave him the all clear and double checked his microchip, which confirmed Mr Toogood as his owner. As Mr Toogood sat on his couch in Melbourne, Richard walked in with Sam in his arms and dropped the delighted dog onto his lap. "Are you going to sleep better tonight, now?" Lisa asked Mr Toogood. "Yes," Mr Toogood replied as Sam jumped up and licked his nose.

Family & Pets

Having a blind mind’s eye: What is aphantasia?

Try imagining a scene at the beach. For some people, the experience will be intensely visual and feel like they are looking at a photo, others might see it hazily or missing some of the colours. For an even smaller group, they will think of the beach scene more in concepts. They know what a beach looks like but can’t actually see one in their mind’s eye. This condition, called aphantasia, affects between one and five percent of the population though many don’t realise they have it until they share their experiences with someone without the condition or encounter it online. While this leads to a lot of self-diagnosis, researchers are looking for more objective diagnostic tools. Researchers at Macquarie University have experimented with identifying new methods of diagnosis. In one experiment, the researchers attached electrodes to people’s skin to measure how much they sweat while imagining scary scenarios. The results showed that people with aphantasia didn’t sweat in the same way as people who could see images in their mind’s eye, but they did when shown actual scary images. All in our heads Though the condition has technically been known since the 1800s, a history of imagery research as a low-priority field meant the condition was only named in 2015 when neurologist Professor Adam Zeman and colleagues coined the term - ‘a’ meaning none, and ‘phantasia’ meaning imagery. Though historical research surrounding survivors of strokes and traumatic brain injuries had found they had reported losing the ability to visualise images, the advent of neuroimaging fast-tracked research in the area. Neuroimaging includes commonly known techniques such as MRIs and CT scans, and this family of techniques showed that specific visual regions of the brain are activated when we imagine things. For example, if you were shown a picture of a tree, a pattern of activation would occur in these visual regions. When you go to imagine that tree later, your brain attempts to recreate that neural pattern - meaning that you reactivate the neurons in a similar way to how they were activated when you first saw the tree. Why do we visualise things? Though the reason isn’t fully clear, being able to visualise things can help us remember things from the past and imagine future scenarios to make decisions. People with aphantasia aren’t that disadvantaged though, instead finding other ways to help them remember things and plan for the future.

Mind

Guy Sebastian reveals heartbreaking truth behind his Australian Idol audition

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Guy Sebastian has revealed his lack of self-confidence almost stopped him from chasing his Idol dreams back in 2003. He opened up about Australian Idol on the latest episode on Anh's Brush With Fame, explaining that he didn't think music would be a career option for him to host Anh Do. “I wasn’t sure music was an option for me,” he told Do. Sebastian recalled a particularly disheartening trip, where he was repeatedly told by music industry figures that they loved his voice but not his look. “I was a weird-looking chubby, half-Asian kid who didn’t have the pop star look. I got on the train with all these rejection letters, tail between my legs and thought, I can’t change how I look, but I can still be a musician,” he recalled. “I’ll just write songs for other beautiful-looking people; that was my mindset.” <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/p/COIOhCojTEG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COIOhCojTEG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by guysebastian (@guysebastian)</a> </div> </blockquote> Sebastian noticed an audition sign for the first season of Australian Idol, but wasn't confident about his chances. “I thought, ‘As if I’m going to win a TV show, let alone get a record deal’. I’m going to go on TV with all these beautiful pop star-looking people? I’ll never win.” Luckily, Sebastian nailed the audition that left judge Marcia Hines visibly moved. Judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson wasn't impressed and said that Sebastian looked "crap, so we're going to have to work on that". <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/p/COKzwCUDCWf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COKzwCUDCWf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by guysebastian (@guysebastian)</a> </div> </blockquote> Dickson's comments are still in Sebastian's mind 18 years later as he remembers that moment vividly. “That insecurity that was starting to dissipate came back. I thought, ‘Maybe I do look like crap, I’m not cut out for this.’” However, he kept pushing on and has carved out a career in the Australian music scene. “I knew I was lucky, so I knew that would be frustrating for a lot of people who have really slogged it out trying to get into the scene. I’ve been given this opportunity through Idol — people voted for me. Kids went into debt voting for me! I’m forever in debt,” he said. “That’s why I keep going, because I was gifted this amazing opportunity. It’s a weird way to enter the industry, but it’s given me a fire that’ll never die out, because people believed in me.” </div> </div> </div>

Music

Blind grandad brutally bashed by teens

Horrifying footage has captured the moment a partially blind grandad was set upon by a group of teen gang members in a Melbourne Park. The 63-year-old was walking near Pelister Place in Sunshine West when the young boys dragged him onto the oval and repeatedly kicked and stomped the man before stealing his phone and shoes. The sickening attack occurred at around 1.50pm. “I feel sick when I see that type of offending,” Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said. “Just a vicious attack on a person that’s going about their business.” Three other people were attacked that day, Nine News reported. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840330/mick-fuller-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/cc799337089a491f92e9bf3f5440dc81" /> This included a university student who was punched in the face and had his laptop stolen. Police said all of the victims were vulnerable as they were targeted in a public place while waiting for public transport. Four people, with two of them being juveniles, were arrested over attacks. A 16-year-old boy was convicted of assault but hit with a youth attendance order, meaning he will spend no time behind bars. Another 16-year-old boy was sentenced to six months in jail but with time served was released in January. Ramzy Mohammedali, 20, was sentenced to eight months, while 18-year-old Amanniwal Nyieker – pictured in the video wearing a white hood and white trackpants – was jailed for two years. Victims of Crime Commissioner Fiona McCormack told Nine News that the boy’s sentences were a slap in the face to the victims. “I think they feel really betrayed and I think it would impact on their sense of safety,” she said. “Such serious violent crimes … that needs to be taken really seriously by the system.”

Legal

Bride blinded by her own wedding flowers

After picking wildflowers from her Nebraska, US, property for her upcoming wedding day, Christine Jo Miller had a reaction that sent her entire Big Day spinning into chaos. In a series of TikTok videos, Christine explained how those wildflowers caused a violent poisonous reaction on her wedding day. She thought it would be romantic to use the beautiful flowers, so in the days leading up to the wedding she picked enough to fill an entire truck – completely unware of how poisonous that type of Snow-on-the-mountain wildflower can be. The night before the wedding, the bride and her girlfriends spent the evening arranging the wildflowers with white roses and baby’s breath. And when Christine woke up on the wedding day, she found her face covered in a dreadful rash caused by the sap residue. Posting a photo of herself lying on the floor, she wrote: “I started feeling sick and feverish from the pain. So I did the cucumber trick and slept while I got my hair done.” But while she’d covered her eyes in slices of cucumber, Christine was horrified when she realised she’d lost her vision because her face was so swollen. After being rushed to the nearest emergency room, matters only got worse for Christine as it was Labour Day weekend and the ER wasn’t open. Despite receiving no treatment for the allergic reaction, Christine was determined to go ahead and walk down the aisle. “I wasn’t dying,” she wrote, “So I thought I just needed to suck it up. Tried to do make-up – was in too much pain so I ended up sleeping until my mum said it was time to put my dress on.” Once the vows were complete, Christine was immediately taken to hospital and given eye drops, pain medication and a steroid shot. Later at the reception, Christine admitted: “We didn’t want to do a first dance because I didn’t want to be the centre of attention out of embarrassment.” When a guest tried to get her to dance, Christine screamed in pain and said she spent most of the rest of the day under a table to avoid any attention. A week later after the swelling went down, the photographer arranged a surprise wedding reception for the couple where they were able to get the shots they wanted – and finally have that all-important dance. Images: @christinejomiller/TikTok

Relationships

The Voice contestants who made Delta Goodrem and Guy Sebastian cry

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> The latest season of The Voice is tugging on the coach’s heartstrings as two of them break down while on set. The Blind Auditions continue after the start of season 9 and both Guy Sebastian and Delta Goodrem find themselves in the coach’s chairs. Guy Sebastian was particularly emotional as his younger brother Chris took to the stage for another chance at the title. Chris was on the first season of The Voice in 2012 and Guy said he felt the pressure of his younger brother competing. "I'm so close to my brothers, I would die for them," Guy, 38, tells <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/reality-tv/the-voice/the-voice-guy-sebastian-delta-goodrem-crying-64029" target="_blank">TV WEEK</a>. "We're such a tight family unit. That's why I was so nervous about Chris doing the show. He was approached last year, and after I had a year of being a coach, I knew it was a safe space for him to go back into." Guy was very emotional after his brother sang. "I was embarrassed by how I was after he sang," Guy says. "You get emotional, but then I was crying a bit too much and went into the ugly cry. Then it got weird for everyone, and it was like, 'OK, we get it – he's your brother.'" Delta also got emotional as All Star artist Jesse Teinaki returned to the show. "I felt such a connection to him," Delta, 35, says of Jesse, who was on her team in 2019, but wasn't taken through to the live rounds. "Jess is such beautiful person. I think he was one of the best auditions this year and it was very emotional. He's really special – for me, he's one of the highlights of the Blinds." Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/reality-tv/the-voice/the-voice-guy-sebastian-delta-goodrem-crying-64029" target="_blank">Channel 9</a> </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

Shopper shoves disabled woman to get last toilet paper roll

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> A Perth woman in a wheelchair said that she was pushed by another shopper as she tried to reach for the last pack of toilet paper on a supermarket shelf. Jacqui Giles was about to pick up the final pack of toilet paper when she was shoved out of the way by another customer. "I reached down to go grab it, and she just pushed me and grabbed the toilet paper and went off," Ms Giles told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.9news.com.au/" target="_blank">9News</a>. Giles said that her partner followed the woman to her car and saw evidence of toilet paper hoarding. "She had four 36-packs in her car," she said. Giles said the behaviour was "really selfish". "If someone did that to my grandparents I wouldn't be happy, or to anyone who needs it. "Some people could be quite sick and (have) bowel disease, and they really do need it." Luckily, she was able to buy a pack earlier in the day. Industry Minister Karen Andrews condemned panic buying behaviour. "Firstly - there is no need for people to continue to buy extensive amounts of toilet paper," she said. "We have adequate supplies of that in Australia, and quite frankly, people's usage is not likely to change. "So there is no need to panic buy that." Currently, there is no nationwide shortages of any major supermarket item, but people’s panic-buying makes it difficult to keep essentials on the shelves. "The issue that we are experiencing at the moment is getting the goods out of our distribution centres and on to the shelves. "The more panic buying that continues, the more difficult that is, which means that people will walk into stores and they will see shelves that are not fully stocked. "That is only a restocking issue. It is not a supply issue. "So if everyone goes back to their normal purchasing behaviour at a supermarket, there is no cause for alarm." A blind woman also reported having toilet paper stolen from her shopping trolley in Melbourne. "Because we cannot see, people are stealing from us," she told 9News. "Please consider other people who are disadvantaged because we can't get food because we don't have cars." </div> </div> </div>

Body

“No dogs”: Bus company apologises after blind woman told she can’t ride with guide dog

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Louise Pearson’s usual trip to work turned into an hour-long standoff as a bus driver refused to let her get on a bus with her guide dog, Arthur. Pearson said to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://10daily.com.au/shows/10-news-first/melbourne/a200218hdatv/bus-company-apologises-after-blind-woman-told-she-cant-ride-with-guide-dog-20200218" target="_blank">10 Daily</a> that she flagged down the bus and the driver said, “no dogs”. She then tried to explain that she had been catching the same bus route for four years and said that Arthur needed to come with her for the journey. "This is Melbourne, Australia, and I always think that we are at the forefront ... that we've got around these issues," she said of the incident. "I didn’t get angry at all with him this morning or say anything that was in any way rude to him, but I just wasn't going to let the point go because otherwise, people don’t learn." Another passenger tried to sway the driver by saying that they see Pearson on the same route every day. "He was sort of moving up and down the bus saying, 'no dogs, you can't have dogs on this bus'," Pearson said. After the hour-long stand off, police officers in Victoria were called to the scene and offered Pearson a ride in their car. However, she refused and was eventually allowed to continue on her bus trip. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Louise says she feels frustrated about being denied entry to a Dysons bus this morning, with her guide dog Arthur. She said more education is needed about ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/GuideDogsVIC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GuideDogsVIC</a>⁩ laws <a href="https://t.co/Mr70Zj9AT2">pic.twitter.com/Mr70Zj9AT2</a> — Yasmin Paton (@yaspaton) <a href="https://twitter.com/yaspaton/status/1229568350667194368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote> Victoria’s head of transport services Jeroen Weimar told reporters that he was “distressed and disappointed” by the incident. "Everybody who uses a guide dog is entitled to travel on our public transport system, whether it be a bus, train or tram," Weimar told reporters. "This is a reminder of how important it is that we continue to educate not only drivers but everyone in society about the importance of guide dogs and also the importance of enabling everybody to live freely and independently." Guide Dogs Victoria chief executive Karen Hayes says that the organisation’s main role is to ensure there is a “voice at the table” for accessible transport for all members in the community. "We need to keep the message out there that we need to continue to educate the community about the fact guide dogs aren't pets," Hayes said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Today our CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/karenlhayes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KarenLHayes</a> fronted the media to address an incident where a Guide Dog handler was refused access to a bus. We are supporting our client through this and acknowledge the need for continued public education about Guide Dog access. Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/ws4edPNKoS">https://t.co/ws4edPNKoS</a> <a href="https://t.co/8eAnVxKfJc">pic.twitter.com/8eAnVxKfJc</a> — Guide Dogs Victoria (@GuideDogsVIC) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuideDogsVIC/status/1229650589199556609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote> "They are working guide dogs to provide freedom and independence to somebody who has blindness or low vision." Bus company Dysons said that the driver misunderstood the rules for assistance animals on public transport and confirmed that the driver had been stood down as investigations continue. "We would like to apologise to the passenger for any distress caused by this morning's incident," it said in a statement. "To ensure this doesn't happen again, we will engage with Guide Dogs Victoria and other applicable organisations to see what training opportunities are available to our company." </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

Blind woman “stalked” by Woolworths robot in supermarket

A blind woman has lashed out at Woolworths over a “silly” robot who “stalked” her while she was shopping with her guide dog at a Melbourne supermarket. On Tuesday, Casey Hyde took her guide dog Bridget through a Woolworths store when she was confronted by a tall, white robot. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Ms Hyde, who has 10 per cent vision, said the robot kept following her down the aisle as it yelled the word “obstruction”. “It’s designed to find things blocking the aisle and the robot thought Bridget was an obstruction,” she said. “It scared the dog and also distracted her.” She said the robot followed her closely as she walked around the supermarket and believes that because Bridget is black and weighs about 39 kg she may have been mistaken for a bin. “It was confronting for me – the robot wasn’t helping me feel comfortable,” Ms Hyde said. She claimed that a stranger helped her complete her shopping because “she could not see if the robot was coming or not”. The robot, which is called “Greggles” has not been popular amongst shoppers, one of them being Ms Hyde. <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2555330141458134&set=p.2555330141458134&type=3" data-width="auto"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> Modern technology might stop me from working. This robot in Woolworths checks on shelves for empty low... Posted by <a href="#">Bridget Hyde</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2555330141458134&set=p.2555330141458134&type=3">Monday, January 20, 2020</a></blockquote> </div> “This issue should not ever come up,” she said. “It shows a bit of ignorance towards people with disabilities – how are people in wheelchairs or with prams supposed to get through the aisle with this robot?” She added that she’s “really concerned” is the “silly robots” gets rolled out to even more stores across the country, that it may make it difficult for people to do their shopping. “I just want people to be able to enjoy their shopping instead of worrying about being stalked by a penis-shaped robot,” said Ms Hyde. A Woolworths spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia that they want all customers “to feel welcome” and regret that, on this occasion it “wasn’t the case”. The spokesperson revealed that someone has gotten in touch with Ms Hyde and “will look into details with the robot manufacturer as a priority”. “The safety robot is part of a trial designed to improve customer safety and experience in the store, and we’re closely monitoring customer feedback on it,” they said. “These robots operate in hundreds of stores across the world and have been subject to extensive safety testing by the manufacturer. They have sensors built in and are programmed to stop or move away from any fixed or moving objects.”

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The Voice contestants who made Delta Goodrem and Guy Sebastian cry

Shopper shoves disabled woman to get last toilet paper roll

“No dogs”: Bus company apologises after blind woman told she can’t ride with guide dog

Blind woman “stalked” by Woolworths robot in supermarket

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