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Alleged motive of man who scalded baby revealed

A friend of the Chinese national man who has been accused of scalding nine-month-old baby Luka in a Brisbane park has revealed his potential motive. On August 27th, baby Luka was in Hanlon Park with his mother when a man approached them and poured hot coffee over the infant, leaving him with lifelong injuries. The man has since been <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/man-accused-of-scalding-baby-in-park-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identified</a> as a 33-year-old Chinese national who was in Australia on a student visa. Now, a friend of the man has claimed the horrific attack on the baby was because he sought “revenge on white people” after he was denied another Australian visa. “Finally, he vented his anger and [allegedly] hurt a baby before leaving Australia,” reported China’s New Tang Dynasty Television, adding that Luka was “probably [attacked] to take revenge on the white people.” As the man has now been identified by Queensland Police, Luka's parents, who have wished to remain anonymous throughout the ordeal, have new questions as they continue their fight for justice. “Where is he now? Is he in jail now that the media knows who he is over there? Is he just walking the streets?” the mother posed to 9News. Luka's father added, “We just want him to be punished, here or there, we just want him to be punished.” The man allegedly fled the scene after gravely injuring the child and drove over the state border to Sydney, where he flew out of the country on August 31st. Queensland Police have since put an arrest warrant out for the man for intending to cause grievous bodily harm, which carried a maximum penalty of a life sentence. Speaking to 4BC Radio on Thursday morning, Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Andrew Massingham said police were “very much committed” to arresting the man. “Our international search continues for the person that committed that horrendous crime,” he said. “That child will have those injuries for life.” Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton previously revealed the man fled the country just 12 hours after they identified him. “Detectives are devastated that they missed this person by 12 hours. I was deflated, but that deflation quickly turns into determination and resilience to get the job done.” Image credits: Queensland Police

Caring

Breaking the silence on prostate cancer: man’s family legacy highlights importance of early detection

James Murray, 55, an architect from Melbourne, always knew he was living with a genetic "time bomb." A fifth-generation prostate cancer sufferer, his family’s battle with the disease spans over 170 years. From his great-great-grandfather, who chronicled his symptoms in 1847, to his uncles and father who also faced the disease, prostate cancer has been a grim constant in his family. “My family has what's been called a ‘spectacular history’ with prostate cancer,” James reflects. “But that’s not the kind of thing you want to hear. My great-great-grandfather had it, though they couldn’t test for it back then. My grandfather died from it, my father got it, and both of his brothers had it as well. It’s been a constant in our family for generations.” James' great-great-grandfather, Robert William Felton Lathrop Murray, a soldier and the founder of the Hobart Town Gazette, documented his battle with the disease long before modern medicine could provide a diagnosis. Since then, generation after generation of Murrays has grappled with the same fate. For James, however, early detection was key. Diagnosed in February 2022, he underwent surgery just a few months later in May, removing what doctors described as an aggressive form of the disease. But his story, unlike his ancestors, had a different ending. “In a way, we’ve been cursed by prostate cancer," explains James. "But it’s also been a blessing because it made us all hyper-aware of the importance of early detection. My dad was incredibly diligent, and that saved his life. He made sure I was on top of my PSA testing from my mid-40s, and that’s how we caught it early for me.” Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing and early detection are now recognised as crucial, particularly for men with a family history of prostate cancer. Yet, dangerous myths surrounding prostate cancer testing continue to cost lives, warns Associate Professor Weranja Ranasinghe, Deputy Leader of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand’s (USANZ) GU-Oncology Special Advisory Group. “Many men believe that they need to have urinary symptoms to be concerned about prostate cancer,” explains Ranasinghe. “The reality is that most prostate cancers develop without any symptoms at all. Urinary symptoms are not reliable – most of these symptoms are caused by non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate but advanced cancer can also give you urinary symptoms. So it is important to get checked.” An even greater barrier, however, is the outdated belief that prostate cancer screening requires an invasive rectal exam. Ranasinghe stresses that this is no longer the case: “A simple PSA blood test, combined with advanced imaging like MRI, is now the standard approach. Many men are avoiding tests due to this outdated fear, but in the GP setting, a rectal exam is currently not required for detecting prostate cancer." With over 26,000 Australian men expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) is raising awareness during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month about the importance of early testing and debunking these misconceptions. Ranasinghe also points out that men with a strong family history should be particularly vigilant. “Men with female relatives who have had breast or ovarian cancer are also at an increased risk of prostate cancer due to the same genetic mutations. So we recommend that men with a strong family history get a PSA test at the age of 40, which is earlier than the recommended age.” For James Murray, the decision to undergo surgery quickly after his diagnosis proved life-saving. “When my PSA levels started rising in February 2022, I wasn’t shocked," he recalls. "I had always known this day would come. It wasn’t something I feared, but more something I was prepared for. I told myself, ‘Okay, it’s here, let’s deal with it,’ and I just focused on getting through the surgery as quickly as possible.” James feels fortunate compared to his uncles, whose diagnoses came much later in life, leading to more severe outcomes. His surgery went well, and he's had a quick recovery, returning to work and feeling grateful that they caught it early. That's why James is advocating for early PSA testing, particularly for men with a family history of prostate cancer. He plans to ensure his 19-year-old son is aware of the need for testing in the future. "We often see men wait until a friend or relative is diagnosed before thinking about getting a prostate cancer PSA test done," says Ranasinghe. "This reactive approach is dangerous. Men need to be proactive and take ownership of their prostate health and talk to their GPs about this, just like they would with cholesterol or other routine health checks." As prostate cancer awareness grows, James hopes his story will encourage others to get tested. It’s something no one wants to face, but the sooner you catch it, the better chance you have. For more information on prostate cancer screening and to find a urologist, visit the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) at <a href="https://www.usanz.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.usanz.org.au</a>. Images: Supplied

Caring

Man accused of scalding baby in park identified

The man accused of pouring scalding hot coffee over a nine-month-old baby in a Brisbane park has finally been identified, after fleeing the country. On August 27th, baby Luka was in Hanlon Park with his mother when a man approached them and poured hot coffee over the infant, leaving him with lifelong injuries. The man then fled the country before he could be identified or detained by police. Now, the man in question has now been identified as a 33-year-old Chinese national who was in Australia on a student visa. He allegedly fled the scene after gravely injuring the child and drove over the state border to Sydney, where he flew out of the country on August 31st. Queensland Police have since put an arrest warrant out for the man for intending to cause grievous bodily harm, which carried a maximum penalty of a life sentence. Police said he had no family or criminal record in Australia and had previously worked in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, with Chinese media reporting that the man was born in Hangzhou, China. “Queensland Police are working with national and international partner agencies to progress this investigation further,” a statement from Queensland Police said. Speaking to 4BC Radio on Thursday morning, Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Andrew Massingham said police were “very much committed” to arresting the man. “Our international search continues for the person that committed that horrendous crime,” he said. “That child will have those injuries for life.” Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton previously revealed the man fled the country just 12 hours after they identified him. “Detectives are devastated that they missed this person by 12 hours. I was deflated, but that deflation quickly turns into determination and resilience to get the job done.” Image credits: 9News / Queensland Police

Caring

Red tape threatens to remove a man with Down's syndrome from his elderly mother

An elderly mother and her disabled son are at risk of being separated over the woman's aged care home's red tape. Anne Deans, 81, moved into an aged care facility in July and hoped that she would be able to bring her son, Mark, who suffers from Down's syndrome with her. Mark, 56, has always lived with his mother, and despite his disability, has lived a full life and has dabbled in acting, appearing on Aussie TV hit Blue Heelers. But now, the mother and son have been left in limbo by a bureaucratic battle. Despite the family's history and Mark's disability, the government refuses to fund a place for Mark at Anne's aged care home, stating that aged care is "not an appropriate service for people aged under 65". "People with Down's syndrome have a life expectancy of 60 years. That's if we're lucky. So Mark is experiencing all of the age issues that my Mum is," Mark's sister Sharon said. Sharon and her sister Michelle have been lobbying on Mark's behalf, with Michelle saying, "I don't know why it's so hard. There's so much red tape." "There's so many hills to jump, just to have a mum and a son together. It doesn't make any sense." Anne is digging in and appealing to the Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells for help. "I brought him up all these years, and all of a sudden someone's going to walk in and take him out," Anne told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/victoria-red-tape-threatens-to-tear-man-with-disability-from-his-mum/df4ef75b-6df1-4507-8a73-dfae0b258e08" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "It is damn ridiculous. They should open up their eyes and see what it's doing. He's not going anywhere. I don't know how I'm going to stop it, but I will." In a statement, Ms Wells said, "While Aged Care is generally not suitable for people under the age of 65, we recognise there are exceptional circumstances where people may need to enter aged care before this age, including when there is no suitable accommodation for them." "The New Aged care Act includes exceptional circumstances for people to enter Aged Care before they turn 65, including when they would otherwise be at risk of homelessness." "There are processes in place to support people to explore their options and ensure they have safe and appropriate accommodation." "We encourage Mark to continue to work with Ability First Australia and the Aged Care Assessment Teams to explore all the options." Image credits: A Current Affair

Family & Pets

"Almost proud of himself": Elderly man condemned for keying Tesla in broad daylight

An elderly man has sparked outrage after being caught on camera keying a stranger’s Tesla in a Woolworths car park in Queanbeyan, near the ACT-NSW border. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has led to widespread condemnation online. The Tesla’s owner, David Shannon, shared the footage of the incident on Facebook, asking the public for help in identifying the man responsible for the damage. “Is anyone familiar with this man? He keyed my car at Woolworths,” Shannon wrote in a local community group, attaching a video of the act. The footage shows the elderly man casually walking past the Tesla, dragging a set of keys along the car's side. After causing the damage, he pauses to inspect his handiwork before walking away. Shannon clarified in his post that his vehicle was not parked in a disabled spot, referencing the adjacent sign to avoid any misunderstandings. “This is not going to be a cheap fix and I’d love the opportunity to ask him nicely what drove him to this,” Shannon expressed. He later <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13878489/Key-car-Woolworths-Queanbeyan-Canberra.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed to the Daily Mail</a> that the repairs would cost approximately $3,000. Though the motive for the attack remains unclear, Shannon speculated that the man may hold a grudge against electric vehicles. Many on social media were quick to criticise the elderly man’s actions, with some expressing disgust at the moment when he appeared to “admire” the damage. “Can’t believe someone would do that!” one commenter exclaimed, while another called the act “absolutely disgusting.” “It’s scary that he stands back to admire his handy work. Almost proud of himself,” another added. Calls for legal action have grown, with many urging Shannon to report the incident to authorities. “He needs to be held accountable and pay for the damage to the car,” one person insisted. Another lamented, “This man gives baby boomers a bad name and bad reputation!” NSW Police have confirmed that they have launched an investigation following reports of vehicle damage at the shopping centre on Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information or CCTV footage to contact Crime Stoppers to assist in their investigation. Images: Facebook

Legal

Tragic flaw sees man use voluntary assisted dying drugs prescribed for his wife

Warning: This article contains discussions of suicide and depression that some readers may find upsetting A Queensland coroner has criticised the state's voluntary assisted dying laws, after an elderly man took his own life using drugs prescribed for his wife. The Coroner's Court in Brisbane held an inquest into the May 2023 death of a man in his 80s, referred to by the pseudonym ABC. The man's partner, who had a terminal illness, was found eligible for the voluntary assisted dying [VAD] program in March 2023. Under that law a person can self-administer a VAD substance in a private location but they must nominate a "contact person" who will be legally required to return any unused or leftover portion within 14 days. The self-administered drug was delivered to the couple's home a month later, and the man was the "contact person" responsible for the substance. On the same day the drug arrived, his wife was admitted to hospital with Covid, where they decided to take an intravenous VAD drug. She died in hospital on May 8, 2023. The man was told to return the drug within two days of his partner's death, but he failed to do so, using it to take his own life eight days later. He did not return the drug as he was unable to leave his home, and there was no arrangement made for a health professional to collect it. ABC’s adult daughter recalled the moment she found her lifeless father after returning from running errands. “I thought he was asleep in the chair. I put my arms around him. He was cold,” she told the inquest. The woman became emotional and said that she found an empty box in the kitchen and “knew immediately it was the VAD”. In his findings, coroner David O’Connell said he was not judging the merits of VAD, but it had led to a "tragedy" only 107 days after it was legalised. “Persons should not be placed in a position where they can be led into unwise decisions,” the coroner said in his findings handed down on Wednesday. O'Connell said that the laws had failed to find a balance between a patient's autonomy and lethal medication safety. “The VAD law has (the substance) provided to persons with no medical training, no regulatory oversight, and in a period of great personal and emotional turmoil,” he said. The inquest heard ABC had previously been diagnosed with, and received medication for depression, which should've been considered before approving someone as a contact person. "The fact that ABC had been medically diagnosed with depression and took medication was not something the VAD authorities considered, or even enquired on, when approving them to be a Contact Person. Indeed, there are simply no checks or enquiries of the Contact Person's suitability," he said. He added that while there was no breach of protocol or legislative processes by QVAD personnel, it was "not a well-considered law". O'Connell recommended the Queensland government implement an earlier draft of VAD laws that required oversight by a medical professional at all times. Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the government would consider the coroner’s recommendations. “Following that case, we are working on a review of that legislation coming up to three years that will start next year, and that will obviously be one of the things that we look at,” she said. Image: Shutterstock

Caring

Manhunt after stranger pours scalding hot coffee on baby in public park

Queensland Police have released footage of the man they believe burned a baby with a scalding hot drink in a public park. On Wednesday, the unknown man approached the family at Hanlon Park in Brisbane and poured hot coffee on the nine-month-old baby boy. He was rushed to the Queensland Children’s Hospital with burns to his face, upper body and arms, with the burns covering 60 per cent of his body. Queensland Police have now released CCTV footage from the area, showing a man running from the park. He appears approximately 30 to 40 years old, with a proportionate build and tanned skin, and was wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts. Anyone who recognises the man has been urged to contact the police with information. An off-duty nurse heard the commotion in the park from the balcony of her apartment, telling <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/footage-of-man-who-burnt-baby-with-hot-drink-at-hanlon-park-in-stones-corner-released-c-15856522" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> she went outside to investigate when she heard screaming. She said she heard the child’s mother yelling “my baby, my baby”. The nurse rushed down to the park to help the boy, taking him to her nearby apartment where he was placed under a cold shower before paramedics arrived. Locals told 7News the attack was “terrible” and they were shocked it had happened in their community. “It’s really scary when you think that we haven’t got a community that looks after our young and vulnerable,” one woman said. Image credits: Queensland Police

Legal

Men have a biological clock too. Here’s what’s more likely when dads are over 50

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karin-hammarberg-113096">Karin Hammarberg</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> We hear a lot about women’s biological clock and how age affects the chance of pregnancy. <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821811#google_vignette">New research shows</a> men’s fertility is also affected by age. When dads are over 50, the risk of pregnancy complications increases. Data from more than 46 million births in the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821811#google_vignette">United States</a> between 2011 and 2022 compared fathers in their 30s with fathers in their 50s. While taking into account the age of the mother and other factors known to affect pregnancy outcomes, the researchers found every ten-year increase in paternal age was linked to more complications. The researchers found that compared to couples where the father was aged 30–39, for couples where the dad was in his 50s, there was a: <ul> <li>16% increased risk of preterm birth</li> <li>14% increased risk of low birth weight</li> <li>13% increase in gestational diabetes.</li> </ul> The older fathers were also twice as likely to have used assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, to conceive than their younger counterparts. <h2>Dads are getting older</h2> In this <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821811#google_vignette">US study</a>, the mean age of all fathers increased from 30.8 years in 2011 to 32.1 years in 2022. In that same period, the proportion of men aged 50 years or older fathering a child increased from 1.1% to 1.3%. We don’t know the proportion of men over 50 years who father children in Australia, but data shows the average age of fathers has increased. In 1975 the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/births-australia/latest-release">median age of Australian dads</a> was 28.6 years. This jumped to 33.7 years in 2022. <h2>How male age affects getting pregnant</h2> As we know from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/celebrities-dads-first-time-over-age-50#when-he-was-54-simon-cowell-and-girlfriend-lauren-silverman-became-parents-to-their-son-eric-7">media reports</a> of celebrity dads, men produce sperm from puberty throughout life and can father children well into old age. However, there is a noticeable decline in <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(18)30269-3/fulltext">sperm quality</a> from about age 40. Female partners of older men take longer to achieve pregnancy than those with younger partners. A study of the effect of male age on <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(03)00366-2/fulltext">time to pregnancy</a> showed women with male partners aged 45 or older were almost five times more likely to take more than a year to conceive compared to those with partners aged 25 or under. More than three quarters (76.8%) of men under the age of 25 years impregnated their female partners within six months, compared with just over half (52.9%) of men over the age of 45. Pooled data from ten studies showed that partners of older men are also more likely to experience miscarriage. Compared to couples where the male was aged 25 to 29 years, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32358607/">paternal age over 45 years</a> increased the risk of miscarriage by 43%. <h2>Older men are more likely to need IVF</h2> Outcomes of assisted reproductive technology, such as IVF, are also influenced by the age of the male partner. A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.03.031">review of studies</a> in couples using assisted reproductive technologies found paternal age under 40 years reduced the risk of miscarriage by about 25% compared to couples with men aged over 40. Having a male under 40 years also almost doubled the chance of a live birth per treatment cycle. With a man over 40, 17.6% of treatment rounds resulted in a live birth, compared to 28.4% when the male was under 40. <h2>How does male age affect the health outcomes of children?</h2> As a result of age-related changes in sperm DNA, the children of older fathers have increased risk of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9957550/">a number of conditions</a>. Autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and leukaemia have been linked to the father’s advanced years. A <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(22)01979-3/fulltext">review of studies</a> assessing the impact of advanced paternal age reported that children of older fathers have increased rates of psychiatric disease and behavioural impairments. But while the increased risk of adverse health outcomes linked to older paternal age is real, the magnitude of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29471389/">the effect is modest</a>. It’s important to remember that an increase in a very small risk is still a small risk and most children of older fathers are born healthy and develop well. <h2>Improving your health can improve your fertility</h2> In addition to the effects of older age, some chronic conditions that affect fertility and reproductive outcomes become more common as men get older. They include <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(23)01935-0/fulltext">obesity and diabetes</a> which affect sperm quality by lowering testosterone levels. While we can’t change our age, some lifestyle factors that increase the risk of pregnancy complications and reduce fertility, can be tackled. They include: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4639396/">smoking</a></li> <li>recreational <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/tre.414">drug taking</a></li> <li><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/tre.414">anabolic steroid</a> use</li> <li>heavy <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5504800/">alcohol consumption</a>.</li> </ul> <h2>Get the facts about the male biological clock</h2> Research shows <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/23/4/458/3065332?login=false">men want children</a> as much as women do. And most men want at least two children. Yet most men <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/23/4/458/3065332?login=false">lack knowledge</a> about the limitations of female and male fertility and overestimate the chance of getting pregnant, with and without assisted reproductive technologies. We need better public education, starting at school, to improve awareness of the impact of male and female age on reproductive outcomes and help people have healthy babies. For men wanting to improve their chance of conceiving, the government-funded sites <a href="https://healthymale.org.au/">Healthy Male</a> and <a href="https://www.yourfertility.org.au/">Your Fertility</a> are a good place to start. These offer evidence-based and accessible information about reproductive health, and <a href="https://www.yourfertility.org.au/fertility-week-2022">tips</a> to improve your reproductive health and give your children the best start in life.<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/236892/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karin-hammarberg-113096">Karin Hammarberg</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women's Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/men-have-a-biological-clock-too-heres-whats-more-likely-when-dads-are-over-50-236892">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Lollipop man slapped with ban over "innocent" gesture

A beloved lollipop man in Victoria has been banned from high-fiving children after receiving a complaint from a concerned parent. John Goulden is a much-loved elderly lollipop man at the Mount Dandenong Primary School in Greater Melbourne, and will no longer be able to high five kids as they leave and enter the school grounds. Goulden, who was recently crowned one of Victoria’s top crossing supervisors, was reprimanded by Yarra Ranges Council who warned him against “initiating unnecessary physical contact” with the children. Outraged parents in the community have rallied behind the cherished lollipop man, with one parent, Rohan Bradley, even starting a petition to have the ban removed, saying that Mr Goulden has an “infectious joy that leaves a lasting impression on students and parents”. “His high fives in the morning and afternoon have become a tradition that many children look forward to, a small gesture that symbolises the warmth and friendliness of our unique community,” he said. “Sadly, this tradition is under threat. With our children’s happiness and wellbeing hanging in the balance, we need to take action.” Mr Bradley said it was not just about a simple high five but about “preserving our unique community’s spirit”. “We implore those in charge to let John continue to high-five his students, preserving an act that sparks joy and promotes a more positive learning environment,” he said. The petition has already gained more than 500 signatures as parents and students stand with the “community’s morale booster”. In a statement, Yarra Ranges Council confirmed they had received a complaint from a parent at the school about the crossing supervisor dishing out high fives. “Council’s internal policies and the Victorian Standards clearly states that unacceptable behaviours includes: Exhibiting behaviours with children and young people which may be construed as unnecessarily physical,” they told 9News. “Council has reminded the contractor who is currently supervising children at the Mount Dandenong Primary School of expectations of the role regarding interactions with children.” Image credits: Facebook

Legal

"Really upsetting": Man turned away from concert for being in a wheelchair

A man from Melbourne has been left devastated after he was denied entry into a concert due to being a wheelchair. Dylan Taylor and his friends arrived at the Pier Bandroom in the suburb of Frankston to see one of his favourite heavy metal bands Polaris, when he ran into problems getting in the door. “I got to the front of the line, and they were checking IDs like normal, and one of the bouncers wouldn’t even acknowledge that I was there,” Taylor told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/dylan-was-turned-away-from-seeing-his-favourite-band-because-he-uses-a-wheelchair-experts-say-its-a-common-issue-c-15618393" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>. “I was holding up my licence, and he wouldn’t look at it or take it, and they had taken everyone else’s licence." “I hadn’t really figured it out at this point ... but then the other bouncer said: ‘Nup, sorry mate, no wheelchairs’.” Taylor’s group of friends called for a manager to discuss the potential for them to “make it work”. The group was asked to wait around the side of the building for the manager, who was unable to offer any solutions. Dylan said he was told it would be a fire safety risk to let him in, and that even though in a scenario where a person injured in the venue would be carried out by bouncers during a fire, that the bouncers would not carry a wheelchair user out in the same scenario. “I’m spewin’ because, at this point, I haven’t even paid my friends back for the ticket, and I’ve ruined their night out,” he said. His friends continued to try to reason with the manager to let Dylan in, even saying they had seen a wheelchair user in the venue two weeks earlier, but to no avail. “Technically, you can have wheelchairs, but you have to be ambulant, that’s what we got out of them, in the end,” Taylor said. According to Dylan, there was no wheelchair access disclaimer on his tickets, nor on the Pier Bandroom’s website or social media, with Google Maps even displaying an accessibility widget which claimed there was a “wheelchair-accessible entrance”. A spokesperson from the Pier Bandroom parent company Endeavour Group told 7News it was sorry for the distress caused by the incident. “The Pier Hotel was originally built in the 1800s and is a historic landmark in Frankston. While the Pier Hotel has various rooms on the ground floor, the Pier Bandroom function space is only accessible by stairs, and is not wheelchair accessible,” it said. “We apologise to any ticket holders who were not given adequate information about our venue’s policies at the time of purchasing tickets to recent concerts. We regret any inconvenience or distress this may have caused. “We are taking action to update the Pier Bandroom’s website with this information and communicate with any show promoters to do the same.” Taylor said the incident at the Pier Bandroom “was the first time I’ve faced, I would say, pretty blatant discrimination”, as he has only required the wheelchair for 18 months after sustaining a permanent spine injury. “You feel pretty empty inside, and I did have a little cry in the car on the way home." “It just really upsets me thinking about people who have maybe been dealing with disability for their whole life. Who maybe haven’t had the other half of life I’ve had, to be able to go and experience these things before being in a wheelchair.” While learning to live with his disability, Taylor was pleased to learn “how many people will go out of their way to help you out” but said it was disappointing to discover just how much his autonomy was curbed by poor accessibility. “It’s been a steep learning curve,” Taylor said. “Melbourne will accept the reputation of being inclusive and accepting, but it’s not necessarily accessible.” Image credits: Google Maps / 7News / Dylan Taylor

Legal

Man arrested for climbing Eiffel Tower before closing ceremony

A British man has been arrested after climbing the Eiffel Tower just hours before the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics was due to commence. Shocked onlookers were horrified when they spotted the shirtless man scaling the 330m structure with no harness, as he stood on top of the blue Olympic ring before continuing his dangerous ascent. Incredible footage of the dangerous stunt, which was posted to X, shows him reaching halfway up the giant landmark with just a bag of chalk to help him, as he was not supported by any ropes or harnesses. Other videos shows the free climber being taken away in handcuffs by French police as tourists looked on from the viewing platform. The Paris Prosecutor’s office confirmed to The Sun the man was British and has been charged with endangering others and intrusion into a historic or cultural site. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> someone was trying to climb up Eiffel Tower after the Olympics, he was detained by police shortly after 💀<a href="https://t.co/m1oRWsKYeX">pic.twitter.com/m1oRWsKYeX</a> — ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) <a href="https://twitter.com/scubaryan_/status/1822685874691444924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote> A Paris police spokesman said: “At 2.45pm, an individual was seen climbing the Eiffel Tower. The police immediately intervened and arrested the individual.” According to spectators, the man could be heard saying “bloody warm, innit” as he was led away by police. Security officials quickly cordoned off the Eiffel Tower as they evacuated the site at around 3pm, as those inside were briefly locked up on the second floor, before they were allowed to leave around 30 minutes later once the man had been escorted from the area. Specialist climbing police were sent up the tower after it was cleared to check for any suspicious or unusual activity. Tourists queuing up for the landmark were left unaware of the ongoing situation and were left frustrated after they were told to leave. One social media user posted on X: “Just waited in line for so long to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower but someone is trying to climb it so they just shut the whole thing down. Super.” Image credits: X (Twitter)

Legal

Man behind viral "democracy manifest" arrest dies

Jack Karlson, the man behind one of Australia's most famous viral memes, has died aged 82. Karlson shot to fame after footage of his 1991 arrest outside the China Sea Restaurant in Brisbane went viral in 2009 when someone uploaded it to the internet. "Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest," he said during the arrest. "What is the charge? Eating a meal - a succulent Chinese meal?" "Have a look at the headlock here. See that chap over there?" he went on. "Get your hand off my penis! This is the bloke who got me on the penis before." Reports at the time suggested that Karlson had been arrested on suspicion of being criminal that was high on Queensland police's wanted list. While he did have a criminal history himself as he was known for several prison escapes throughout his life, he insisted that he was the wrong man. The reporter who reported Karlson's arrest 33 years ago, Chris Reason, confirmed Karlson's death in a social media post on X, tweeting that "Mr Democracy Manifest has died". A fundraiser had been set up for Karlson by his niece in June after he was reportedly diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed surgery for cataracts. “I know Jack’s video has given a lot of people joy and he has inspired many memes, t-shirts and other things over the years but Jack himself is doing it quite tough,” his niece wrote on the fundraiser at the time. “He has never had much money but has always been generous to family and friends. He lives week to week in regional QLD with the help of a voluntary carer. “Hoping people can dig deep – I think he’s worth at least a beer, maybe even a 6-pack.” In an update last week, his niece said that he wasn't doing well. “He has been in Hospital for two weeks now,” she wrote. “He has had multiple procedures but things are not looking good. “One thing that did lift his spirits was that the GoFundMe was taking off. He has been really appreciative of the donations and the comments.” A documentary about his life is currently in production and set to be released in early 2025. Images: 7News

Caring

Man fined $7000 for driving offences he did not commit

A New South Wales man has copped $7000 in fines and lost his licence, after he was fraudulently nominated for 14 driving offences by a woman in Victoria. Speaking to 2GB, Ross claimed he was falsely nominated through cars registered to two companies in Victoria, and shared an image of the woman behind the wheel. "I haven't been to Victoria in the last five years and I haven't driven a car in Victoria in the last five years," he told host Ben Fordham. "It's not me." Fordham then questioned whether he had "flowing long hair" as seen on the driver, to which he replied: "I don't, unfortunately. It's short hair." Ross, whose licence has been suspended, has been trying to clear the offences from his name. He has spoken to several government departments in both states including Service NSW and Vic Roads, submitted statutory declaration, police report, request of an extension and a nomination statement, to no avail. "I've tried to highlight that I'm a male and she is a female but it's still ongoing," Ross said. "It's a very convoluted process. "When someone assumes your identity in a fraudulent manner, it's no easy feat kind of getting it back." Fordham, who said the situation was "unbelievable", promised to step in and solve the matter for Ross within 24 hours, saying that they'll discuss this again tomorrow. Image: Nine

Legal

Man arrested over horror crash that left 11-year-old orphaned

A British man has been arrested over a horror crash that left an 11-year-old girl orphaned. Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller have died alongside their two young daughters Rubie, 9, and Lillie, four, when their car collided with a motorbike as the family were travelling home from a walk on Sunday. Christopher Barton, 56, and his wife Janine, 48, who were on the motorbike were also both killed. The couple's son, Lewis, 21 has now been left without his parents, along with Shane and Shannen's 11-year-old daughter Poppie. Shocking pictures taken after the horror crash between Barnsley and Wakefield in northern England, showed the burnt out wreckage of the family's car, who were all declared dead at the scene. Police have confirmed a man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, according to The Sun. Poppie managed to escape the tragic accident because she had gone to a friend's house for dinner, and Lewis was on holiday in Thailand when he found out about his parents death. The 11-year-old was being looked after by family friend, Paul Hepple, at the time, and he said that they were just tucking into a roast dinner when the phone rang with the devastating news. “Her mum actually contacted us and asked if we could watch her because she didn’t want to go on the walk that they went on,” he told Mail Online. “She was with our daughter having fun. And on their way home, that’s when the accident happened. “We were having Sunday dinner as a family, and Poppie's aunty was with us and obviously, Poppie was as well. And then she got a phone call and she ended up leaving really quickly to go and see what happened.” Hepple, has set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-poppie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page for Poppie and has raised almost £380,000 (about $745,000 Australian dollars) to put towards her education, emotional support and future care. The family friend has described Poppie as a “bright and resilient young girl” who has turned to Taylor Swift’s music to find comfort after she “lost her whole world in an instant”. “Despite her unimaginable loss, she shows incredible strength every day,” he wrote on the fundraiser. “Poppie now faces an uncertain future. With her immediate family gone, she needs support to ensure she has a stable, loving environment where she can heal and grow.” Shannen and Shane's devastated friends and family have shared their tributes on social media, vowing to look after Poppie. Shane’s brother Callum said he was “lost for words”, adding: “I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’m gonna miss all of you! You all had a heart of gold. My heart is ripped into a million pieces!” Shannen's friend Chelsea Element wrote: “You are and always will be one of my closest friends. “There are no words to describe the utter loss this has created for family/friends and the community around us. I hope you’re at peace Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller, with your beautiful girls. “Everyone will always look after Poppie, she will never want for anything she has the love of everyone.” Her cousin Beth Brittain said: “My heart just hurts my brain won’t accept what’s happened. “Shannen you were always my extra sister not just my cousin, we grew together. I just can’t speak. No words. Sleep tight my little Roller family your memory will live on for eternity.” Christopher and Janine’s son Lewis, is believed to have flown home immediately after finding out about his parents death. The couple had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, according to West Yorkshire Police, and they were just 20 minutes from home when the devastating accident occurred. In a tribute released through the police, the couple were described by their son as “a loving, caring mum and dad who always put me before everything else”. Superintendent Alan Travis of Wakefield District Police has urged anyone who has dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage of the car to contact them and assist with their investigation. They have also issued a public plea for anyone who saw a grey coloured Porsche 911 at the time of the crash to come forward. “This is an absolutely tragic incident which has resulted in the loss of six lives," the Superintendent said. “Our thoughts go out to the families of those who have died who we are working with to provide support at this time.” Images: news.com.au

Caring

What’s the difference between ‘man flu’ and flu? Hint: men may not be exaggerating

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/thea-van-de-mortel-1134101">Thea van de Mortel</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> The term “man flu” takes a <a href="https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/man-flu">humorous poke</a> at men with minor respiratory infections, such as colds, who supposedly exaggerate their symptoms. According to the stereotype, a man lies on the sofa with a box of tissues. Meanwhile his female partner, also with a snotty nose, carries on working from home, doing the chores and looking after him. But is man flu real? Is there a valid biological reason behind men’s symptoms or are men just malingering? And how does man flu differ from flu? <h2>What are the similarities?</h2> Man flu could refer to a number of respiratory infections – a cold, flu, even a mild case of COVID. So it’s difficult to compare man flu with flu. But for simplicity, let’s say man flu is actually a cold. If that’s the case, man flu and flu have some similar features. Both are caused by viruses (but different ones). Both are improved with rest, fluids, and if needed painkillers, throat lozenges or decongestants to <a href="https://activities.nps.org.au/nps-order-form/Resources/NPS-Cold-and-Flu-Brochure-May-2014.pdf">manage symptoms</a>. Both <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/coldflu.htm">can share</a> similar symptoms. Typically, more severe symptoms such as fever, body aches, violent shivering and headaches are more common in flu (but sometimes occur in colds). Meanwhile sore throats, runny noses, congestion and sneezing are more common in colds. A cough is common in both. <h2>What are the differences?</h2> <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm">Flu</a> is a more serious and sometimes fatal respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. Colds are caused by various viruses such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3553670/">rhinoviruses</a>, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/adenovirus/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/adenovirus/symptoms.html">adenoviruses</a>, and common cold <a href="https://journals.lww.com/pidj/citation/2022/03000/proving_etiologic_relationships_to_disease_.18.aspx">coronaviruses</a>, and are rarely serious. Colds tend to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/coldflu.htm">start gradually</a> while flu tends to start abruptly. Flu can be <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/overview-testing-methods.htm">detected</a> with laboratory or at-home tests. Man flu is not an official diagnosis. Severe flu symptoms may be prevented with <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm">a vaccine</a>, while cold symptoms cannot. Serious flu infections may also be <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/racf-antiviral-treatments-and-prophylaxis.aspx">prevented or treated</a> with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu. There are no antivirals for colds. <h2>OK, but is man flu real?</h2> Again, let’s assume man flu is a cold. Do men really have worse colds than women? The picture is complicated. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399922003324?via%3Dihub">One study</a>, with the title “Man flu is not a thing”, did in fact show there were differences in men’s and women’s symptoms. This study looked at symptoms of acute rhinosinusitis. That’s inflammation of the nasal passages and sinuses, which would explain a runny or stuffy nose, a sinus headache or face pain. When researchers assessed participants at the start of the study, men and women had similar symptoms. But by days five and eight of the study, women had fewer or less-severe symptoms. In other words, women had recovered faster. But when participants rated their own symptoms, we saw a somewhat different picture. Women rated their symptoms worse than how the researchers rated them at the start, but said they recovered more quickly. All this suggests men were not exaggerating their symptoms and did indeed recover more slowly. It also suggests women feel their symptoms more strongly at the start. <h2>Why is this happening?</h2> It’s not straightforward to tease out what’s going on biologically. There are <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2016.90">differences</a> in immune responses between men and women that provide a plausible reason for worse symptoms in men. For instance, women generally produce antibodies more efficiently, so they <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2016.90">respond more effectively</a> to vaccination. Other aspects of women’s immune system also appear to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2735332/">work more strongly</a>. So why do women tend to have <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2016.90">stronger immune responses</a> overall? That’s probably partly because women have two X chromosomes while men have one. X chromosomes carry important <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2016.90#Tab3">immune function genes</a>. This gives women the benefit of immune-related genes from two different chromosomes. Oestrogen (the female sex hormone) also seems to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2016.90">strengthen</a> the immune response, and as levels vary throughout the lifespan, so does <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.aan2946">the strength</a> of women’s immune systems. Men are certainly more likely to die from some infectious diseases, such as <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-deaths/deaths-in-australia/contents/covid-10-deaths">COVID</a>. But the picture is less clear with other infections such as the flu, where the incidence and mortality between men and women <a href="https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/44401/9789241500111_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y">varies widely</a> between countries and particular flu subtypes and outbreaks. Infection rates and outcomes in men and women can also depend on the way a virus is <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.712688/full">transmitted</a>, the person’s age, and social and behavioural factors. For instance, women seem to be more likely to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8077589/#R20">practice protective behaviours</a> such as washing their hands, wearing masks or avoiding crowded indoor spaces. Women are also <a href="https://bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-016-0440-0">more likely</a> to seek medical care when ill. <h2>So men aren’t faking it?</h2> Some evidence suggests men are not over-reporting symptoms, and may take longer to clear an infection. So they may experience man flu more harshly than women with a cold. So cut the men in your life some slack. If they are sick, gender stereotyping is unhelpful, and may discourage men from seeking medical advice.<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/231161/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/thea-van-de-mortel-1134101">Thea van de Mortel</a>, Professor, Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/whats-the-difference-between-man-flu-and-flu-hint-men-may-not-be-exaggerating-231161">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Man arrested after BBC presenter's wife and children murdered

British police have apprehended the man they believe is responsible for a brutal crossbow attack on the wife and two children of a well-known BBC radio presenter. In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon (early Thursday AEST), Hertfordshire Police said 26-year-old Kyle Clifford had been located in the Enfield area of north London and that he was receiving medical treatment for injuries. The BBC confirmed that the women killed were the family of its well-known radio racing commentator John Hunt — his 61-year-old wife Carol Hunt and their daughters Louise and Hannah, aged 25 and 28 respectively. Their tragic death prompted a major manhunt for the 26-year-old, as the public were urged not to approach Clifford. "Following extensive inquiries, the suspect has been located and nobody else is being sought in connection with the investigation at this time," Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit said. "This continues to be an incredibly difficult time for the victims' family and we would ask that their privacy is respected as they come to terms with what has happened." A colleague of Hunt's and BBC 5 Live's lead presenter Mark Chapman struggled to hold back the tears as he expressed everyone's shock and pain. "We have a football match to bring you tonight ... and we will start our buildup to it shortly but this has been a heartbreaking day," he said as he opened Wednesday's coverage on 5 Live of England's semifinal match against The Netherlands in soccer's European Championship. "John Hunt is our colleague and our friend, not just to the current 5 Live sport team but to all of those who've worked here with him over the past 20 years, and also to all of you who have enjoyed his superb commentaries," Chapman said. "So on behalf of everyone connected to 5 Live Sport, our love and thoughts and support are with John and his family." Police were first alerted to the violent killings on Tuesday evening when emergency services were called to a house in Bushey, a residential area in north-western London. Paramedics tried to revive the women, but they died at the scene. While police have yet to establish a link between the suspect and the family, some British media outlets have claimed Clifford, who served in the British Army between 2019 and 2022, was an ex-boyfriend of one of the daughters. Image credits: Peter Manning/LNP/Shutterstock Editorial/Hertfordshire Police

Legal

Another man dies after fall from world's biggest cruise ship

A passenger has died after he fell from the world's largest cruise ship on the first night of a week-long voyage. The unidentified man allegedly jumped from Royal Caribbean’s new 366 metre-long Icon of the Seas, just hours after it left a port in Miami, Florida on its way to Honduras, according to the US Coast Guard. “The cruise ship deployed one of their rescue boats, located the man and brought him back aboard,” the Coast Guard told the <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/05/28/us-news/passenger-dead-after-jumping-off-worlds-largest-cruise-ship/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>. “He was pronounced deceased. Beyond assisting in the search, the US Coast Guard did not have much involvement in this incident,” the agency added. Royal Caribbean told the publication, “The ship’s crew immediately notified the US Coast Guard and launched a search and rescue operation”. “Our care team is actively providing support and assistance to the guest’s loved ones during this difficult time.” At the time of the incident, the cruise ship had only travelled 500km from Florida, and stopped for two hours to help the search and rescue Coast Guard team to locate the passenger. The man was brought back on-board in critical condition before he succumbed to his injuries and died on the ship. The Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, took its maiden voyage in January this year. The Royal Caribbean ship has 20 decks and is nearly the size of four city blocks, holding 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members. Image credits: Royal Caribbean

Travel Trouble

Disabled man slams Qantas after they damaged his wheelchair

An Australian man has called out Qantas for damaging his wheelchair during a flight, and then offering him a slim compensation package that wouldn't cover the cost of the repair. Queensland wheelchair athlete Timothy Lachlan was travelling from the USA to Sydney when he claims Qantas luggage handlers broke his wheelchair as it was being loaded onto the plane. Like many Australians living with a disability, Lachlan described his wheelchair as "his legs". "This wheelchair is basically my legs — Qantas has basically broken my legs," he told 7News of the custom chair he's owned for more than a decade. "If you go up the slightest incline, the chair just tips back." Lachlan now can no longer use the chair and says the saga has cost him work as an occupational therapist. He's currently borrowing a friend's chair to get around and says though he did try to fix his chair, he wasn't able due to the extent of the damage. <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/C7Q68PmJYXV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7Q68PmJYXV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 7NEWS Queensland (@7newsqueensland)</a> </div> </blockquote> He was then locked in a bitter compensation battle with the airline for several months, which resulted in Lachlan being offered a mere $3,500, which he claims won't "even cover a set of wheels", let alone repair the entire chair. As part of the settlement agreement, which was described by Lachlan as a "signed confidential settlement", he claims he was forced to stay quiet about the amount he was offered by the airline. However, instead of staying quiet, he decided to do the opposite and call out the airline, which has taken a large hit to its reputation in recent years. In a statement provided to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/qantas-offers-disabled-aussie-3500-to-stay-quiet-after-damaging-his-wheelchair-225833471.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a>, a Qantas spokesperson said they "sincerely apologise to Mr Lachlan for the damage caused to his wheelchair". "We have offered him compensation and are waiting to hear back," a spokesperson said. Lachlan said he would like the incident to serve as a reminder to Qantas, and airlines in general, to be more respectful when it comes to transporting mobility aids. "I am more than happy to meet with them, I invite the CEO of Qantas to jump in this chair and tell me it doesn't need to be replaced," he said. Image credits: 7News

Travel Trouble

“Never seen anything like it”: Man runs into inferno to save pet dogs

A Perth man has faced danger head on after running back into his burning house to save his pet dogs. He and his mum escaped from the fire at their Winthrop home about 5.30pm on Tuesday. When they realised their two beloved dogs were still inside, the man ran back towards danger and emerged not long after with a dog in each arm. The fire started in the garage and spread throughout the whole house within minutes. “I’ve never seen anything like it before, it went up so quickly,” Winthrop resident Phoebe told 7NEWS. “Everybody was very sombre because it was very sad.” Now, the family has lost a lifetime of memories on top of an accident the mother faced just four months ago after she was run over by a car. “She’s a really lovely lady and she just came out of hospital,” neighbour Grace said. “She just wanted to come back, relax in her house and start her life again and then this happened.” Firefighters had managed to stop the fire from spreading to neighbouring homes, although the cause is yet to be determined. “Due to the ferocity of the fire the houses on either side were at risk so the firefighters did a fantastic job to contain it,” fire investigator Stuart Parks said. Image: 7NEWS

Family & Pets

Man books 58 flights for free

A Jetstar passenger has become locked in a legal battle with the Aussie airline after exploiting a promotion to get 58 flights for free. Lawyer Tyrone Barugh was one of many travellers who made use of Jetstar’s promotion that offered people a free return fare. Barugh booked a flight from Auckland to Sydney for $260 and received the free return, although he soon cancelled the outbound flight and was given credit with the airline. However, he did not cancel the return trip. Mr Barugh then used the credit to book another flight, before doing the same thing a further 57 times. The would-be passenger told n<a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/man-locked-in-tribunal-battle-with-jetstar-after-booking-58-free-flights/news-story/1e3f67324c952ce232f3a583575d7ddc">ews.com.au</a> that he had not planned to board any of the flights, and has taken Jetstar to the Disputes Tribunal of New Zealand, claiming he is entitled to approximately $4,500 in taxes owed on the flights. “They’re [Jetstar] not out here with the most saintly of intentions,” he said. “They have terms and conditions that are designed to potentially avoid having to do the right thing by a lot of their customers and limit their liability to their customers, and they’re pretty happy to pull those out when it suits them.” He claims he is owed the money as he has paid the Passenger Movement Charge, which is a $60 fee the Australian Government collects when a person leaves the country. Mr Barugh says he would accept a settlement of a “small flight credit and a toy plane”. “There is a spirit of larrikinism,” he said. A spokesman for Jetstar declined to comment on the case, saying, “As this is a matter before the Tribunal, we won’t be making any comment.” Image credits: Shutterstock

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Alleged motive of man who scalded baby revealed

Breaking the silence on prostate cancer: man’s family legacy highlights importance of early detection

Man accused of scalding baby in park identified

Red tape threatens to remove a man with Down's syndrome from his elderly mother

"Almost proud of himself": Elderly man condemned for keying Tesla in broad daylight

Tragic flaw sees man use voluntary assisted dying drugs prescribed for his wife

Manhunt after stranger pours scalding hot coffee on baby in public park

Men have a biological clock too. Here’s what’s more likely when dads are over 50

Lollipop man slapped with ban over "innocent" gesture

"Really upsetting": Man turned away from concert for being in a wheelchair

Man arrested for climbing Eiffel Tower before closing ceremony

Man behind viral "democracy manifest" arrest dies

Man fined $7000 for driving offences he did not commit

Man arrested over horror crash that left 11-year-old orphaned

What’s the difference between ‘man flu’ and flu? Hint: men may not be exaggerating

Man arrested after BBC presenter's wife and children murdered

Another man dies after fall from world's biggest cruise ship

Disabled man slams Qantas after they damaged his wheelchair

“Never seen anything like it”: Man runs into inferno to save pet dogs

Man books 58 flights for free

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