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Hero kindergarten teacher remembered at community park vigil

<p>Hundreds of people have gathered in a vigil to honour Eleanor Bryant, the speech pathologist killed by an <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/heroic-kindergarten-teacher-identified-after-horror-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">out-of-control water tanker</a> that crashed into a Victorian kindergarten earlier this week.</p> <p>Friends, colleagues and first responders gathered at Lions Park in Riddells Creek to pay tribute to the mother of two, with flower tributes growing for the heroic kindergarten teacher. </p> <p>Macedon Ranges Shire Council chief executive Bernie O'Sullivan said the vigil aimed to provide connection and support for the grieving community.</p> <p>"Eleanor Bryant was such a beautiful person and her impact and reach [was received] in such a positive way," O'Sullivan said.</p> <p>"It's still really raw and a massive shock to this tight-knit community in Riddells Creek."</p> <p>The mother-of-two has been remembered by her family for her caring and down-to-earth nature. </p> <p>"She was the light of our lives: a cherished mother, wife, daughter and sister, and beloved by all her family and enormous network of friends," they previously said in a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/she-was-the-light-of-our-lives-family-s-tribute-to-hero-kindergarten-teacher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.</p> <p>A three-year-old boy was injured in the crash. </p> <p>The 68-year-old driver of the truck, who was believed to have suffered a medical episode, was taken to hospital but has since been discharged, and no charges have been laid. </p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

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"She was the light of our lives": Family's tribute to hero kindergarten teacher

<p>Eleanor Bryant, 43, put herself in harm's way to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/heroic-kindergarten-teacher-identified-after-horror-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">save preschoolers</a> from a water tanker that crashed into the Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-School in Riddells Creek on Tuesday. </p> <p>Now, the mother-of-two and speech pathologist has been remembered for her caring and down-to-earth nature by her family. </p> <p>Bryant's husband and his two young kids expressed their grief in a statement, saying they were "devastated by the loss". </p> <p>"She was the light of our lives: a cherished mother, wife, daughter and sister, and beloved by all her family and enormous network of friends," the statement read. </p> <p>"Her infectious smile, sense of humour and passion for life made her a joy to be around.</p> <p>"There is an enormous hole in our hearts today.</p> <p>"We thank the emergency services for their tireless work and the public for their beautiful tributes.</p> <p>"We will miss her like crazy. We thank you for respecting our privacy at this difficult time."</p> <p>Bryant has also been remembered for the impact she has made as a speech pathologist, with mum Becky Burton thanking her for changing her daughter Milla's life. </p> <p>"I've never met someone that was so engaging, so down to earth, so caring and would do whatever it took [to make sure Milla was happy]," Burton said.</p> <p>"[She was] the most beautiful mum and person just taken so tragically."</p> <p>Bryant tragically died at the scene after the crash, while a three-year-old boy was injured and taken to the Royal Children's Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arm.</p> <p>He remains in hospital and is in a stable condition. </p> <p>The driver of the truck was also taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition after the "experienced 68-year-old driver is understood to have suffered a medical episode".</p> <p>Parents and family members have since visited the kindergarten and laid flowers and cards as a tribute to Bryant. </p> <p>Family friend Walter Lucas held back tears as he remembered the beloved mother-of-two, saying: "She saved that kid's life.That kid is now going to go off and live their whole life. For her to take her life for that kid, she is more than a hero.</p> <p>"She's a superhero."</p> <p>Clinton Zammit, whose children went to the kindergarten, described the situation as "really sad".</p> <p>"I feel sorry for the woman who lost her life, her kids waking up today and having no mother. An unsung hero to push away kids and not care about anything else but the kids.</p> <p>"It hits home when my kids used to come here and there are other families involved.</p> <p>"We are a close-knit community, we are small but have big hearts and this will affect the community for a while."</p> <p>The pre-school is expected to remain closed for the coming weeks, and ongoing counselling has been offered onsite.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

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Heroic kindergarten teacher identified after horror crash

<p>A heroic kindergarten teacher who died saving preschoolers from an out-of-control water tanker that crashed through the school's playground has been identified. </p> <p>Mother-of-two Eleanor Bryant worked with children with special needs at the Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-School in Riddells Creek in Melbourne’s northwest.</p> <p>Bryant tragically died at the scene after the crash, while a three-year-old boy was injured and was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital with a serious upper-body injury following the incident, Ambulance Victoria said.</p> <p>The driver of the truck, 68, is thought to have had a medical episode and was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition, but police are still investigating the incident.</p> <p><em>Sunrise</em> reporter Teegan Dolling paid tribute to Bryant on Tuesday morning, saying, “She is the mum herself of two really young children. She’s been remembered this morning as a very happy speech pathologist, and mum who loved it here at the Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-School."</p> <p>“What she did yesterday police are saying was heroic. She was working here at the school looking after a three-year-old boy. It was around 2.30pm when the water truck came hurtling down the road, smashed through the play equipment and it was playtime.</p> <p>“The preschoolers were out on the playground. She’s selflessly put herself in harm’s way … saving the life of the three-year-old.</p> <p>“Sadly, she died at the scene. A little boy was rushed to hospital. He’s got injuries to his upper body. As to why this has happened, the police are still investigating.</p> <p>“The scene is cleared here this morning. They believe the 68-year-old truck driver may have had a medical episode.”</p> <p>McKenzie Water owner Alan McKenzie confirmed that the truck belonged to his company and the driver was understood to have suffered a medical episode, adding that they were "devastated" by the crash and sending their "deepest sympathies" to those affected. </p> <p>Detective Senior Sergeant Christian Von Tunk said initial investigations led them to believe the truck lost control on a bridge about 120m from the kindergarten.</p> <p>“It appears there’s some contact with that bridge — we can see some debris,” he said. “There are also some signs on the left-hand side of the road that appear to have been struck as well."</p> <p>“It’s a tragic set of circumstances which actually could have been a lot worse. This is one of those close calls and I don’t know how only one person has died today.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Seven</em></p>

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Lawsuit bombshell shakes Kobe Bryant memorial service

<p>The widow of sporting star Kobe Bryant has sued the owner of the helicopter that crashed amidst fog and killed the former Los Angeles Lakers player, their 13-year-old daughter and seven other people aboard.</p> <p>Vanessa Bryant announced the wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court and first said on Tuesday in an emotional public ceremony amidst hundreds of sporting legends and musical artists that she would be going ahead with the suit.</p> <p>The lawsuit says the pilot was carelessly negligent by flying in cloudy weather conditions on January 26 and should have aborted the flight that killed all nine people aboard.</p> <p>The lawsuit names Island Express Helicopters Inc. and also targets pilot Ara Zobayan’s representative or successor, listed only as “Doe 1” until a name can be determined.</p> <p>It claims Zobayan was negligent in eight ways, including failing to correctly assess the weather, flying into conditions he wasn’t cleared for and failing to control the helicopter.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.624500665779px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7834756/kobe-bryant-victims-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ec128715b14e44ac8c73cd4d6a5f8bbb" /></p> <p>Ara Zaboyan,50  was flying Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, along with Payton Chester, 13; Sarah Chester, 45; Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Keri Altobelli, 46; John Altobelli, 56; and Christina Mauser, 38 when it crashed and killed them.</p> <p>The lawsuit was filed the morning of the public memorial service for Kobe Bryant and the rest of the lives taken in the crash, including Zobayan.</p> <p>It was held at a sold-out crowd at Staples Center, an arena Bryant spent most of his career making memorable highlights in the NBA and achievements not many other sporting stars can claim.</p> <p>Zobayan was Bryant’s frequent pilot and had been attempting to navigate in heavy fog that limited visibility to the point that the Los Angeles police and sheriff’s departments had even grounded their helicopter fleets.</p> <p>Under the visual flight rules that Zobayan was following, he was supposed to be able to see exactly where he was going.</p> <p>Zobayan was cited by the Federal Aviation Administration in May 2015 for violating those rules by flying into reduced visibility airspace, the lawsuit said.</p> <p>In his last transmission, Zobayan had told air traffic control he was climbing to 1219m, strictly to get above the clouds.</p> <p>He was just 30m short of breaking through the cloud cover when the helicopter banked left and plunged into a hillside, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.</p> <p>While there is no final conclusion on what caused the crash in Calabasas, there is said to be no sign of a mechanical failure.</p> <p>However, a final report will not be expected for a full year or so.</p>

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Final moments of Kobe Bryant’s fatal helicopter crash revealed

<p>The pilot in the helicopter that crashed in California, killing NBA star Kobe Bryant and eight others, was climbing to avoid a cloud layer before the aircraft plummeted, an accident investigator said.</p> <p>Speaking at a news conference Monday, Jennifer Homendy of the National Transportation Safety Board said pilot Ara Zobayan told air traffic controllers via radio he was climbing before the Sikorsky S-76B plunged more than 300 metres and crashed in Calabasas on Sunday morning.</p> <p>“When [Air Traffic Control] asked what the pilot planned to do, there was no reply,” Homendy said.</p> <p>The helicopter did not have a black box and was not required to, she said. Investigators will be looking at an iPad believed to have been used by Zobayan for flight tracking and weather briefings.</p> <p><span>The weather observation at the nearby Van Nuys Airport at 9.51 am on Sunday recorded visibility of 2.5 miles with a ceiling of 1,300 feet, the <em><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/01/27/weather-fog-kobe-bryant-crash/">Washington Post</a> </em>reported.</span></p> <p>Some aviation experts said Zobayan might have been disoriented by the fog in the area, but Homendy said investigating teams would look into every relevant factor from the pilot’s history to the engines.</p> <p>“We look at man, machine and the environment,” she said. “And weather is just a small portion of that.”</p> <p>Zobayan was a certified pilot and flight instructor, Homendy said. The aircraft’s owner Island Express Helicopters said Zobayan was <a href="https://apnews.com/d5769dce7e07abcb79ec44474c262a9a">the chief pilot for the company</a>.</p> <p>“Ara has been with the company for over 10 years and has over 8,000 flight hours,” the company said.</p> <p>The <a rel="noopener" href="https://nypost.com/2020/01/27/kobe-bryants-helicopter-tried-to-climb-to-avoid-clouds-before-crash-ntsb-officials-say/" target="_blank">accident</a> killed retired athlete Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant; college baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa Altobelli and wife, Keri Altobelli; girls’ basketball coach Christina Mauser; mom Sarah Chester and her 13-year-old daughter, Payton Chester; and Zobayan.</p>

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“Basketball is my life”: Nick Kyrgios on why Kobe Bryant’s tragic death moved him to tears

<p>An emotionally drained Nick Kyrgios was motivated by the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant to give it his absolute all against Rafael Nadal in their Australian Open grudge match.</p> <p>The controversial figure was praised by fans and his opponent after he bowed out of the grand slam in a pulsating four setter at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.</p> <p>Kyrgios paid tribute to Bryant before and after the match, which was played only a few short hours after he died in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles, shocking the entire world.</p> <p>The 24-year-old, who is a huge basketball fan, was visibly emotional as he walked onto Rod Laver Arena wearing Bryant’s LA Lakers jersey in tribute to the star.</p> <p>With Bryant’s famous number 8 emblazoned on his jersey, Kyrgios struggled to contain his emotions during the warm-up.</p> <p>The Boston Celtics fan showed up to his post-match press conference after the loss in a Lakers jersey and was asked about the late sports star as soon as he sat down.</p> <p>“I never met Kobe. But basketball is practically my life. I’ve been following it for as long as I can remember,” said Kyrgios.</p> <p>“It was pretty emotional when I woke up to the news today. It was pretty heavy, like all day.</p> <p>“Obviously I was having basketball on at my house, watching the games. It was heavy. Yeah, it’s just tough. It’s horrible news.”</p> <p>He revealed Bryant inspired him to keep fighting in the fourth set where he looked down and out against the world number one.</p> <p>Kyrgios clawed his way back and forced the set into a tie-break, where he lost the match.</p> <p>“If you look at the things he stood for, what he wanted to be remembered by, I felt like, if anything, it helped me tonight,” he said.</p> <p>“When I was down a break in the fourth, I was definitely thinking about it. I fought back.”</p> <p>Kyrgios then made the ultimate tribute to Bryant.</p> <p>“I don’t think they make them like him anymore. He was different, the way he trained, the way he did things, the way he played. He was special,” he said.</p> <p>“Just sad. Like, when I think about my life [it] is literally basketball. When I think about it, it’s heavy. It’s tough.”</p>

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