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Teenager dies after being flung from ride

<p dir="ltr">The last words said by a 14-year-old boy who died before falling from a drop tower amusement park ride have been revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tyre Sampson was enjoying a night out with his family and friends at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida on Thursday when he decided to ride the Orlando Free Fall. </p> <p dir="ltr">Described as the world’s tallest freestanding drop tower at 131 metres, the ride spins around the tower when it’s reached the top before dropping at 120km/h.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tyre hopped onto the ride with his two friends who sat next to him, but he felt something was wrong.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When the ride took off, that’s when he was feeling uncomfortable. He was like ‘this thing is moving,’ you know what I’m saying. And he was like ‘what’s going on?’” Tyre’s father Yarnell Sampson told <a href="https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/father-of-14-year-old-killed-on-the-free-fall-drop-ride-wants-answers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WOFL-TV</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tyre began to freak out and asked his friends to deliver a heartbreaking message to his parents.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And he was explaining to his friends, next to him, ‘I don’t know man, if I don’t make it down safely, can you please tell my mamma and daddy that I love them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For him to say something like that, he must have felt something.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Horrific footage of the incident was shared to social media, showing a body being flung off the ride just before the ride stopped its descent. </p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Sampson said most of the rides rejected his son because of his height and weight, however the Free Fall staff said they could take him.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tyre stood at almost 2m tall and weighed 154kg, which made his father question why his son was allowed on the ride.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This one particular ride said, ‘We can take you, come on! Get on!’ No one else allowed him to get on the ride, so I’m wondering what happened between now and then that made them say, 'Come on, get this ride’. </p> <p dir="ltr">"This should never happen to anyone else's child ever again, and if I have anything to do with this, it will not happen ever again."</p> <p dir="ltr">Emergency calls made when Tyre fell out of the ride were released describing the horrific situation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The thing (Orlando Free Fall) went down to drop and, like, when they got closer to the bottom, when it hit the break, the guy fell right out of the seat,” one caller told 911, <a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/03/25/hes-not-breathing-calls-to-911-released-after-teens-deadly-fall-from-orlando-drop-tower/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click Orlando</a> reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s not responsive. It looks like his arms are broken and his legs,” another called said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s face down, there’s blood everywhere. He’s not breathing. I’ve checked his pulse, there’s no pulse.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Investigations into how Tyre died are continuing with ICON Park releasing a statement offering their condolences to the family.</p> <p dir="ltr">"A tragedy occurred last night at the Orlando FreeFall and our hearts are heavy with sadness.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The owner of the attraction is fully cooperating with authorities and ICON Park is doing everything we can to assist.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The Orlando FreeFall will be closed pending a full investigation. Other businesses at ICON Park are scheduled to be open during their normal business hours."</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong><em>OverSixty has chosen not to share the video due to its graphic nature and out of respect to the family. </em></strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

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Wild elk finally gets tyre removed from around its neck after two years

<p dir="ltr">A wild elk in Colorado is free after a years-long ordeal to remove a rubber tyre from around its neck. Wildlife officers were<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7971" target="_blank">able to free it</a><span> </span>over the weekend after local residents alerted them to the creature’s location.</p> <p dir="ltr">The elk was a four-and-a-half year-old male weighing over 600 pounds, or over 270 kilograms. He had spent the past few years travelling between neighbouring counties, disappearing for long periods of time, particularly in the winter, and acting normally for a wild animal, not wanting to be around humans.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The saga of the bull elk with a tire around its neck is over. Thanks to the residents just south of Pine Junction on CR 126 for reporting its location, wildlife officers were able to free it of that tire Saturday.<br /><br />Story: <a href="https://t.co/WHfkfPuAck">https://t.co/WHfkfPuAck</a><br /><br />📸's courtesy of Pat Hemstreet <a href="https://t.co/OcnceuZrpk">pic.twitter.com/OcnceuZrpk</a></p> — CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPW_NE/status/1447601850878812161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Wildlife officers were first alerted to the elk’s plight in June 2019. While conducting a population survey for bighorn sheep and mountain goats, an officer saw the bull through a spotting scope. Wildlife officer Scott Murdoch said, “Being up in the wilderness, we didn’t really expect to be able to get our hands on the elk just because of the proximity or the distance away from civilization.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is harder to get the further they are back in there and usually the further these elk are away from people, the wilder they act. That certainly played true the last couple of years, this elk was difficult to find, and harder to get close to.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the past week alone, officers had made four attempts to try and tranquilise the animal. They were finally successful on Saturday evening, after wildlife officer Dawson Swanson found the elk amongst a larger group, and managed to tranquilise it, after which officer Murdoch arrived to aid in the removal of the tyre.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Why we cut the antlers off &amp; not the tire:<br /><br />1⃣ We tried, sawzall was slow going thru steel in the bead of the tire<br />2⃣ The animal was under anesthesia, time was limited<br />3⃣ Does not harm the elk, will grow back next year<br />4⃣ Reduces the chance the bull would be harvested this year <a href="https://t.co/C24rgd5krs">pic.twitter.com/C24rgd5krs</a></p> — CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPW_NE/status/1448023318590672896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Of the removal process, Murdoch said, “It was tight removing it,” even after cutting its antlers off. “It was not easy for sure, we had to move it just right to get it off because we weren’t able to cut the steel in the bead of the tire. Fortunately, the bull’s neck still had a little room to move.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We would have preferred to cut the tire and leave the antlers for his rutting activity, but the situation was dynamic and we had to just get the tire off in any way possible.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Once the tyre had been removed, the officers were surprised to see that the elk’s neck was in relatively good condition. “The hair was rubbed off a little bit, there was one small open wound maybe the size of a nickel or quarter, but other than that it looked really good,” Murdoch said. “I was actually quite shocked to see how good it looked.”</p> <div> <div class="reply-list-component"> <div class="reply-component"> <div class="reply-body-component"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply-body-wrapper"> <div class="reply-body-inner"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p dir="ltr">According to Colorado Parks &amp; Wildlife, "the elk would have gotten the tyre around its antlers either when it was very young, before it had antlers, or during the winter when it shed its antlers. It could have been a big stack of tires that the elk stuck its head in."</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p dir="ltr">Removing its antlers does not hurt the elk, as they will grow back next year.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter/@CPW_NE</em></p>

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“I remember her face”: Todd Sampson drops bombshell family secret

<p>TV personality Todd Sampson has revealed a bombshell family secret in the latest episode of<span> </span>Anh’s Brush With Fame.</p> <p>While discussing his upbringing with host and artist Anh Do while he painted his portrait, the<span> </span>Body Hack and Gruen presenter explained that he grew up in a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada with his working-class parents.</p> <p>His mother worked the till at the local KFC.</p> <p>Before he was even born, she had fallen pregnant at just 15.</p> <p>“At the time and in the area, it was quite religious. She was basically told she had to give up the child. She gave up the child to her sister – and she was raised as my cousin,” he revealed.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFdcDKpgHAz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/CFdcDKpgHAz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by toddsampson (@toddsampson2)</a> on Sep 22, 2020 at 6:05pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He recalled his mum’s decision to hide her daughter’s true identity which she labelled as “the biggest regret of my mother’s life.”</p> <p>He also revealed the unbelievable circumstances that led to him finding out this his “cousin” Wendy was actually his older sister.</p> <p>“I was such an investigative kid – also known as a little sh*t. I used to record my parents’ conversations when I would go to bed. I got a recorder for Christmas, and just before I’d go to bed, I would hit record under the sofa where my parents were, then go off to sleep.”</p> <p>He said that each morning he’d listen back to what his parents had discussed.</p> <p>“That day, I’m listening to the recording and I’m like, ‘Wait now, did they just say that Wendy’s my sister?’ They were debating at night whether they should tell us, and whether we were old enough to comprehend what had happened. But Wendy had been in and out of our lives as our cousin,” he said.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFb4dh0gD8m/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/CFb4dh0gD8m/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ABC TV + iview (@abctv)</a> on Sep 22, 2020 at 3:35am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Sampson shared the moment he confronted his mother to ask if Wendy was really his sister.</p> <p>“I remember her face – it was just shock and relief. She said, ‘Yes, she is.’ Then, it was only as an adult, many many years later, that I reconnected with her as my older sister. Now I’m super-proud that she’s my sister, and all that she’s done in her life.</p> <p>Do said he couldn’t imagine doing what Sampson’s mother had done.</p> <p>However, Sampson responded by pointing out, “(You’re) not 15 in a convent situation. She had Wendy in a room by herself.”</p>

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"Million Dollar Bogan" rode across Victoria, NSW and Qld borders to buy tyres

<p>A self-proclaimed "Million Dollar Bogan" tested the limited of Queensland's border restrictions and managed to cross the state lines on "compassionate grounds".</p> <p>What Victorian real estate agent Daniel Hayes got instead was a new tyre for his motorbike and a tattoo.</p> <p>He boasted about his visit to Queensland on YouTube, saying that had he not been able to get to the state, he would "probably end up getting arrested".</p> <p>The video is believed to have been filmed about three weeks ago, which was prior to Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk banning all Victorians from entering her state due to the spike in coronavirus infections.</p> <p>The video shows Hayes being greeted by Queensland Police at the border, where he explains that he got a compassionate permit online.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d8QoaPgPk3M"></iframe></div> <p>Initially, the officer said that he would have to quarantine for 14 days as he'd come from Victoria, but after Hayes insisted he would be out of Queensland today, the officer changed his mind.</p> <p>“Alright, I will let you through, but technically you shouldn’t … because you might be full of the lurgy," he said.</p> <p>His promise to leave the state immediately ended up being a lie, as he spent the night in the state, met up with a fan and travelled to Surfers Paradise to get a tattoo.</p> <p>“I had a great time. It was wonderful to get out before we got locked down again,” he told <a rel="noopener" href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/coronavirus-melbourne-real-estate-agent-crosses-queensland-border-uploads-video-bragging-on-youtube/e30f209c-d295-40cf-ab2f-0a48550a4303" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>, adding he had no regrets over making the trip.</p> <p>“I don’t feel like I broke the law. I felt that I was honest with him and he let me through.</p> <p>“I don’t know if I’ve done anything wrong. I gave him my excuse. I showed him the paperwork, which I filled out. I had a letter from Gasoline Alley, and I crossed the border, and he let me through.”</p> <p>Queensland Police told ACA that they were aware of the video and were "conducting inquiries in relation to the matter".</p> <p>The state's Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski reminded Victorians that they shouldn't be travelling to Queensland.</p> <p>“It’s a very costly exercise … If you’re coming out of Victoria and you’ve been there in the last 14 days, do not come to Queensland unless you are a Queensland resident returning,” he said.</p> <p><em>Photo credit: Million Dollar Bogan</em></p>

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4 tyre care tips to keep you safe on the road

<p>Caring for your tyres is an investment that reaps many crucial benefits for a driver. Tyres that are in a pristine condition will not only save you plenty of money but it will also ensure your safety on the road.</p> <p>Follow these tyre care tips to keep you safe on the road.</p> <p><strong>1. Check your tyres every month</strong></p> <p>When life gets busy it is easy to forget about doing little tasks such as checking your tyres. However, it is important to make a habit of checking your tyres every month so you can notice if any of them have been damaged on the road. By carrying out routine inspections, you will minimise your risk of having any sudden problems that could have been avoided.</p> <p>To do a thorough inspection, walk around your car and check for visible damage on the tyres such as cracks, cuts, lumps and nails. The easiest way to remember to do this is to schedule it in at the same time every month. E.g. the first Saturday of every month.</p> <p><strong>2. Check the tyre tread depth</strong></p> <p>It is important to check your tyre tread depth as it helps remove water between the tyre and road, ensuring the car remains under control. The tyre tread depth wears out over time but this can be fast-tracked by poor road surfaces, the tyre design itself and erratic driving practices such as speeding and hard braking. The minimum tread depth varies from state to state so check your state government’s transport department. In Western Australia, the minimum tyre tread depth is 1.5mm.</p> <p><strong>3. Check the tyre pressure</strong></p> <p>Tyre pressure is critical as it protects against tyre damage and reduces the risk of your vehicle spinning out of control. Driving with low tyre pressure also increases your petrol consumption. It is important to check your tyre pressure every month and before you embark on a long road trip. If your tyres are hot when you check them, add 4 to 5 PSI to the recommended pressure. You can find the recommended tyre pressure for your car inside the manual, the label on the door or inside the fuel flap.</p> <p><strong>4. Maintain the spare</strong></p> <p>Make sure your spare wheel has the correct pressure, tread depth and there are no cracks. Also check that you have all the necessary tools in your car to change a tyre. If there is a space-saver spare, bear in mind that they are safety-rated to maximum speed of only 80km/h.</p> <p>How do you take care of your tyres? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em><strong>Make sure you keep safe and sound while on the road with Over60 Roadside Assistance. And because your safety is important to us all of the time, we will be there to help all day every day, should you need it. For just $79.95 per year, with Over60 Roadside Assistance you’ll enjoy peace of mind when you’re out on the wide-open road to ensure you can enjoy life with less hassle. <a href="https://oversixty.disconline.com.au/sar/2.0/?entity=10737&amp;LinkId=12071&amp;utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=insurance&amp;utm_medium=in-article-link-roadside&amp;utm_content=roadside-assistance" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Buy now</span></a>. </strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://oversixty.disconline.com.au/sar/2.0/?entity=10737&amp;LinkId=12071&amp;utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=insurance&amp;utm_medium=in-article-banner-roadside&amp;utm_content=home-contents-insurance" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/banners/Roadside-Assitance_Website_GIF_468x60.gif" alt="Over60 Car Insurance - Get a quote!"/></a></p>

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How potholes damage your tyres

<p>Potholes are a road hazard that can be encountered numerous times in one day. The damage a pothole can have on your tyre is dependent on the pothole’s depth and the car’s speed on impact. Potholes can cause misalignment and damaged suspension, which aren’t as easily seen as a flat tyre. Here are four ways that potholes can damage your car that you need to be aware of.</p> <p><strong>1. Side wall damage</strong></p> <p>Side wall damage is one of the most common problems after hitting a pothole. When the tyre comes out of the pothole, the sidewall of the tyre pinches itself together and causes a separation of the internal structure of the tire. Side wall damage can usually be spotted as a bulge or egg shape in the sidewall. When side wall damage occurs, it will generally cause a vibration to be sent through the steering wheel. If sidewall damage is not fixed, it can cause a deflation in the tyre as the tyre is heated through use.</p> <p><strong>2. Wheel cracks</strong></p> <p>Wheel cracks are caused from the impact of the pothole travelling through the tyre and causing a crack in the wheel. Wheel cracks are not always visible but will slowly release pressure from the tyre which can have consequences such as sudden deflation or total wheel failure.</p> <p><strong>3. Suspension damage</strong></p> <p>Vehicle suspension can also be damaged from a pothole collision. The impact of going over a pothole can damage track rod ends, coil springs and suspension wish bones, which are all important to a car’s suspension. Suspension can be costly to repair so be sure to keep an eye out on the road and always slow down if you see any hazard.</p> <p><strong>4. Wheel alignment out</strong></p> <p>Wheel alignment cannot always be seen by looking at the vehicle and can only sometimes be noticed as you drive your car. It can cause issues such as the car pulling to one side of the road or the steering wheel not being straight when you are driving in a straight line. Misaligned tyres can wear out much quicker than normal tyres and can also use up petrol quicker.</p> <p>If you drive over a pothole, firstly conduct a visual check on the car and tyres to see if anything is different. After the first check, it is important to pay attention to the way your car drives to see if it has been impacted in any way and to listen for any new noises. Observe the tyre pressure to see if there has been any abnormal drop in the pressure. If you follow these steps and still feel like something is wrong with the car then you should seek professional assistance.</p> <p><strong><em>Make sure you keep safe and sound while on the road with Over60 Roadside Assistance. And because your safety is important to us all of the time, we will be there to help all day everyday, should you need it. With Over60 Roadside Assistance you’ll enjoy peace of mind when you’re out on the wide-open road to ensure you can enjoy life with less hassle.</em> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/insurance/roadside-assistance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=insurance&amp;utm_medium=in-article-link-roadside&amp;utm_content=roadside-assistance" target="_blank">Click here</a></em></span> <em>for more information.</em></strong></p>

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