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Scariest moment of Matilda's victory over Denmark

Sam Kerr, the captain of the Matildas, finally made her long-awaited debut in this Women's World Cup during the recent match against Denmark, when she took to the field as a substitute at the 79-minute mark, contributing to Australia's 2-0 victory and securing a spot in the quarterfinals. After weeks of speculation about her fitness, Kerr's left calf muscle has dominated conversations across the nation – making her presence on the pitch a relief to many who had been closely following her situation. During her brief appearance on the field, and following her arrival that saw the 75,874-strong crowd on its feet, there were very positive signs of her competitive readiness – before a heart-stopping moment of tension arose when she slipped on the slick turf and experienced what appeared to be a groin issue. Kerr addressed the incident in the post-match conference, saying: “I just slipped. I have terrible groins and just fell over like a normal thing. I think it’s just on a microscope because I’ve been injured the last three weeks. But it’s nothing.” However, her unexpected fall could not help but catch the attention of coach Tony Gustavsson in that terrifying moment, who expressed his concern through wildly animated gestures as he attempted to determine what had gone wrong. However, he later confirmed that Kerr had assured him she was capable of continuing to play. During the press conference, the Gustavsson coach was asked to share his emotions when Kerr encountered the mishap, while refraining from using strong language. In response, after a moment of laughter, he said, “I know I can tend to swear too much at times when I get passionate, but today I’ll try to stay away from that. I got very nervous. I didn’t see the slip until she was on the floor. But when I saw that obviously you go: ‘Oh!’ “And then straight away communicate with her: ‘How are you doing, you need to come off? You good?’ “She wanted to stay on so hopefully that means she’s OK.” Kerr had been adhering to a rigorous training regimen since suffering the injury just two days before the tournament's commencement. After the match, she revealed that the physiotherapists were meticulous in overseeing her recovery, even prohibiting her from participating in warm-down runs with her teammates. Reports also suggest that the training staff advised Kerr against engaging in running and jumping during the post-game celebrations with her team. When asked about Australia's upcoming match as the tournament deepens, she responded, “I don’t even know when it is. I have a plan, the physios have a plan – I asked them if I could run after (the match) and they said no! “So I’m sure I’ll be following their plan like I have the past few weeks.” Images: Getty / Channel 7

Body

"The scariest answer I've heard this year": Waleed Aly's Omicron shock

Image: The Project Leading US epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding has issued a dire warning to those unconcerned about the new Omicron variant, saying that the notion that this strain is a milder version of the disease is a “sweet little lie”. Appearing on Monday’s episode of The Project, Feigl-Ding’s worrying predictions clearly rattled host Waleed Aly, who dubbed one of the public health scientist’s responses “the scariest answer I’ve heard this year.” Feigl-Ding told The Project hosts that with a new variant circulating, Australians should be vaccinating children “as soon as possible”. “There’s been a lot of misinformation last year that kids can’t be infected, kids are immune – that’s not true. If anything, the Delta variant is much more severe in children, hospitalisation rates are much higher, and that’s before Omicron,” he said. “Kids do get sick, kids do get hospitalised and they do die. Please protect them against Omicron – vaccinating them is of the highest urgency.” The Project panellist Peter Helliar then asked where we might be in the life of this pandemic, prompting a dispiriting answer from Feigl-Ding, who says it is “far from over,” pointing to what he called a “vaccine apartheid” in regions like southern Africa, where new variants are able to emerge in populations with low vaccination rates. Feigl-Ding noted that the WHO had already announced they may switch to using stars and constellations if they run out of Greek letters to name Covid variants – a fact that left host Aly stunned. “I am petrified that the thing they went to after the Greek alphabet was the universe," he said, referring to the new variant's name. "As though we needed something that infinite to capture what might happen in the pandemic. That is the scariest answer I think I’ve heard this year.” Not all medical experts share Feigl-Ding’s views on Omicron – one leading voice even believes Omicron could, counterintuitively, spell “the end of Covid”. “I actually think there is a silver lining here, and this may signal the end of Covid-19, with it attenuating itself to such an extent that it is highly contagious but does not cause severe disease. That’s what happened with Spanish flu,” says Dr Richard Friedland, CEO of the Netcare Group, which operates more than 50 hospitals in South Africa.

Caring

Pilots reveal their scariest stories while flying

Pilots have taken to the internet to share their stories behind the flights. They shared their stories with <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=12239732">The New Zealand Herald</a>. Muffingrinder was up first and shared a story about their father. “Not me but my dad, first years with Delta Airlines in the ‘90s as a navigator (back when they still had them) he was working a flight crossing the Atlantic and a passenger died (nothing dramatic, he was old and had a heart condition). “This particular plane had a gap between a wall and a row of seats so my dad had to be the one to move the body there and cover it with a blanket. Some people were bound to notice but a portion of the plane didn’t know until all the drama that ensued when they pulled up to the gate.” Redditor Giftofnarwhals reminds us why fear of flying is a valid fear. “I used to work with elderly people and one of my clients was a former pilot that finally quit when he realised in the middle of a flight his dementia had progressed and he couldn’t remember where he was supposed to be flying to. Meaning he had been flying for a commercial airline with dementia for quite some time before that.” TopGun966 shared a story from when they were a 14-year-old student pilot. “A few minutes before I was about to call for permission, my instructor goes really quiet. I looked over at him and he looked really bad. I thought he was going to puke so looking for a bag. But then I notice he isn’t breathing,” they said. “I figure out where I am at and call up Detroit approach. I declare a medical emergency and that my instructor was not breathing. I also told them I am a student and never landed on my own before, and never in a large airport. Detroit approach was amazing at helping me. “Anyway, did my approach and made the most butter smooth landing I have ever made in my life (even till this day). Ambulance was right there on the taxi waiting for me. Turns out my instructor (who was only 25) had a heart attack. He ended up being OK.” Sometimes, passengers overhear some things that they wish they hadn’t. “Flight was fine until we passed the mountain range just north of the airport. From that point on it was like a bad rollercoaster. Most of us passengers were white knuckling it, except for my infant son who laughed at every lurch. “I was one of the last people off the plane because I was having to haul the baby and his carseat off, and either the pilot or co-pilot came off behind me with a flight attendant, and one said to the other ‘I wasn’t sure we were going to make it down in one piece.’ Not something I wanted to overhear.”

Travel Trouble

Denise Drysdale reveals the scariest health battle she has ever faced

Denise Drysdale has been dealing with terrifying health battles since last October and is just now opening up about the difficult journey. The upbeat and outspoken breakfast show presenter can hardly believe she’d be sitting down to talk about her health, she tells Sarah Harris on Studio 10. Last October, Drysdale came face to face with health problems after deciding to take a well deserved break from presenting life while on “the cruise of a lifetime”. Just one week while on the ship, she suffered from a knee injury that was debilitating. She explains the injury came while getting out of bed and unfortunately for the rest of her cruise experience, she was forced to sit in a wheelchair. However, this typically painful injury did not stop there for her – the pain became so intense she was forced to cut her losses and come back to Australia to undergo a knee replacement surgery. Unfortunately, Drysdale revealed blood clots soon formed in her knee as the surgery did not go to plan. On top of that, the presenter was hit with more health problems. She developed headaches and her vision began to get worse. "I woke up in the middle of the night and rang the ambulance which was a big thing for me to do," she said. “The doctor told me that if I had waited another day, I might’ve gone blind.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823748/denise-drysdale.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3ee3eb45088f41d3965110824f4f0420" />Drysdale was diagnosed with a detached retina – a condition where the retina detaches itself from the eyeball. Just when she thought it might be over, a few months into house arrest to get her health on track – she was hit with another scare. “I woke up and found a huge lump in my breast," she explained. The lump became apparent on the morning of New Year's Eve. “I thought maybe it is cancer, maybe it's not.” Fortunately, the lump turned out to be a cyst – a diagnosis Drysdale was thankful for in the end. Drysdale says the health battles she faced in such a short span of time forced her to consider the situation carefully. “I know there are people out there going through the same thing and you just have to hang in there and get to the other end,” she said. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eJ-CryJ_t60" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Caring

The scariest movies of all time

1. It (2017) One of the scariest movies because: Well... clowns. The latest adaptation of Stephen King's frightful page-turner that debued in September quickly surpassed The Exorcist for highest-grossing R-rated scary movie ever. What the critics say: Even before movie reviews dropped, critic <a href="https://twitter.com/haleighfoutch/status/901289130558017536">Halleigh Fatouch of Collider tweeted "It's scary as sh--</a>." Skarsgard nails Pennywise, she added. “Beyond killer clowns, It also delves into the grief & anger kids feel when they realize those who should love & protect them do the opposite. These are themes in King’s stories that filmmakers often ignore. But the best adaptations figure out they’re the most vital part.”—Anthony Breznican, <a href="http://ew.com/movies/2017/08/26/it-movie-reactions-stephen-king/">EW</a>. This one's definitely not for children, folks. 2. The Exorcist (1973) One of the scariest movies because: Terrible, terrible things come out of a little girl's mouth (which happens to be attached to a spinning head, thanks to a demonic possession). Audiences were so affected by this fearsome film that some theaters even provided <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/11/08/127-hours-audience-fainting-and-more-dangerous-movies.html">"Exorcist barf bags."</a> What the critics say: "The climactic sequences assault the senses and the intellect with pure cinematic terror. "—<a href="http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117790769?refcatid=31">Variety</a> 3. The Shining (1980) One of the scariest movies because: Jack Nicholson is seriously freaky as crazed novelist Jack Torrance, who [spoiler alert] tries to chop his family to little bits after a particularly stressful winter. What the critics say: "Scaring the viewer is easy... What is harder is to accentuate the horrifying aspects of things that are familiar... Kubrick isn't out for screams, but he manages to make his movie thoroughly unnerving by keeping the horror so close to home."—Janet Maslin, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/library/film/060880kubrick-shining.html">The New York Times</a> 4. Halloween (1978) One of the scariest movies because: This John Carpenter original is a cold, bloody slasher flick that cuts to the bone; and it's not afraid to take itself seriously. What the critics say: "A visceral experience – we aren't seeing the movie, we're having it happen to us. It's frightening."—Roger Ebert, <a href="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19791031/REVIEWS/40823003/1023">Chicago Sun-Times</a> 5. Poltergeist (1982) One of the scariest movies because: Things aren't what they seem in Poltergeist: A static TV screen releases evil spirits, invisible beings rearrange furniture, and houses move through dimensions, which might make shadows seem a bit menacing as you settle into bed after watching. What the critics say: "...a marvelously spooky ghost story that may possibly scare the wits out of very small children and offend those parents who believe that kids should be protected from their own, sometimes savage imaginations."—Vincent Canby, <a href="http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=EE05E7DF173BE573BC4C53DFB0668389699EDE">The New York Times</a> 6. The Evil Dead (1981) One of the scariest movies because: It's so packed with evil that even the trees rip hapless teenagers apart in this pre-Spider-Man flick from director Sam Raimi, which has enough murder and supernatural mayhem to warrant an NC-17 rating. What the critics say: "Sam Raimi directed this 1983 horror feature fresh out of film school, and his anything-for-an-effect enthusiasm pays off ... The film is ferociously kinetic and full of visual surprises."—Pat Graham, <a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-evil-dead/Film?oid=1736507">Chicago Reader</a> 7. The Cabin in the Woods (2012) One of the scariest movies because: This recent movie lampoons horror conventions while packing in some thrills of its own – a hulking family of zombies is mostly meant to be funny, but they're sort of disturbing. What the critics say: "It is by turns moderately horrifying and wickedly funny, offering more nods and winks than a narcoleptic on jury duty."—Christopher Orr, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/04/the-cabin-in-the-woods-disembowels-the-slasher-film/255810/">The Atlantic</a> 8. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) One of the scariest movies because: Adolescence is tough enough without worrying about razor-armed Freddy Krueger killing hormonal teens in their sleep. What the critics say: "Tailor made for those who like their gore leavened with thought-provoking ideas – something that is a rarity in this genre."—James Berardinelli, <a href="http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=993">ReelViews</a> 9. The Birds (1963) One of the scariest movies because: You'll never quite look at ravens the same way after seeing them descend upon a group of schoolchildren as if they were mealworms. What the critics say: "Genuinely disturbing thriller classic from the master of suspense."—Kim Newman, <a href="http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=16934">Empire</a> 10. Alien (1979) One of the scariest movies because: The suspense mounts until it's nearly unbearable, and then, finally [spoiler alert!], a bizarre creature rips through a man's chest. After that, the real horror begins. What the critics say: "Even with its horrifying villain and scenes of bloody excess, Alien endures as a superior piece of filmmaking, with a pace that's like watching an art film."—Peter Hartlaub, <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Few-surprises-in-an-impressively-streamlined-2569341.php">San Francisco Chronicle</a> Written by Damon Beres. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/scariest-movies-all-time">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Movies

Why Cape Pillar is scariest cliff in the known universe

Set foot on the edge of the earth. What is it? When a site has the unofficial name of ‘The Scariest Cliff in the Known Universe’, you know they mean business. At Cape Pillar in the Tasman National Park you will find the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. They rise straight up from the dark blue waters of the Southern Ocean, soaring to a stomach-lurching 300 metres. The views are incredible, stretching out over an endless ocean, across to Bruny Island and back northwest towards Hobart. Tiptoe up to the edge – if you dare. Where is it? Cape Pillar is at the southeastern tip of the Tasman Peninsula, which is in the southeast of the main island of Tasmania. The drive from Hobart takes around one hour. It is the most southeasterly point of Australia and there is essentially nothing beyond it until you reach Antarctica. How can I visit? Get ready for a considerable hike. The sea cliffs at Cape Pillar are a two-day roundtrip walk from Fortescue Bay, around 30 kilometres to the north. You will need to cover 22 kilometres on the first day and eight kilometres on the second day, camping overnight at Wughalee Falls. Cape Pillar is also part of the newly developed Three Capes Track, a three-night, 46-kilometre route that opened in 2015. It starts in Port Arthur with a boat ride across the bay and then hugs (very close) to the coastline. You’ll need to be able to carry your own pack and provisions, and have a reasonable level of fitness. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JKG2O_YRHE8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> You can also see the cliffs from the water. Short cruises sail between Eaglehawk Neck (a narrow isthmus that joins the Forestier and Tasman peninsulas) and Port Arthur. Small boats will pass close to the base of the cliffs, giving an incredible perspective straight up the face. Have you ever visited Cape Pillar? Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Save money with Over60 Travel Insurance. <a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=content&utm_content=link1&utm_campaign=travel-insurance" target="_blank">To arrange a quote, click here.</a> Or for more information, call 1800 622 966.

International Travel

8 of the scariest airports in the world to land at

These days we tend to take air travel for granted, but the pilots landing at these potentially perilous airports certainly wouldn’t. Here are the eight scariest airports in the world. To see the airports, scroll through the gallery above. 1. Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Nepal Otherwise known as Lukla Airport, this is often voted the 'world's most dangerous airport' for the 2800 metre drop at the end of the runway and the lack of control tower, radar or navigation. 2. Pegasus Airfield, Antarctica As the name suggests, this is less an airport, more a field... covered in ice. The name actually comes from a C-121 Lockheed Constellation named "Pegasus" that crashed at a remote airstrip in Antarctica while attempting to land. 3. Gustaf III Airport, St Barts The descent into St Barts is so steep, pilots need special training to land there. And departing planes fly right over the heads of sunbathers. Scary! 4. Gibraltar International Airport, Gibraltar This airport's runway has a busy highway bisecting it. Every time a plane takes off or lands, the road must close, creating one of the most insane airport traffic patterns in the world, as well as insane traffic. 5. Gisborne Airport, New Zealand Gisborne's airport is crossed over by a railway line. The railway tracks splits the runway almost in the middle and very often trains or aircraft are stopped until one of them moves on. 6. Courchevel Airport, France This airport is primarily to serve the nearby ski field and has a very short runway of only 537 metres. The airport is considered dangerous, as it features a difficult approach, an upslope runway and ski runs in the adjacent area. 7. Madeira Airport, Portugal This airport was once infamous for its short runway which, surrounded by high mountains and the ocean, made it a tricky landing for even the most experienced of pilots. However, due to accidents, including a Boeing 727 which plunged off the end of the runway in the 70s, Madeira extended its tarmac to 2781m. 8. Queenstown, New Zealand Perhaps it's more famous for its scenery than danger but it takes real skill to land at Queenstown Airport due to the mountainous terrain. However, special procedures have been developed to ensure safe operations – good news now that night-time flights have been introduced. Aren’t those images just incredible! Have you ever been lucky enough to survive a successful landing at one of these scary airports? Share your thoughts in the comments. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/travel/international/2016/05/aerial-tour-of-beautiful-flower-field-in-the-netherlands/">Aerial tour of beautiful flower field in the Netherlands</a> <a href="/travel/international/2016/05/10-gorgeous-photos-from-seaside-towns-in-italy/">10 gorgeous photos from seaside towns in Italy</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/05/8-photos-london-mysterious-beauty/">8 photos reveal mysterious side of London</a>

International Travel

Would you dare walk across the world’s scariest walkway?

Spain’s Caminito del Rey walkway, which translates to The King’s little Pathway, was shut down 14 years ago after five tourists plunged to their death.But now the pathway has reopened and adventure seekers are rushing at the chance to walk the world’s scariest walkway. According to local media, 30,000 tourists have already bought tickets.The three kilometre-long pathway, which is also 100 metres up, opened in 1905 to let works reach two hydroelectric power plants nearby.Over the years, sections of the walkway fell off, and it earned its reputation as the most frightening path in the world.The local government has spent the past decade fixing the Caminito del Rey. Much of it is now fenced off and includes safety lines and steel bolts.However, judging from the pictures, it’s still mighty terrifying… Image credits: Flickr Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-club/2015/03/cheapest-destinations-2015/">Best value destinations for 2015</a><a href="/travel/travel-club/2015/03/best-festivals-around-the-world/">The best festivals around the world</a><a href="/travel/travel-club/2015/01/classic-rail-journeys-around-the-world/">All aboard! Classic rail journeys around the world</a>

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