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"Terrifies me": Tracy Grimshaw reveals her biggest fears around ageing

<p>Tracy Grimshaw has headed back to TV alongside alongside Dr Nick Coatsworth in a new medical series<em> Do You Want To Live Forever? </em></p> <p>In an interview with <em>9Entertainment</em>, the journalist explained why she chose to return to TV, after standing down from <em>A Current Affair </em>in 2022 following 17 years on the show. </p> <p>She explained that what pulled her to the medical series was "the extreme end of longevity." </p> <p>"People who shake the tree always fascinate me, particularly if they're putting their bodies on the line," she said. </p> <p>"It's so new, some of this stuff... that's probably what brought me in, but we're not just going to be at that end of the whole longevity discussion.</p> <p>"We're talking to people on how they can improve their quality of life and address issues that might lead to a premature death."</p> <p>In the interview she also revealed her own fears on ageing, especially what she finds most terrifying about it. </p> <p>"I'm not too scared about the passage of time," she began. </p> <p>"The only thing that scares me about getting older is becoming feeble." </p> <p>"Alzheimer's terrifies me. My brain has always been I think the best part of me, and it would be really sad to lose that."</p> <p>The show itself follows four pairs of everyday Aussies, including sisters from <em>The Block, </em>Eliza and Liberty, husband and wife, Enver and Eliana, partners Luke and Taylor, and father and son duo Duncan and Tom, as they undergo medically supervised trials and health interventions that may provide clues to help us live longer. </p> <p><em>Image: Channel 9</em></p>

TV

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Bondi stabbing survivor recalls terrifying ordeal

<p>Stabbing survivor Liya Barko has recalled the moment she came face-to-face with Joel Cauchi in Bondi Junction Westfield, while also sharing how she is still physically and mentally recovering from the incident. </p> <p>The 35-year-old student and cleaner from Ukraine was one of hundreds of shoppers in Bondi Junction Westfield on April 13th, as she entered the shopping centre to purchase a volleyball. </p> <p>In the middle of her errand, she ran into Joel Cauchi during his stabbing rampage. </p> <p>“I think he just looked at me and he decided in that moment, and then I looked at my hands and I was bleeding,‘ Ms Barko said to <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-junction-stabbing-survivor-recalls-april-13-attack/8ce9d1f2-727a-4767-a23f-886e4e22be84" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>9News</em></a>.</p> <p>Cauchi reportedly spoke to Ms Barko after attacking her, with Ms Barko alleging he said “catch you” before continuing his rampage through the centre. </p> <p>Another shopper ran to help Ms Barko following her attack: a man in a green shirt who she is still trying to find and express her thanks. </p> <p>The man dragged Ms Barko to safety inside a store and stemmed the blood flow from her stab wound.</p> <p>"When you are on the floor, you’re bleeding, you can see everyone’s expression and some of them were crying, they were scared … for their lives also,” she said.</p> <p>“I would like to see him again, to at least give him a hug, because I don’t know how we would have managed without him in that moment.”</p> <p>The next thing Ms Barko remembers after being stabbed is waking up in the hospital and seeing the friendly face of her doctor, whose positivity kept her going in difficult times of her healing process. </p> <p>“I just remember (he had a) just so, so open smile and happy face,” she said. “He was so happy, I have never seen someone really so happy."</p> <p>“I thought okay, if I die right now, I’ll just destroy his shift. So I can’t die right now because he’s just so happy.”</p> <p>Like many who were affected by the stabbing, Ms Barko, who has been unable to return to work since the stabbing, still has so many unanswered questions about that fateful day. </p> <p>“My question is how it happened? Why a schizophrenic man was there outside with a knife making a normal Saturday afternoon, he just turn it into hell?”</p> <p>Up to eighteen people were stabbed at Bondi Westfield, with five dead on-site and one woman dying later in hospital. Those killed were Faraz Tahir, 30, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pikria Dachria, 55 and Yixuan Cheng, 27.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine / Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Former SAS Australia contestant recalls terrifying Ozempic overdose

<p>Former SAS Australia contestant Roxy Jacenko has opened up on the terrifying experience she had after overdosing on Ozempic. </p> <p>Jacenko was desperate to lose 15kg of extra weight, which she gained as a result of taking Tamoxifen - a hormone therapy drug she took for her breast cancer for seven years.</p> <p>“The Tamoxifen made me put on 15kg,” she said during  a special <em>7NEWS Spotlight TV</em> investigation into the drug. </p> <p> “And whilst to other people, they didn’t look at me and go, 'Oh well, she’s put on a lot of weight,' I didn’t feel comfortable.</p> <p>“And I tried everything. I tried the fad diets. I tried starting at a gym, doing workouts. I tried not eating much and I couldn’t shake the weight. I just wanted to fix it, and this seemed like the way. Ozempic seemed like the easy answer.”</p> <p>Weight loss is one of the side effects of the medication, which is usually used to help adults with Type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar. It is this side effect that has millions wanting to use it for weight loss. </p> <p>Despite Novo Nordisk - the pharmaceutical company supplying Ozempic -  advising the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration that supplies throughout 2023 and 2024 will be limited and it should only be prescribed by doctors to diabetics, people have found other ways to obtain it.</p> <p>Jacenko revealed that despite her local GP telling her she didn't meet the criteria for the injection, she bought it on the black market in Nowra, NSW and ordered an Uber to collect it for her. </p> <p>“It was about $2,500 for the drive there and back, and then it was another $700 for the two pens,” she said. “I was actually like a junkie. I look at it now and I was like a junkie.”</p> <p>She recalled how she took more than the recommended amount in a desperate attempt to lose weight. </p> <p>“I took four times the amount in one hit,” she revealed.</p> <p>“I felt OK at that point in time. The aftermath of it was I think I’m going to die.</p> <p>She added, “in the morning, I was driving to work. I was sweating. I was so hot and then I just kept vomiting nonstop. What not to do? One milligram of Ozempic.”</p> <p>“That night, I ended up in hospital. They had never seen this before. This was the first they had seen of an Ozempic overdose. Like the shaking, my whole body was shaking, I couldn’t control my legs. It’s like I had no control of my body.</p> <p>“My arms and legs were like this. And then in addition to that, they just start pumping you full of fluid. You can rest assure I came out skinny, but it didn’t last for long. Literally, I truly thought this is it. I’ve been sick in my time. Cancer was a walk in the park compared to how bad I felt for those three days.</p> <p>As a result, Jacenko no longer takes the the medication and has since stopped drinking and started following a healthy diet. </p> <p>"And if anyone asks me, “Would you do it again, Ozempic?” No freaking way. I literally thought, “This is it. I’m going to die.”</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Body

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"I haven’t seen someone that terrified": CCTV of brave schoolgirl after attempted abduction

<p>A chilling incident has shaken the quiet streets of Doncaster East in Melbourne's east, reminding us of the importance of vigilance and community support in ensuring the safety of our children.</p> <p>Depicted clearly in heart-wrenching <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/cctv-emerges-of-schoolgirl-who-hid-in-bushes-during-attempted-abduction-in-doncaster-east-melbourne-c-14243163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CCTV footage</a> that surfaced recently, an 11-year-old girl's brave escape from a potential abduction has sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood.</p> <p>On March 28, the young girl was making her way home from school along Landscape Drive when a grey Audi Q3 SUV made an abrupt U-turn, pulling up dangerously close to her. The driver, a male stranger, allegedly demanded her to enter the vehicle.</p> <p>But the brave young girl, instead of complying with the stranger's demands, made a split-second decision that possibly saved her life; she sprinted away, seeking refuge in nearby bushes as the car ominously circled back.</p> <p>The harrowing moments that followed were captured on CCTV as the girl, trembling with fear, looked back at the street, her only lifeline a stranger passing by. It was a local dad, accompanied by his own daughter, who extended a helping hand to the distressed child. Recalling the encounter, he described the girl's sheer terror:</p> <p>“She was shivering and shaking and I haven’t seen someone that terrified and petrified like that,” he told 7NEWS. And when the young girl kept apologising to him over and over for asking him to escort her home, he responded: “I said: ‘I’m so proud of you, getting help is a really good skill’.” </p> <p>Meanwhile, the girl's parents, undoubtedly consumed by anguish, expressed their profound gratitude to the stranger who intervened in their daughter's moment of peril. Their daughter, though physically unharmed, had endured a trauma no child should ever have to face.</p> <p>As authorities launched a manhunt for the assailant, details of the suspect emerged. Described as a man in his 30s, of Middle Eastern descent with distinctive features including tan skin, black hair and a prominent beard, the perpetrator remains at large. A computer-generated image has been released by Victoria Police in hopes of eliciting information from the public.</p> <p>In the aftermath of this chilling incident, Detective Senior Constable Brooke Miller echoed the sentiments of the community: “It’s horrible," he said. "A little girl should feel safe to walk home from school.”</p> <p><em>Images: Victoria Police</em></p>

Legal

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Oscar-nominated actor shares his terrifying diagnosis

<p>Mark Ruffalo has opened up about the moment he found out he had a brain tumour almost two decades ago, and how he broke the news to his then heavily pregnant wife, Sunrise.</p> <p>Speaking with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett on the <em>Smartless </em>podcast on Monday, the actor revealed that he got his diagnosis after a "crazy dream". </p> <p>“It’s the craziest thing. I was actually shooting <em>The Last Castle </em>with [James] Gandolfini and Robert Redford and I had about a week left on that," he said. </p> <p>The Oscar nominee said that just before he got the diagnosis, he was supposed to be on set at 4am. </p> <p>“I woke up probably around three and I just had this crazy dream, you know, it wasn’t like any other dream I ever had. It was just like, ‘You have a brain tumour.’ It wasn’t even a voice. It was just pure knowledge: ‘You have a brain tumour, and you have to deal with it immediately’,” he continued.</p> <p>Despite having no symptoms other than an ear infection, the actor trusted his gut and went to the doctors anyways. </p> <p>“Listen, this is going to sound crazy, but I had this dream last night that I have a brain tumour," he recalled telling the doctor. </p> <p>She said: "'That is crazy, but there’s no reason you should have to worry about it. I’ll order you a CAT scan, and we’ll go right after work today, and we’ll show how crazy you are.’”</p> <p>Ruffalo then went to the neurologist’s office to read the scan and was shocked to find that his dream was right. </p> <p>“The nurse calls the doctor out, and I could hear them talking in the other room, and she just comes in, and she’s a zombie, and she says, ‘You have a mass behind your left ear the size of a golf ball, and we don’t know what it is. We can’t tell until it’s biopsied,’” he recalled. </p> <p>The <em>Marvel</em> star added that he waited to tell his then nine-months pregnant wife the news simply because she was so excited to welcome their bub. </p> <p>“She had the birth plan, she did the yoga, she had the doula, we had a hot tub ordered. This is like her wedding, you know, man? This is like her christening, her quinceañera, and I was just like, ‘I can’t.’" </p> <p>And when finally did break the news, his wife initially thought he was joking, "and then she just burst into tears and said, ‘I always knew you were going to die young!’”</p> <p>Fortunately for Ruffalo, the brain tumour turned out to be benign, but the surgery did leave him  “totally” deaf in one ear.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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"I was terrified": Law & Order star reveals traumatic past

<p><em>Warning: This story contains graphic content.</em></p> <p>Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson, a character that investigate rapists on <em>Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit, </em>has revealed that she too is a victim of sexual assault. </p> <p>The actress opened up about her traumatic past in a powerful essay written for <a href="https://people.com/mariska-hargitay-experience-rape-renewal-reckoning-8424247" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>People Magazine</em></a>, where she revealed that she was raped by “a friend" when she was in her thirties. </p> <p>"A man raped me in my thirties," she bravely revealed in the essay. </p> <p>"It wasn’t sexual at all. It was dominance and control. Overpowering control."</p> <p>The actress revealed that he was a friend who "made a unilateral decision" and recalled the fear she felt when the incident occurred. </p> <p>"He grabbed me by the arms and held me down. I was terrified," she said. </p> <p>"I didn’t want it to escalate to violence. I now know it was already sexual violence, but I was afraid he would become physically violent.</p> <p>"I went into freeze mode, a common trauma response when there is no option to escape. I checked out of my body," she recalled. </p> <p>Hargitay, who is the daughter of the late actress Jane Mansfield, said that she never thought of herself as a "survivor", and often "minimised" what happened to her when she talked about it with others. </p> <p>"My husband Peter remembers me saying, “I mean, it wasn’t rape," she wrote. </p> <p>"Then things started shifting in me, and I began talking about it more in earnest with those closest to me. They were the first ones to call it what it was."</p> <p>The actress said that she wants other survivors to feel "no shame" about sexual assault and wants "this violence to end." </p> <p>She added that justice "may look different for each survivor," but for her she wants "an acknowledgment and an apology" after what happened. </p> <p>"This is a painful part of my story. The experience was horrible. But it doesn’t come close to defining me, in the same way that no other single part of my story defines me," she concluded, adding that she feels for all sexual violence survivors. </p> <p>"I’m turning 60, and I’m so deeply grateful for where I am. I’m renewed and I’m flooded with compassion for all of us who have suffered. And I’m still proudly in process."</p> <p>Hargitay started her own foundation, the Joyful Heart Foundation, in 2004 to help survivors of sexual assault. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Our dogs can terrify (and even kill) wildlife. Here’s how to be a responsible owner this summer

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/melissa-starling-461103">Melissa Starling</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>In Australia, dog ownership often goes hand-in-hand with a love for the great outdoors. Whether it’s walking on the beach, going camping, or having a barbecue in the park, we tend to keep our canine companions close as we soak up the sun.</p> <p>But many of us forget a key fact about our dogs: they are predators. Even the fluffy little 5kg ball that spends most of its time in your lap derives from an apex predator – and its predatory instincts can kick in at any time.</p> <p>And while many of our dogs don’t have the same hunting skills as their distant ancestors (who had to hunt for a living), wildlife doesn’t know that.</p> <p>The impacts of domestic dogs on wildlife aren’t well studied, and likely vary depending on the environment. Nonetheless, there’s good evidence domestic dogs, when left unobserved, can have detrimental effects in the places they visit.</p> <p>With that in mind, here are some things to consider next time you take your pup out for a bushwalk.</p> <h2>How dogs impact ecosystems</h2> <p>There are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320717305967">five main ways</a> domestic dogs can negatively impact the natural environments they visit. These are:</p> <ol> <li>direct physical harm through predatory behaviour</li> <li>disturbance through chasing and harassment</li> <li>increased exposure to diseases</li> <li>interbreeding, which can alter the gene pool of wild canid populations</li> <li>increased competition for resources.</li> </ol> <p>The good news is the last three points aren’t particularly relevant in Australia. For one thing, there’s little overlap between diseases common in domestic dogs and Australian wildlife. There’s also little resource overlap, except perhaps in some areas where feral or semi-feral dogs live alongside dingoes.</p> <p>And regarding potential interbreeding, while it was once thought this could threaten the dingo gene pool, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mec.16998">recent research</a> suggests it’s not nearly as common as we thought.</p> <p>As such, the main harms Aussie dog owners should focus on are physical harms through predatory behaviour and disturbance to ecosystems.</p> <h2>Dogs can kill</h2> <p>We know dogs are capable of injuring and killing wildlife, but it’s difficult to determine how common this is, because many events go unreported. While smaller animals such as lizards, gliders and possums are at higher risk, larger species such as koalas can also fall prey to dogs.</p> <p><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0206958">One study</a> that looked at wildlife coming into care at Queensland rehabilitation centres reported dog attacks as the cause in about 9% of cases. These cases often resulted in severe injury or death.</p> <p>Dog owners should be especially wary of small, localised populations of vulnerable species. A <a href="https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/bitstream/handle/11336/202640/CONICET_Digital_Nro.29048152-7a5c-4ea2-8068-e73d42cba01d_B.pdf?sequence=2&amp;isAllowed=y">study</a> in Argentina’s Patagonia region details several cases of dogs decimating local penguin populations after gaining access to protected island areas during low tide.</p> <p>Not to mention, dog attacks on wildlife can bring risk to dogs as well. Kangaroos can defend themselves with <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-16/mildura-man-fights-kangaroo-to-protect-dog/102983926">their powerful limbs</a>, monitor lizards are equipped with sharp claws and teeth, and many snake species <a href="https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/dogs-twice-as-likely-to-die-from-snake-bite-as-cats-research-finds-20200519-p54ufd.html">are highly venomous</a>.</p> <h2>The impact of harassment</h2> <p>You might think it’s harmless for your dog to chase wildlife if it never manages to catch the animals it chases, but that isn’t true. Wild animals optimise their behaviours to meet their needs for foraging, breeding and resting, and being chased by a dog can disrupt this.</p> <p>For example, certain threatened bird species will nest on the beach and find foraging opportunities based on the tides. One dog forcing one bird to abandon this important activity may have a small impact. But if it happens repeatedly throughout the day, it can become a <a href="https://wilderness-society.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Dogs-as-agents-of-disturbance-Michael-A.-Weston-and-Theodore-Stankowich.pdf">much bigger problem</a>. It may even drive animals out of the area.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2391219/">Research</a> conducted in Sydney has shown the mere presence of a leashed dog is enough to temporarily, yet dramatically, reduce the number of bird species detected.</p> <h2>Keep an eye on your furry pal</h2> <p>Responsible dog ownership involves making sure our dogs have a minimal impact on others, including wildlife. How can we achieve this when our dogs are simply engaging in behaviours that come naturally to them, and may even be rewarding for them?</p> <p>Training your dog to have general obedience – especially to come when called – is worth sinking considerable time and effort into. This can save both your dog and any wildlife they may be after. For instance, calling a dog away from a snake is one of the most effective ways of managing snake bite risk.</p> <p>One <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333344634_Applying_Social_Marketing_to_Koala_Conservation_The_Leave_It_Pilot_Program">pilot study</a> in Victoria found positive outcomes from a program that helped owners train their dogs to be more obedient around wildlife.</p> <p>That said, recall training is an art form, and recalling a dog that likes to run off and chase animals can be a huge challenge.</p> <p>Another solution is to rely on leashes when passing sensitive areas, or where there’s a risk of wildlife harassment. In Australia, many beaches that allow dogs have signs with information about vulnerable birds in the area and how to protect them from your dog.</p> <p>This could mean keeping your dog off rock platforms, leashing them when you see birds foraging on the beach, or keeping them out of fenced areas. Some areas are simply too vulnerable for dogs to run amok, so always look for signs and read them carefully.</p> <p>If you’re hiking, use a long line (a leash that’s more than five metres long) and look for signs of your dog detecting something of interest. Often their ears will come up high and forward, and they will freeze and stare intently.</p> <p>At this point, it doesn’t matter what they’re excited about: take the opportunity to leash them or shorten their leash, and get their attention before they can take off. Investing in a long leash will allow your dog more freedom without putting wildlife at risk.</p> <p>If your dog does injure an animal, you should quickly contact a wildlife rescue organisation or take the animal to a veterinary practice or sanctuary. For small animals, even minor injuries from a dog will usually require veterinary attention.</p> <p>It’s our responsibility to be respectful visitors when we’re out in nature, and to make sure our dogs are too. <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/214722/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/melissa-starling-461103"><em>Melissa Starling</em></a><em>, Postdoctoral Researcher in Veterinary Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>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/our-dogs-can-terrify-and-even-kill-wildlife-heres-how-to-be-a-responsible-owner-this-summer-214722">original article</a>.</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Update on Hamish and Zoe Foster Blake's terrifying break-in

<p>Hamish and Zoe Foster Blake have revealed details of the terrifying break-in at their rental home in Woollahra, while the couple and their two children, Rudy and Sonny, slept. </p> <p>The thief, identified as Daniel Booth, broke into the couple's  four-bedroom home in December 2021 and stole the keys to their Land Rover and Zoe's bag which contained the keys to her Tesla, $1000 in cash, and her designer wallet. </p> <p>Booth was arrested hours later, with the help of a tracking device installed in the stolen Land Rover, and faced  Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday. </p> <p>He pleaded guilty to a raft of charges related to a crime spree which occurred at the time, including a few other stolen vehicles and bags. </p> <p>Booth also admitted to groping a female Corrective Services officer while in custody before telling her: "Sorry miss."</p> <p>In 2018, Booth was serving a jail sentence for robbery with a serious weapon, and was released on parole in late 2021 before committing his Sydney-wide crime spree only weeks later, before getting arrested again after stealing from the Blakes. </p> <p>Crown prosecutor Maeve Curry revealed that the thief has been complaining of "paranoia and delusional thoughts" over the past 18 months, so the sentencing judge would have to balance "the community's interest in protection and also in punishment being imposed' against the difficulty of 'his personal circumstances'."</p> <p>Judge Donna Woodburne will sentence Booth in February 2024.</p> <p>He will remain behind bars until he returns to court. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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Princess Beatrice reveals the “most terrifying moment” in her life

<p dir="ltr">Princess Beatrice has shared the “most terrifying moment” that she encountered at work. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 35-year-old royal has been open about her struggles with dyslexia, and has opened up on a podcast about a major challenge she faced at work. </p> <p>"I was anecdotally talking about how difficult it was at work," Beatrice, who works for US-based technology firm Afiniti, told podcast host Kate Griggs. </p> <p>"Sometimes you get handed a whiteboard pen and you've got to do the group think again and collaborate and off you go to the whiteboard."</p> <p dir="ltr">"And I was thinking that's the most terrifying moment for me in my life, and please don't ever make me do it. I'll do a speech tomorrow but don't give me a pen and a whiteboard."</p> <p dir="ltr">Beatrice also shared the difficulties she faced as a child, and having to go through school before being formally diagnosed with dyslexia. </p> <p dir="ltr">"The early days of school really, really stand out as to those moments where you just don't fit in and you can't figure out what it is about you," the royal said candidly.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I remember trying to do extra lessons with teachers and just sort of blankly staring up at her face, and she was like, 'why are you looking at me? The words are not on my face' [and] I said 'well, they're not on the page either'."</p> <p dir="ltr">"So the early days, in and around that understanding that my brain worked slightly differently, I remember them being a real challenge."</p> <p dir="ltr">Princess Beatrice became emotional when talking about the teachers who helped her during her schooling career, saying she "probably wouldn't be the person I am today if they hadn't been there in my life".</p> <p dir="ltr">The princess also paid tribute to her mum, Sarah Ferguson, for championing her to find a new way to do things.</p> <p dir="ltr">"My family and I are incredibly close, so I would say that all throughout our lives, we've been able to go through everything with humour and with joy and my mum really instilled that," Beatrice said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Mind

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Police officer in critical condition after terrifying cliff fall

<p>A WA police officer is fighting for her life after she was severely injured in a 10m fall from a clifftop in Pile, Croatia. </p> <p>Ella Cutler, 25, sustained life threatening injuries including multiple fractures to her skull, spine, 12 ribs and several limbs, puncturing both her lungs, leaving her in critical condition overseas. </p> <p>She is currently receiving around-the-clock care in a Dubrovnik hospital, and her family is desperate to bring the "much loved" police officer home. </p> <p>"We can only imagine how scared she would be if she knew the full extent of her injuries, and we cannot even begin to convey how frightened we are for her, and how important it is for her to come home," her brother Joshua Cutler wrote in a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-us-bring-ella-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page created for Ella. </p> <p>"She has too much living left to do, too many people to help, and too much love to give for this to be how this chapter ends.</p> <p>"She has a long hard road ahead of her, and she will need all the help she can get," he added. </p> <p>Although her loved ones have flown to be by her side, her travel insurance claims have reportedly been knocked back, and her medical bills are increasing by the day. </p> <p>The family hopes to raise $500,000 to cover hospital bills and an air ambulance to bring the “devoted public servant” home. </p> <p>“She will require many more months of care, multiple surgeries and months of physical rehabilitation before she is able to impact the world as she once did,” Josh said.</p> <p>"She can't do this alone, and neither can we," he added. </p> <p>They also thanked the doctors for their hard work, and explained that they hope to provide better facilities for Ella by moving her to a bigger hospital where she can receive specialised care, which is vital for further recovery. </p> <p>"They know the best thing for her is to be home where she can feel the full impact of the love from her family, friends, and community."</p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

Caring

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Jackie O's terrifying cancer scare

<p>Jackie O Henderson has shared the details of her recent terrifying cancer scare, after discovering a lump in her breast.</p> <p>The KIISFM radio host recalled when she was on a photoshoot and felt the suspicious lump.</p> <p>Chatting candidly on <em>Studio 10</em> with her friend and manager Gemma O'Neil, the 48-year-old said she found the lump when she was applying fake tan. </p> <p>"She felt her breasts and said 'Yeah I found something'," Gemma explained. </p> <p>"We went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in the space of five minutes."</p> <p>Thankfully, Jackie later received an "all clear" from doctors when she got a mammogram the day after she made her frightening discovery. </p> <p>"Fortunately we got you in for a mammogram the next day and everything was fine," Gemma explained.</p> <p>After the terrifying health scare, Jackie urged viewers not to wait to get a mammogram, even if you are scared about the results. </p> <p>"A lot of the time you don’t want to because a lot of people just think the worst and they are too afraid to see what the result is and it's terrifying. It really is… and those few days are like, 'what if what if'," Jackie said. </p> <p>"And sometimes you go 'I don’t want deal with that today I’ll deal with that next week' - and by putting it off and off, it's not the answer."</p> <p>"And it does encourage someone to go and checked then i think that would beget because you know and too more often than not good news, it's done."</p> <p>"It’s so important to get those checks done."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Studio 10</em></p>

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Kyle Sandilands' terrifying health news

<p>Kyle Sandilands has shared that he is facing being diagnosed with leukaemia.</p> <p>The radio shock jock has spoken of previous health scares before, such as high blood pressure, and has admitted to trying to better his lifestyle for the sake of his health. </p> <p>He has been trying to cut down on alcohol and unhealthy foods to improve his overall health, especially since becoming a father in August 2022. </p> <p>However, the 52-year-old shared that he had recently undergone blood tests and that doctors have warned him “the numbers are on the way up” and “if it gets up to 16 then I have leukaemia”.</p> <p>Kyle did not elaborate on how his lifestyle choices and blood test results would lead to this diagnosis. </p> <p>Leukaemia is cancer of the white blood cells which can also affect bone marrow, and which hinders the body’s capacity to fight infection.</p> <p>Sandilands shared the health news live on-air on Wednesday morning, before he and co-host Jackie O enlisted the help of the KIISFM resident doctor, Dr Sam Hay, to provide his opinion on whether Kyle was “knocking on heaven’s door”.</p> <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/CvbsV3tvAHV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CvbsV3tvAHV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I’ve got something that no one here knows about,” Sandilands began to explain.</p> <p>“I have been doing a lot of blood tests and I have to go get another blood test because, whatever numbers that you doctors talk about, I’m on the way up.</p> <p>“If it gets up to 16 then I have got leukaemia.”</p> <p>Kyle then told Dr Hay that he has been advised by his doctors to undergo a bone marrow check. </p> <p>“What does that mean? Does that mean I’m knocking on heaven’s door?” he asked Dr Hay.</p> <p>“Am I going to die?”</p> <p>Dr Hay started to explain that everyone’s blood count included “red cells, we’ve got white cells, part of your immunity...”, before Sandilands cut him off.</p> <p>“Am I going to die? Yes or no?” he asked Hay.</p> <div> <p>“No,” the doctor said, but encouraged him to have further tests “just in case”.</p> </div> <p><em>Image credits: KIISFM</em></p>

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"It was traumatic": Nat Barr's terrifying health scare

<p>Natalie Barr has opened up about a terrifying health ordeal that left her wondering if she would ever walk again. </p> <p>The <em>Sunrise</em> host shared that she spent two months lying in a hospital bed when she was just 15, after being diagnosed with a terrifying illness. </p> <p>Speaking candidly to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/natalie-barr-if-you-can-t-cope-with-scrutiny-then-you-shouldn-t-be-on-tv-20230616-p5dh70.html?collection=p5dkug" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Sunday Life</em></a>, the 55-year-old revealed she wasn't allowed to sit up for months. </p> <p>"I got really sick with a disease in my spine called osteomyelitis. The bug had eaten two of my verterbrae and they were crumbling," she said.</p> <p>"I'd had back pain and saw a physio who wrote to my doctor... but that night I ended up in hospital with an orthopaedic surgeon telling me: 'Lie down, or you'll never sit up again'."</p> <p>While having to lay flat for months on end, Nat was flown by the Royal Flying Doctor to a Perth hospital where they discovered the exact strain of the bug she had.</p> <p>Natalie was then "pumped with high-dose antibiotics" for the next couple of months before eventually recovering with no permanent damage.</p> <p>"It was traumatic. I didn't know if I'd be able to walk again," she admitted.</p> <p>"It was a really defining moment in my life because I was 15 and old enough to think, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this situation.’ ”</p> <p>The health scare was a major turning point in Natalie's life, as once she was fully recovered from the ordeal, she went on to intern at a local TV station in Western Australia where she cemented her dream of becoming a journalist. </p> <p>“I spent a week there and thought, ‘This is it. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’ It’s the most exciting thing: people race around, yell and scream at each other, race to the deadline at the end of the day, then come back and do it all again tomorrow."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Prince Andrew “terrified” to leave Royal Lodge amid eviction rumours

<p dir="ltr">Prince Andrew is refusing to exit his royal residence as renovations are carried out on the Windsor property, despite advice to the contrary.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to <em>The Daily Mail</em>, the 63-year-old is putting his foot down over fears that he “might never get back in”, likely in response to circulating rumours that his brother - King Charles - wants to evict Andrew from the home as part of his grand plan to scale back the monarchy. </p> <p dir="ltr">While Andrew no longer holds any official royal duty after his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, he still maintains his claim on the mansion with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.</p> <p dir="ltr">And now, that same property is set to become “virtually a building site”, with Andrew having hired builders to undertake necessary repair work on the property, tackling everything from damp to mould. </p> <p dir="ltr">As a source told <em>Page Six</em>, Andrew was reportedly advised to vacate “while work was undertaken” over the course of a few months, “but he’s refused because he’s so terrified that the property might be seized in his absence.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In the meantime, Harry and Meghan vacated Frogmore after being told they needed to leave to make way for Andrew but he is refusing to go there, even though he was given the keys.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s allowing Eugenie to stay there. She’s just given birth to her second child so while she recovers and gets back on her feet, she’s staying in Frogmore to be near her mum and dad.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And while some believe the temporary move would make sense for Andrew, his fears remain at the forefront. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s become farcical,' an insider told <em>The Daily Mail</em>.  “Andrew has roof repairs scheduled later this summer which will take several months to complete and has been advised that staying in the house during those renovations could prove problematic. But he is reluctant to leave.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on the rumours, but another source is adamant that the Duke of York will remain in the property, <a href="post.php?post=134779&amp;action=edit&amp;classic-editor">regardless of alleged drama and financial woes</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">As <em>Page Six</em> noted, Andrew has been making the most of money left to him by the late Queen Elizabeth to fix up the house, with one source explaining that “he’s been quite open about where the money has come from because he doesn’t want people to think he’s come up with it through other means.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The costs are expected to reach into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And, as they surmised, Andrew “is adamant that he will see out the end of his [75-year] lease at Royal Lodge.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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How to survive in 8 terrifying travel emergencies

<p>It’s every traveller’s worst nightmare to be caught in an emergency while on holiday overseas, and while it’s a rare occurrence, it’s still something everyone needs to be cautious of. So, we’ve got eight life-saving tips from the experts themselves, and trust us, you’ll want to commit them to memory.</p> <p><strong>1. Falling from a cruise ship</strong></p> <p>It’s estimated that just 20 people fall from cruise ships annually, but it’s still important to be prepared. “Everyone who falls unexpectedly into cold water wants to follow the same instinct, to swim hard and to fight the cold water,” explains ocean safety organisation RNLI. “But when people fight it, chances are, they lose. If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, do as little as possible, and float.”</p> <p><strong>2. Avalanches</strong></p> <p>Snow lovers around the world dread the “A” word, but it is possible to survive one. If caught in the path of one, the Association of British Travel Agents advise skiing sideways to try and remain on the surface of the slide. Then, ditch the poles and “swim” in the direction of the slide and try to grab hold of a tree. Always carry a locator beacon with you to aid the efforts of search and rescue.</p> <p><strong>3. Quicksand</strong></p> <p>Quicksand is made up of waterlogged sand or clay which may appear solid but liquefies upon impact. Stay calm and avoid making any quick movements, as you could create air pockets which will only pull you deeper into the ground. Shed any extra weight (e.g. backpacks, hats), then lean backwards and spread out – more surface area means you’ll be lighter. From there, move sideways until you reach terra firma.</p> <p><strong>4. Rip currents</strong></p> <p>These are found on most surf beaches and can pull swimmers out to sea at a speed of up to 8km per hour. The RNLI advise against fighting the rip, instead treading water and conserving energy until the current grows weak enough for you to swim back to shore. Another option is following the current, which will take you in a semi-circle. Wait until you reach a weaker point, then swim back to shore.</p> <p><strong>5. Safari attacks</strong></p> <p>Stuck in the presence of a lion? Avoid the temptation to turn and run. Instead, make direct eye contact and back away very slowly. If it’s a leopard, do the opposite – avoid any eye contact and hope they lose interest. With elephants, simply stand your ground and try to look brave. Buffalos are almost impossible to outrun, so your best bet is to climb a tree.</p> <p><strong>6. Lost on a hike</strong></p> <p>Adventure blogger <a href="http://hikingdude.com/default.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hiking Dude</span></strong></a> recommends sticking by the acronym <strong>STOP</strong> when lost. <strong>Stop </strong>exactly where you are, <strong>think </strong>(try to retrace your steps, but do not move unless you’re sure you know where you’re going), <strong>observe </strong>how much daylight (and supplies) you have left and pay attention to any weather changes, then <strong>plan </strong>a route back to a safe place. Unless you’re absolutely confident, it’s best to stay put.</p> <p><strong>7. Snake bite</strong></p> <p>If you encounter a snake, back away very slowly and choose a different route. If it seems to be following you, stamp on the ground – the vibrations should drive it away. If bitten, ensure the affected area is moved lower than your heart (this will slow the spread of venom) and get to the closest hospital. If possible, try to remember (or even photograph) the snake – this will help doctors identify the required anti-venom.</p> <p><strong>8. Plane crash</strong></p> <p>If you’re unfortunate enough to be caught in a plane emergency, there are two immediate hurdles – surviving the impact of the crash, then surviving what follows – fire, smoke and drowning. Get the oxygen mask on immediately (20 seconds is enough to make you lose consciousness) and abandon your belongings. According to a simulation conducted using a Boeing 727, it’s actually safer to book a cheap seat at the back, as the front of the plane will bear the most impact.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Benedict Cumberbatch fearing for his life after terrifying home invasion

<p>Benedict Cumberbatch and his family have reportedly been left fearing for their lives as a knife-wielding man broke into the star’s North London home and threatened him.</p> <p>The <em>Daily Mail </em>reported that 35-year-old Jack Bissell, who previously worked as a chef at the Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair, kicked his way through the front gate of the Marvel star’s multimillion-dollar property, allegedly shouting, “I know you’ve moved here. I hope it burns down.”</p> <p>Cumberbatch, 46, his wife, Sophia Hunter, 45, and their three children were reportedly in the home at the time of the break-in and could hear the intruder screaming outside, according to <em>Page Six</em>.</p> <p>Bissell also allegedly took one of the family’s plants and threw it at the garden wall, and ripped the intercom off the building after spitting on it.</p> <p>The intruder reportedly fled the scene before police arrived but, authorities were able to track him down due to DNA evidence he left on the intercom.</p> <p>Bissell was reportedly arrested, fined and slapped with a three-year restraining order from the Cumberbatch family.</p> <p>A source told the outlet, “Naturally all of the family were absolutely terrified and thought this guy was going to get in and hurt them.</p> <p>“Luckily it never went that far. Benedict and Sophie have had many sleepless nights since, worrying that they may be targeted again,” the insider said.</p> <p>“The fact that it was a targeted intrusion makes it a lot more scary.”</p> <p>During the trial, prosecutors said Bissell allegedly told a nearby shopkeeper that he had planned to break into the actor’s home and burn it down.</p> <p>Bissell pleaded guilty and was sentenced on May 10. However, details surrounding the date of the incident have not been disclosed.</p> <p>According to the Daily Mail, facts of the case could not be reported until they “successfully challenged blanket reporting restrictions this week”.</p> <p>No clear connection between Bissell and Cumberbatch has been established.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty / Instagram</em></p>

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Richard Gere's terrifying health scare

<p>Richard Gere has been rushed to hospital while holidaying with his family in Mexico. </p> <p>The 73-year-old actor was struck with a bad case of pneumonia, with reports saying he was perfectly healthy just days prior to falling ill. </p> <p>Gere was on vacation with his family when the illness hit, as they celebrated his wife Alejandra Silva’s 40th birthday, according to reports by<em> <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/7434445/actor-richard-gere-hospitalized-in-mexico-pneumonia/">The Sun</a>.</em></p> <p>He reportedly had a nasty cough in the time leading up to their travels, and it progressed badly enough that the <em>Pretty Woman</em> actor had to check himself into a medical facility, a source told <em>TMZ</em>.</p> <p>After a night in hospital, Gere was told he had contracted pneumonia and was discharged from the facility and continued to rest and recover at home. </p> <p>In a recent Instagram story posted by Alejandra, Gere is seen walking on the beach with his son and wife, wearing a mask.</p> <p>Other information shared on social media suggests that Gere was not the only member of his family who was under the weather recently.</p> <div id="indie-campaign-rHsIzpAmAj7xkA4llYlH-2" data-campaign-name="NCA ENTERTAINMENT newsletter" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1640955600000" data-to="1677502800000"></div> <p>On a post of Alejandra walking on the beach holding hands with one of their children, she wrote, “Thank you all for the birthday wishes. After almost 3 weeks of everyone being sick in our family today finally I feel much better!"</p> <p>“Thank you for all the love, I give it all back to you!”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Terrified tourists forced to abandon sinking boat in Bali

<p>Terrifying footage has captured the moment dozens of tourists were forced to abandon a sinking boat off the coast of Bali. </p> <p>Passengers were seen jumping overboard into rough seas in lifejackets, while travelling from the island of Nusa Penida-Sanur to the Bali mainland.</p> <p>The boat was struck by a large wave due to wild weather, which caused the trust vessel to sink, according to local news outlets. </p> <p>More than 23 people were rescued, with no casualties reported.</p> <p>Fortunately for those onboard, several boats were in the vicinity of the sunken vessel and came to the rescue of frightened passengers. </p> <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/Cm86aaBDXZy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/Cm86aaBDXZy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by INFOBALI (@punapibali)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While there were no causalities, some passengers suffered minor injuries as they exited the boat, while personal possessions were also lost.</p> <p>Footage of the terrifying ordeal has gone viral online, with many Aussies warning other tourists about the dangers of travelling by boat in Bali.</p> <p>"When boats get cancelled or there's a bad weather warning. Don't try and find a cheap boat to get you across," one said.</p> <p>"I vowed never to go on one of those boats again after a horrific trip to Gili T when the captain got on his knees and started to pray," a second said. </p> <p>"We were also coming across shipping lane which made it even worse. These boat operators probably have no insurance and no regular maintenance."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

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Teenagers who were lost at sea speak about terrifying experience

<p dir="ltr">The four teenagers who were lost at sea after paddling out on inflatable boards at the Mornington Peninsula have spoken about their terrifying experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">Two 18-year-old males, an 18-year-old female and a 19-year-old female from Glen Waverley, were paddling at the beach just off Point Nepean Rd in Rosebud, Victoria when they were swept out to sea.</p> <p dir="ltr">They joined their boards together to ensure no one would be left behind and drifted through the icy night on their journey of more than 30 kilometres.</p> <p dir="ltr">Around 2 am they finally saw some land, arriving at the Australian Defence Force facility on Swan Island.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking out since the horrific ordeal, the four teenagers said they never lost hope that they would be eventually found.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We were just trying to stay alive, and we started trying to call out to passing boats,” Rong Shi told 7NEWS.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sally Liu was worried about spending the night floating on a paddleboard and if they would survive the conditions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m thinking ... do we have to stay for the night on this paddleboard and how can we survive?” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought maybe it was my last night ... because for myself I am not a good swimmer.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another survivor, Shi Rui Heng, said she just wanted to go home back to her mother after getting into a fight with her earlier that day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was thinking about my mum because we’d had a fight the day before, I just wanted to go home and apologise to her,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve never been that cold before, it was pretty scary.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite their circumstances the four tried to make the best of the situation and appreciated the scenery around them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There were stars in the sky and there were shiny little fish in the sea ... so it was pretty,” Rui Heng said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The group are truly lucky to be alive after the strong current swept them from Rosebud Beach to Swan Island in the Queenscliff area before they were eventually found.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They’ve gone from here (Rosebud) to where we are straight across Port Phillip Bay ... it’s a fair way,” Acting Inspector Terence Rowlands said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

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