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Bruce Willis' wife issues amazing reflection on Gene Hackman's passing

<p>As Bruce Willis continues to live with frontotemporal dementia, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, has emerged as a vocal advocate for those who support loved ones with long-term care needs.</p> <p>This week, she reflected on the tragic <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/gene-hackman-s-cause-of-death-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife</a> and caregiver, Betsy Arakawa, in a heartfelt video shared on Instagram.</p> <p>"So this is not something I would normally comment on, but I do really believe that there is some learning in this story," Heming Willis said of Hackman and Arakawa.</p> <p>The couple was found dead in their New Mexico home in late February. According to the New Mexico medical investigator’s office, Arakawa, 65, succumbed to hantavirus, a rare and often fatal disease, while Hackman, 95, passed away days later due to heart disease. Authorities revealed that Hackman had been living with Alzheimer’s disease and may not have realised he was alone after his wife's passing.</p> <p>Heming Willis used the heartbreaking story to highlight a crucial issue: the well-being of caregivers themselves. "It's just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care too and that they are vital, and that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person," she stated.</p> <p>She further addressed a common misconception about caregivers, saying that many assume they "have it all figured out".</p> <p>"They've got it covered, they're good," she said before clarifying, "I don't subscribe to that. We need to be showing up for them so they can continue to show up for their person."</p> <p>In the caption of her video, Heming Willis reinforced her message: "Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop. #supportcaregivers."</p> <p>The flood of responses to her post was immediate and heartfelt, as fans and followers shared their experiences for caring for loved ones. "I had the same terrified reaction to Gene Hackman," wrote one reader. "What must he have suffered those last days? And his wife? It’s unfathomable. My father was a dedicated caregiver to my mom. Realising that dementia takes every ounce of patience and energy, my two sisters and I were honoured to take one full day each per week (in addition to afternoon nurses two alternate days) to support my dad’s decision to keep mama at home. She’s been gone three years now and I have never once regretted those special Fridays with her. Your message is so very important."</p> <p>"I’m so glad you said this," wrote another reader. "Because that’s exactly what I was thinking when this happened that his wife was so devoted to him that she didn’t take care of herself and this happens a lot with women a lot! She didn’t have any children, but I’m amazed that no friends checked in on her."</p> <p>Heming Willis speaks from personal experience, having taken on the role of primary caregiver for her husband since his diagnosis. It was announced in 2022 that Bruce Willis would step away from his acting career due to cognitive issues, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/cruel-disease-bruce-willis-given-heartbreaking-new-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which were later identified as frontotemporal dementia</a> (FTD), a progressive brain disorder. The couple, who married in 2009, share two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.</p> <p>Through her platform, Heming Willis remains committed to raising awareness and fostering support for those navigating the complexities of long-term care.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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AFL star's wife spends wedding anniversary in hospital amid cancer battle

<p>AFL star Jeremy Finlayson's wife Kellie Finlayson has revealed she's had a bit of a setback with her health and is spending her second wedding anniversary in hospital. </p> <p>The 29-year-old is battling  terminal stage four bowel cancer that metastasised in her lungs. </p> <p>She took to Instagram to share the update from her hospital bed, with a picture of the happy couple showing off their rings on their wedding day, and an updated photo of herself in the ward, with the caption: "Happy anniversary darl. Two years ago V. Today!"</p> <p>"Happy anniversary to me," she added, using a crying with laughter emoji and a bandaged love heart emoji.</p> <p>The  AFL star shared his own anniversary message with an Instagram story, writing: "Happy anniversary <3" </p> <p>Kellie did not explain why she was hospitalised. </p> <p>The couple tied the knot back in March 2023 in South Australia.</p> <p>Kellie, who is a mother-of-one, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 25. </p> <p>She previously opened up about her diagnosis on the Nova podcast  <em>Head Game</em>, and shared just how hard her chemotherapy treatment was. </p> <p>"I lost a s--t ton of weight. I mean, I had a stoma, so I had a foreign object on my stomach. I wasn't the normal mum that she should have had, but I was as good as I possibly could be. It was hard," she said at the time. </p> <p>"I was allergic to one of the strands of that chemotherapy, which is why, when I did relapse, I had to change chemotherapy, which meant I lost my hair.</p> <p>"I was on my deathbed. I was getting anaphylactic reactions every three weeks to this chemotherapy. So I was essentially dying every three weeks, just to get better."</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Schumacher’s wife issues statement after blackmail furore

<p>Michael Schumacher’s wife has issued a rare statement after three men were found guilty for blackmailing the Formula One legend. </p> <p>Corinna Schumacher says the family has appealed the two-year suspended prison sentence given to the “mastermind” behind the shocking plot.</p> <p>The perpetrators demanded $25 million (AUD) from the family in exchange of not releasing hundreds of private photos and videos of the Schumachers as well as digitised copies of Michael’s medical records.</p> <p>The public prosecutor’s office said 900 pictures and nearly 600 videos of the family and Schumacher’s digitised medical records were confiscated from the perpetrators.</p> <p>A district court in western Germany sentenced the main defendant to three years in prison, while his son received a six-month suspended sentence and a fine of $2,000 (AUD). </p> <p>Another defendant, former security guard for the family Markus Fritsche, received a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of $4,000 (AUD) for aiding and abetting the other two men.</p> <p>In a statement released on behalf of the family, Corinna said, “We have appealed against what we consider to be the far too lenient sentence for Mr. F.”</p> <p>“In my opinion, he was the mastermind behind this. What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust. He should receive a punishment that deters any potential copycats.”</p> <p>Corinna and her family are considering further action against others allegedly involved in the operation.</p> <p>“We do not share all of the court’s statements, in particular that Mr F. is only accused of aiding and abetting and not of complicity,” the Schumacher family’s lawyer Thilo Damm said.</p> <p>“You can assume that we will exhaust all legal remedies available to us.”</p> <p>The family has shielded Schumacher from public view since his serious skiing accident in December 2013.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Attila Kisbenedek/EPA/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Legal

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Husband reveals final text from wife on board doomed flight

<p>The husband of a woman on board American Airlines flight 5342 has revealed the final text he received from his wife just minutes before her flight collided with a US Army helicopter at around 9pm on Wednesday night. </p> <p>Hamaad Raza told <em> WUSA9 </em> that his wife had been texting him while she was on board the flight from Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC before the plane collided with the military helicopter and plunged into the river. </p> <p>She had texted him:  “Landing in 20 minutes” but when his replies failed to send, he realised that something was wrong. </p> <p>“That’s when I realized something might be up”, Raza shared.</p> <p>Raza's wife, who was only 26-years-old, was travelling to Wichita for work had “always had a fear of flying and that she never really was comfortable”. </p> <p>Aviation officials have yet to provide and explanation for the crash, as commercial airlines are supposed to receive a warning  of potential collisions through a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS).</p> <p>Emergency services have been deployed throughout the night in freezing and icy conditions in attempt to find bodies among the wreckage, with dozens already recovered from the water. </p> <p>“I'm just praying that somebody's pulling her out of the river right now, as we speak," Raza told WUSA9 in the early hours of Wednesday.</p> <p>“That's all I can pray for, I'm just praying to God.”</p> <p>Raza is waiting for answers from officials but has been left in the dark on any information about his wife. </p> <p><em>Image: WUSA9 </em></p>

Caring

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Guy Sebastian's wife shares tragic family news

<p>Guy Sebastian's wife Jules Sebastian has shared her heartache this week following the loss of her beloved father. </p> <p>The stylist shared a moving tribute to her father on Instagram, with a series of photos including pictures from her childhood and on her wedding day and the caption: "This week my beautiful Dad went to heaven to be with the angels." </p> <p>"Our hearts are broken but also so full of gratitude for the time we had with him in the last days of his life," she continued. </p> <p>She then remembered all of the great things about her dad, saying: "When I think of my Dad I think of the twinkle in his eye. He was always ready for a laugh and a joke and had the lightest way of cruising through life. My Dad had time for everyone. He made everyone feel important. He was always up for any social occasion and could talk to anyone and everyone. He was easy going and comfortable in his skin. He loved music and art and had the best handwriting I’ve ever seen." </p> <p>"There wasn't a soul who knew him that didn't love him. As this week has unfolded, I have been overwhelmed with how many people have described him as a 'good man'. That he was. Just so good," she said.</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/p/DCoNFRQP3Qa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCoNFRQP3Qa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jules Sebastian (@julessebastian)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"What a privilege it was to be in the room as my Dad took his last breath on earth. I wish I had words to describe it, but it will have to remain as unexplainable and very special."</p> <p>She continued saying that her parents were married for 51 years and praised her mother for being "an angel on earth" for being by his side through thick and thin. </p> <p>"To say I loved my Dad is the world's greatest understatement. He was the best Dad a daughter could ever hope for. I already miss him.</p> <p>"Rest in eternal peace Daddy – give my big bro a squeeze from us," she said, adding an Irish flag to the post to represent his heritage. </p> <p>Her comment section was flooded with messages of condolences and words of comfort, with Chris Sebastian, Guy's brother writing: "He was without a doubt one of the happiest most joyful people I've ever met. It’s hard to picture him without a smile because he was just constantly smiling. This is a wonderful tribute Jules and we love you guys beyond words." </p> <p>"I’m so sorry to hear this Jules. Beautiful words. Love to you & your family 🤍" added Sam Mac. </p> <p>"He would of loved having you there & now gets to watch over and protect you from above 🤍 sending you all the love in the world & a mega big warm cuddle virtually xxxxxxxxxxxx," wrote <em>KIIS FM </em>weekend host Amy Gerard. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Husband of Aussie TV presenter dies two years after his wife's passing

<p>Alan Plummer, husband of TV presenter Erin Jayne Plummer who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tv-presenter-s-cause-of-death-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> in 2022, has passed away. </p> <p>The 49-year-old passed away in a suspected self-harm incident in Sydney's northern beaches on Saturday, with his death leaving the couple's three daughters orphaned. </p> <p>The tragedy comes two years after his wife, who was a host on <em>Studio 10</em>, died at just 42 years old in May 2022.</p> <p>Erin represented Australia as a synchronised swimmer at three world championships and won 11 national titles, before going on to have a successful career hosting advertorials, appearing on <em>Studio 10</em>, <em>TVSN</em>, <em>Mornings with Keri-Anne</em> and <em>The Morning Show</em>.</p> <p>At the time of Erin's death, <em>Studio 10</em> host Sarah Harris shared the devastating news with the audience. </p> <p>“For two decades, Erin has been a friendly and familiar face on Australian telly, and for a lot of that she's been brightening up our mornings with her bubbly personality and megawatt smile."</p> <p>“Erin was just a gorgeous human inside and out... We'll miss your sunshine around the studio, Erin Jayne, and all of us here are sending lots of love and strength to her family. You'll be very missed.”</p> <p>A NSW Police Force spokesperson confirmed the Alan's death in a statement to <em>Daily Mail Australia</em>, saying, “Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner regarding the death of a 49-year-old man at Freshwater on Saturday.”</p> <p>Mr Plummer had recently sold the family’s four-bedroom Freshwater home, which they had owned for more than two decades.</p> <p>He was the former director of Shine VIP Tours Australia PTY LTD — a now-defunct company that was shut down in 2020. </p> <p><em><strong>Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. </strong></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au</strong></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636</strong></em></p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>SANE: 1800 187 263; saneforums.org</strong></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

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Father breaks silence after wife and two children die in tragic drowning

<p>Hoai Nguyen, 32, and her two children, Mitchell, 7, and Hazel, 5, were enjoying a day out at Shearer Park in south-west Sydney, and were walking down to a small pier on the waterfront before they were spotted <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/unimaginable-sorrow-mother-and-two-children-drown-during-family-outing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">struggling in the Georges River</a> about 10.15am on Saturday. </p> <p>Hoai was pulled to shore shortly afterwards, but despite desperate attempts by rescuers and bystanders she could not be revived. </p> <p>The bodies of the two children were recovered a few hours later, metres from a jetty. </p> <p>The children's father, Dinh Nguyen, had been at work during the incident and only found out about the tragedy when police showed up at his house. </p> <p>He has since broken his silence, and told <em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em> that his wife was navigating a mental illness prior to her death. </p> <p>“She has bipolar disorder, and she has some ups and some downs,” he told the publication. </p> <p>“She takes medicine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”</p> <p>He also recalled one of the last conversations the couple had, the night prior to the tragedy. </p> <p>“She told me the last night she didn’t sleep so she wanted to stay at home,” he said.</p> <p>According to <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>, detectives are now probing whether the incident was premeditated as they continue their investigations into the tragedy. </p> <p>The southwest Sydney community has since rallied around the family's loved ones, with bouquets of flowers and tributes seen at the riverbank as part of a growing memorial. </p> <p>A close friend of the family, Sarah Vu, has also organised a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/hoai-mitchell-and-hazel-nguyen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page for the family which has since raised over $60,600 of their $40,000 goal. </p> <p>“I sincerely thank the entire community for their contributions,” she wrote in a social media tribute on Monday.</p> <p>“The family have decided to bring Hoai and the kids back to Vietnam.</p> <p>“The fund has currently exceeded my expectations, but I will keep the link open for anyone who still wants to donate.”</p> <p>"All we can do now is pray for you and the little ones to depart peacefully,” she added with a video of two young kids holding hands and skipping down a street together. </p> <p><em><strong>Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Lifeline: <strong>13 11 14</strong>, <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifeline.org.au </a></em></p> <p><em>SANE Support line and Forums: <strong>1800 187 263,</strong> <a href="https://saneforums.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saneforums.org</a></em></p> <p><em>Headspace: <strong>1800 650 890,</strong> <a href="https://headspace.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">headspace.org.au</a></em></p> <p><em>Beyond Blue: <strong>1300 224 635</strong>, <a href="beyondblue.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beyondblue.org.au </a></em></p> <p><em>Images: Facebook/ GoFundMe</em></p>

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Farmer Wants a Wife star breaks silence after split

<p><em>Farmer Wants a Wife</em> fan favourite Farmer Andrew has confirmed his split from Claire Saunders after the pair cancelled their upcoming wedding. </p> <p>The pair, who met each other on the 2023 season of the show, initially shared that their wedding had been postponed in July for “reasons out of our control”.</p> <p>On Monday, Andrew confirmed that the relationship ended in a lengthy Instagram post. </p> <p>“It feels the right time to share what’s been happening in my life on the farm and beyond,” he began.</p> <p>“For someone who’s more used to being surrounded by sheep and nature than the buzz of social media, this is a bit out of the box. But here goes.”</p> <p>He explained that a few years ago he wanted to share the farm life with "someone special" so he decided to sign up for the show. </p> <p>“I never imagined meeting such an amazing group of women, each with their own spirit and story. It was exciting and humbling, reminding me of how important love and connection are,” he said.</p> <p>“Amidst it all, one extraordinary woman captured my heart, and we decided to give it a shot.</p> <p>“We moved in together, dreaming of a future where our love would grown alongside the farm. It was fast-paced, passionate and fun.</p> <p>He continued saying that life had other plans for them and despite their love and effort,  "sometimes things just don’t work out."</p> <p>“Living together brought its own challenges, and we realised our paths weren’t meant to stay intertwined.”</p> <p>He said that while it was "sad" the relationship had to end, they gave it their all. </p> <p>“Though it didn’t lead us where we hoped, it helped us grow. It’s been a huge outlay of heart and soul. And while it’s painful to walk away, we’ve both emerged stronger, wiser, and more attuned to what really matters.”</p> <p>He then went on to thank his family, friends and followers who helped him through tough times, and shared his plan going forward. </p> <p>“As I move forward, I’m choosing to celebrate the love we shared, the lessons learned, and the strength gained.</p> <p>“No regrets, just gratitude. Now, it’s time to dive back into farm life. here’s never a dull moment with the challenges, adventures and pleasures that come from living and working on the land, and I look forward to sharing this journey, hoping we can all find inspiration," he ended the post. </p> <p>The former couple announced their engagement in March 2021, after Claire moved to Andrew's farm in Narromine, regional NSW. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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

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

Caring

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Bruce Springsteen’s wife reveals cancer diagnosis

<p>Bruce Springsteen’s wife, Patti Scialfa, has revealed that she was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer in 2018. </p> <p>Scialfa, who is also a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, spoke about her diagnosis in a new documentary about the band. </p> <p>“This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” she said in the film, according to <em>Variety</em>. </p> <p>Scialfa didn't attend Sunday's premiere of the documentary, <em>Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band</em>, which was held at the Toronto Film Festival. </p> <p>“Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”</p> <p>She revealed that she had multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that doesn’t always require immediate treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.</p> <p>According to the organisation's website, “if the multiple myeloma is slow growing and isn’t causing symptoms, close watching might be the first step," and here are a few ways of managing the disease. </p> <p>CNN reported that a representative for Scialfa had no further comment to provide regarding her condition. </p> <p>Scialfa has been a member of the E Street Band since 1984 and has been married to Springsteen since 1991.</p> <p>The pair have three children together. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

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Body found in search for wife of former rugby star

<p>A body has been found in the search for Jenny Hastings, the wife of the former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings. </p> <p>Jenny, 60, went missing at Wardie Bay, a wild swimming spot near Edinburgh, on Tuesday.</p> <p>A massive search involving police, ambulance and coastguard crews was launched in the Firth of Forth, according to <em>The Sun</em>. </p> <p>Despite their efforts, the search was stood down on Tuesday night. </p> <p>On Saturday afternoon, police said a woman's body was found in the Hound Point area of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh. </p> <p>Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said that: “The family of missing woman Jenny Hastings has been informed.”</p> <p>They also said "there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal". </p> <p>Police were treating her disappearance as a “high-risk missing persons case,” as Jenny struggles with her mental health. </p> <p>Her family previously issued a statement amid fears she was dead. </p> <p>“It appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her," they said. </p> <p>“She loved the water but unfortunately her mind was not in a place of safety.</p> <p>“The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken. We miss our Jenny.</p> <p>“She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.”</p> <p>Scottish Rugby also shared a statement on social media yesterday, sending their love and support to the Hastings family. </p> <p>“Scottish Rugby sends its love and support to Scott Hastings, Scotland cap 848, after his wife Jenny was reported missing whilst swimming earlier this week.</p> <p>“Our thoughts are with their children, and the wider Hastings family, at this heartbreaking time.”</p> <p>Jenny had been open about her struggles with mental health. In March 2017, she disappeared from the couple's Edinburgh home for 36 hours and walked to the Pentland Hills while she was suffering from depression. </p> <p>The couple both became ambassadors for charity Support in Mind Scotland and devoted work to helping others with their own mental health by staying active. </p> <p>They helped launch the 100 Streets challenge, encouraging people to get out and exercise with friends.</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Robbie Williams and wife share heartbreaking family update

<p>Robbie Williams and wife Ayda have been left heartbroken following the death on their beloved dogs, Poupette and Walle. </p> <p>The British pop star, 50, took to Instagram on Friday to share the devastating news, saying that the two dogs died together in their sleep. </p> <p>In a heartfelt tribute to Instagram, his wife Ayda shared that Poupette had been with her for nearly two decades. </p> <p>“Today, our dogs Poupette &amp; Walle left this planet to start an adventure in an infinite galaxy far, far away," she began.</p> <p>“They died together in bed, listening to ‘Dancing Queen’, surrounded by tremendous love.</p> <p>“For those of you who don’t know about Poupette and Walle, here’s some backstory …</p> <p>“Poupette’s been with me 18 years. From the day we met, she was my soulmate. I was a single girl, and all of a sudden, with Poupette, I was a single mum.</p> <p>“Everyone that knows me, called Poupette ‘my shadow’ … because wherever I’d go, she was right behind me.</p> <p>“It’s weird how you can share so much with a being that can’t communicate back in the same language.</p> <p>“But, that’s the beauty of unconditional love … it needs no words.”</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/p/C_hicKtx3R5/?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/p/C_hicKtx3R5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Ayda Field Williams (@aydafieldwilliams)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She explained that when she started dating Robbie, he fell in love with Poupette "instantly" and took her on as his own dog. </p> <p>“Rob, at the time, had 3 big dogs &amp; I assumed he’d baulk at the idea of having to take a tiny, white, fluffy dog on the streets, shouting ‘Poupette’ with a Northern English accent," she said.</p> <p>“But, Rob immediately fell in love with her and all of a sudden, the big tattooed, popstar … became a small-fluffy-dog kinda guy.”</p> <p>The couple decided to get Walle a year later, and “from that day forward, on 4th of July, we officially became a blended family.”</p> <p>Their dogs even played a big role on their wedding day in 2010, with Poupette as Ayda's maid of honour, and Walle as Robbie's best man. </p> <p>“Through the years, Poupette &amp; Walle have been there for the birth of all 4 children, multiple tours, countries, &amp; all the ups &amp; downs that life has thrown our way the past 14 years since we said, ‘I do’.”</p> <p>“As time has gone on, we have had to say our sad goodbyes to each of those bridesmaids &amp; groomsmen … Miraculously, Poupette &amp; Walle have held on.</p> <p>“Recently, Rob and I renewed our marriage vows. There’s a lot of things we’re facing now (more on that another time) and we wanted to celebrate what was good in our lives; family &amp; love.</p> <p>“Just as 14 years ago … Poupette was my maid of honor &amp; Walle was Rob’s man.”</p> <p>The star admitted that she would be taking the next few days to grieve over her "fur bestie" and how she loves them "with all her heart." </p> <p>Many fans shared their condolences for the couple, with one writing:  “Oh that is so sad, they will be truly missed! Sending you all the biggest hugs!”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Distraught wife of cricket legend reveals cause of death

<p>The grieving wife of late cricket legend Graham Thorpe has spoken out after her husband's untimely <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tragic-news-cricket-legend-dies-at-just-55" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death</a>, revealing that he tragically took his own life. </p> <p>After an illustrious cricket career in the UK, Thorpe died on August 5th at just 55 years old, leaving behind his wife and four children. </p> <p>Thorpe had previously been hospitalised in May 2022 following a suicide attempt, but made a full recovery. </p> <p>His wife Amanda has spoken out about her husband's mental illness, sharing how he had been suffering for many years. </p> <p>“Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not get better,” Amanda told <em>The Times</em>.</p> <p>“He was so unwell in recent times and he really did believe that we would be better off without him.”</p> <p>She added: “We are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life.”</p> <p>Amanda said Graham had suffered from major depression and anxiety “for a couple of years”, explaining, “Despite glimpses of hope and of the old Graham, he continued to suffer from depression and anxiety, which at times got very severe."</p> <p>“We supported him as a family and he tried many, many treatments but unfortunately none of them really seemed to work."</p> <p>“Graham was renowned as someone who was very mentally strong on the field and he was in good physical health. But mental illness is a real disease and can affect anyone.”</p> <p>Following his sudden death, the England and Wales Cricket Board released a statement that said, “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Graham Thorpe, MBE, has passed away."</p> <p>“There seem to be no appropriate words to describe the deep shock we feel at Graham’s death."</p> <p>“More than one of England’s finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and revered by fans all over the world."</p> <p><em><strong>Need to talk to someone? Don't go it alone. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lifeline.org.au</a></strong></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Colorsport/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Caring

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Devastated wife reveals croc attack victim's heroic final act

<p>The grieving wife of the 40-year-old doctor who was killed by a crocodile in Far North Queensland has spoken out about her husband's heroic actions in the moments before his tragic death. </p> <p>David Hogbin, a general practitioner from Newcastle, was holidaying near Cooktown with his wife Jane and their three young sons when he was attacked by a crocodile. </p> <p>The family of five were walking along an established path on a riverbank when it is believed part of the bank gave way, causing Hogbin to fall into the river below.</p> <p>“Jane, who was nearby but not walking with Dave at the time, heard the splash and slid down to desperately try to pull him out,” family friend Alex Ward wrote on <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-dave-hogbins-family-after-tragic-crocodile-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">GoFundMe</a>.</p> <p>“Due to the steepness and slipperiness of the bank, Jane was able to grab his arm but began slipping into the river herself.”</p> <p>Jane said her husband was "doing everything right" during the frantic incident, reflecting on his selflessness in his final moments. </p> <p>“He saved me — his last act was to not pull me in with him,” she told <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/dads-selfless-final-act-before-fatal-crocodile-attack-in-queensland/news-story/72a7140759ca5f22bb263ad1b0a390eb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p>Hogbin let go of his wife’s arm during the attack, which meant she was able to find safety on the riverbank as he was taken by the crocodile.</p> <p>“I’m glad I’m still here, because it could have been a million-fold worse for everyone involved, not just the boys,” Jane said.</p> <p>“I have a lot of comfort in knowing there’s nothing that I’m frustrated or angry about — he was just walking around a corner on a well-worn path.”</p> <p>Ward said it was a “small consolation” Hogbin’s three young sons did not directly see him being taken by the crocodile.</p> <p>Jane is now focused on helping her kids get through the tragedy while being determined to keep memories of their father alive.</p> <p>“I want them to know how dedicated he was as a father — he always jokingly offered to be a stay-at-home dad and never work again, because they were his number one priority,” she said.</p> <p>“David touched so many people’s lives that everyone deserves to know who he was and how it all ended for him."</p> <p>“I want to put a face to this tragedy — someone didn’t just get killed by a crocodile, we have lost a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, friend and doctor.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

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"We should give back": Bill Gates' ex-wife on giving away her $16bn fortune

<p>Melinda French Gates has opened up on her decision to give away her fortune after leaving the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation in June. </p> <p>Melinda, who is reportedly worth $16.8 billion, said that she will stick with her decision to give away her fortune on <em>The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, </em> as it's "the right thing to do for society". </p> <p>"If we grew up in the United States, anybody who has grown up in this country has been really lucky and I don't care who you are," she explained.</p> <p>"To be able to go to a decent school, grow up and pursue your career, and if so you are a billionaire, my gosh, you have benefited from this country, right?</p> <p>"So we should give back."</p> <p>She also feels there is "a responsibility and to do it in a way that's incredibly thoughtful".</p> <p>Melinda, who divorced the Microsoft founder Bill Gates back in 2021, has announced her plans to focus on her organisation Pivotal Ventures, which she founded in 2015.</p> <p>The organisation's aim is to "advance social progress by removing barriers that hold people back."</p> <p>She said that she is  determined to ensure that "women's rights are not only on the agenda, but that women are setting the agenda" – especially after watching women's rights be rolled back internationally over the last few years."</p> <p>"What I saw, part of why our women's rights got rolled back in the United States is that those organisations were starved for funding, and they were playing defense," she explained. </p> <p>Melinda has pledged to donate $1 billion to this end over the next two years. </p> <p><em>Image: Julien De Rosa/EPA/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

Money & Banking

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Julian Assange's wife shares first family photos since his release

<p>Julian Assange's wife has shared the first photo of the family enjoying their lives together, since the WikiLeaks founder was declared a free man after 14 years of legal battles.</p> <p>The 52-year-old returned to Australian soil in June after more than a decade fighting extradition to the United States on espionage charges after publishing confidential US documents in 2010.</p> <p>In the weeks after his release, Stella Assange, whom he married in 2022 while imprisoned in London, shared a photo on social media of herself with her husband and their two children, Gabriel, 7, and Max, 5.</p> <p>The picture, simply captioned “Family photo! #AssangeFree”, showed them smiling on a beach. </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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9uSrR7NG4w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9uSrR7NG4w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Stella Assange (@stellaassange)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Supporters flooded the comments to express their joy at the moment, with one top comment saying, “The photo we were all waiting for!!!!”</p> <p>Another supporter wrote, “The photo I was hoping to see for years,” while another declared, “That’s exactly what we have been fighting for.”</p> <p>“So good to see Julian in the great outdoors!!” shared someone else.</p> <p>On his return home to Australia to start life as a free man last month, Ms Assange said her husband needed time to recuperate.</p> <p>“I ask you please to give us space, to give us privacy, to find our place, to let our family be a family,” she said at the time.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p> </p>

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BBC star's heartbreaking plea after wife and daughters were killed

<p>Grief-stricken BBC racing commentator John Hunt has broken his silence after his wife and two daughters were <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/man-arrested-after-bbc-presenter-s-wife-and-children-murdered" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed</a> during a crossbow attack. </p> <p>Carol Hunt, 61, Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, were fatally injured at their home in North London last Tuesday, with Hertfordshire Police confirming that 26-year-old Kyle Clifford had been arrested in connection to their murders. </p> <p>Speaking to the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx825zwy2r5o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a></em> about the devastating incident, John's friend and fellow commentator, Matt Chapman, said, "Family means more to some than others and for John, his family unit was something he absolutely adored."</p> <p>"He told me: 'Matty, the message I would tell everyone is you never know when it's going to be the last day you see your family'."</p> <p>"The message was very clear: make the most of every day because you just don't know."</p> <p>Mr Chapman said proceeds from a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-family-of-john-hunt" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">fundraiser </a>set up after the horrifying attack, which has currently raised more than $53,000 AUD, will go to John's surviving daughter, Amy. </p> <p>He said John had said his "biggest desire" was to make sure Amy had "no money worries for the rest of her life".</p> <p>"There are a lot of people, including myself, who feel helpless and would like to do something," he said.</p> <p>"John would like nothing more for Amy after these horrific events than a life that is a little less stressful, because life will never be stress-free again."</p> <p>"It's not going to take their grief away - it's not going to take the pain away or change anything - but it might help them have an easier life."</p> <p>John and Amy released a joint statement on Saturday, thanking the public for their messages of support during what they described as "an extremely difficult time for us".</p> <p>"The devastation that we are experiencing cannot be put into words," they said. </p> <p>"We would like to thank people for their kind messages and for the support we have received in recent days. These have provided great comfort to us for which we are very grateful."</p> <p>"As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for us, and we need time and space to come to terms with what has happened and start the grieving process."</p> <p>As the investigation continues into the brutal deaths, police shared that they have not yet been able to speak to him as he remains in a serious condition after suffering self-inflicted wounds. </p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe / Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Man arrested after BBC presenter's wife and children murdered

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

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Husband charged after wife’s tragic golf cart death on Hamilton Island

<p>A husband charged with the death of his wife has shared her chilling last words before she tragically died in a golf cart crash on their honeymoon. </p> <p>Robbie Awad, 32, and his new wife Marina Hanna, 29, were honeymooning in Queensland's Hamilton Island just 10 days after their wedding in June 2022, when the golf cart they were travelling in tipped over. </p> <p>Ms Hana died at the scene after doing into cardiac arrest.</p> <p>Ms Awad, who was driving the golf cart when it crashed and walked away uninjured, has pleaded guilty to three charges including not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while driving.</p> <p>Appearing in court on Thursday for the first day of his hearing, he pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving without due care and attention causing death. </p> <p>Taking to the witness stand, Mr Awad said the couple had decided to leave the resort to get something to eat before the crash. </p> <p>“We were leaving Qualia [resort] in the buggy, I was driving, I drove toward the exit of Qualia, I waited for the [gates] to open. We drove out of the gates at 5 or 4 km/h,” he said.</p> <p>The 32-year-old told the court that at the time of the crash, he was using his phone to follow directions, even though his wife warned him not to look at his phone while driving. </p> <p>“I was looking for directions on how to travel to the marina.”</p> <p>“My wife said, ‘Get off your phone’. I said, ‘What is the worst that could happen? No worries,’ and I put the phone in my pocket.’”</p> <p>Mr Awad said the couple decided to travel back to their resort after noting that the golf cart wasn't working properly, as it started to slow down when it began travelling up a hill. </p> <p>“I would estimate it was travelling less than walking speed. A very slow walk,” he said.</p> <p>“’By the time I got to the top of the hill, it was barely moving.”</p> <p>“[Once I got to the intersection] I could see it was very steep and I couldn’t see around the bend. I looked straight and saw there were no cars, the buggy was moving one metre every two seconds, so I drove the buggy into the flattest part.”</p> <p>He claimed the buggy accelerated unexpectedly, as he was making the U-turn. </p> <p>“As I was accelerating, I was moving the steering wheel, but because the buggy wasn’t moving, I ended up doing full turns, then I heard ‘vrrrroom’ and the buggy accelerated very quickly,” he said.</p> <p>“I started to have the thought, ‘Oh, the buggy might tip over,’ but by the time I could have finished the thought, it had already tipped over.”</p> <p>Mr Awad’s defence lawyer argued the “tragic accident” was caused by an issue with the battery in the golf buggy. </p> <p>“It fell over and killed his poor wife and he was devastated — and still is,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

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