News

Shark victim named as British man Simon Nellist

Published

3 months ago

February 17, 2022

lottieannasmith

Credit: Facebook

A friend has confirmed that British man Simon Nellist was killed in shark attack in Sydney on Wednesday.

The city had almost reached 60 years without any fatal shark attacks.

The 35-year-old’s tragic death happened near Little Bay when he was mauled by a great white.

The majority of beaches have closed as authorities attempt to trace the shark.

Nellist, who was an experienced ocean swimmer and diving instructor, was training for a charity swim when he attacked from below near Buchan Point.

It is understood that he was engaged to be married.

Friend Della Ross told 7News: “”Everything that is connected to Simon is connected to the ocean.”

Ross added: “The news hit us like a truck because he was one of the people who make this earth lighter.”

Surf lifesavers on jet skis, helicopters and drones are being used to search for the shark from Bondi in the city’s east to Cronulla in the south.

The Malabar Magic Ocean Swim has cancelled the planned event on Sunday “out of respect.”

The organising committee said: “The organising committee extends our thoughts and prayers to the family of the swimmer who was so tragically taken yesterday.

“Out of respect for the swimmer and his family, and following wide consultation with Randwick Council and experienced senior Surf Life Saving personnel, we believe that cancelling the 2022 swim is appropriate.”

Police are yet to formally identify the victim, and are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen him before or during the incident.

In a statement, North South Wales Police Force said: “Detectives from the Marine Area Command are appealing for information as they continue to investigate a fatal shark attack at Little Bay yesterday.

“About 4.35pm (16 February 2022), emergency services were called to the Little Bay northern headland after reports a swimmer had been attacked by a shark.

“Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command with assistance from the MAC and Surf Life Saving NSW attended and located human remains in the water.

“The swimmer is yet to be formally identified but is believed to have been a 35-year-old man from Wolli Creek.”

Shark attacks in Australia are more common at this time of year, because the warmer weather encourages people into the water.

New South Wales state government has invested millions in technology in hopes of reducing shark attacks along the coast.

Shark listening stations can tell when great white sharks are near and send an alert.

Speaking to ABC, the area’s state MP Michael Daley said the victim was a regular swimmer there.

Locals are reported to be shaken by the “horrific” event and there’s a “real dark pal hanging over our community today.”

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Entertainment

Deborah James Awarded Damehood After Raising Over £3,000,000 for Charity

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2022

rebeccarosecook

Deborah James has said she is ‘blown away’ after being made a Dame for her tireless campaigning for cancer charities.

The inspirational broadcaster and author announced earlier this week that she is receiving hospice care at home after stopping her cancer treatment, and has said she ‘could have weeks to live at most’.

In recent days, the You, Me & The Big C host has raised over £3million for charities that have helped her over the past five years, through her Bowelbabe Fund.

After calls for her to receive the Royal honour, it has been revealed that Deborah is now officially Dame Deborah James.

‘I don’t know what to say. I’m blown away and feel incredibly honoured,’ she said reacting to the news.

She added ‘I don’t feel like I deserve this. I can’t tell you what this means to my family, it’s so much to take in.’

Her husband Sebastien Bowen, said the public support of the fundraiser has ‘brought a piercing ray of light and hope into this, the darkest of times’, adding that the Damehood is ‘so truly deserved’.

Downing Street said the Queen was ‘pleased to approve the honour of damehood’ be bestowed upon Deborah James.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed Dame Deborah as an figure of inspiration to the country.

‘If ever an honour was richly deserved, this is it,’ the leader said.

‘Deborah has been an inspiration and her honesty, warmth and courage has been a source of strength to so many people.’

Thank you for all your incredible work.

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EuroMillions: UK ticket holder claims £184m jackpot

Published

2 weeks ago

May 11, 2022

rebeccarosecook

One lucky ticket-holder’s life has changed forever after winning the £184million EuroMillions jackpot. It means they have become the biggest ever National Lottery winner, operator Camelot has said.

Whoever they are, they have knocked the anonymous winner of £170million in October 2019 off the top spot. They have also become the National Lottery’s 14th winner of more than £100million.

The winner, who is yet to be named, is also the second person in the UK to win the EuroMillions jackpot this year, after someone bagged £109million in February.

The winning numbers were 3, 25, 27, 28 and 29 – plus the Lucky Star numbers 4 and 9. One ticket matched all seven numbers to win £184,262,899.10.

Senior winners’ adviser for the National Lottery, Andy Carter said: “What an amazing night for one UK ticket-holder who has scooped the incredible £184million EuroMillions jackpot – they have become the UK’s biggest ever National Lottery winner.”

The claim will now go through a validation process to ensure terms and conditions are met and once the ticket has been validated the winner can choose whether or not to remain anonymous.

What would you do with all that money?

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Baby P’s Killer Mum Tracey Connelly Set for Prison Release after Judge Gives Green Light

Published

3 weeks ago

May 5, 2022

rebeccarosecook

Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, who died after months of abuse, will be released from prison after the Parole Board rejected a Government challenge against its ruling.

The decision comes after Justice Secretary Dominic Raab appealed against the recommendation to free Tracey Connelly from prison.

Connelly was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London, on August 3 2007.

Dominic Raab said the decision demonstrated why the system “needs a fundamental overhaul – including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders”.

Now 40, this was Connelly’s fourth parole review after she was released on licence in 2013 but recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions by “developing intimate personal relationships” online and inciting another resident at her accommodation to engage in “inappropriate sexualised behaviour”.

In a statement, the Parole Board said: “In summary, the judge has concluded that the panel did take into consideration all evidence mentioned by the application and made rational conclusions.

“The reconsideration decision clarifies that the weight given to the evidence given by the Secretary of States witnesses, who supported release, and the proposed external controls, was proportionate and the reasons were clearly outlined in the decision letter.

“The final ground on the rationality of the outcome was also rejected on the grounds of not reaching the threshold, as defined by law, for becoming unreasonable.”

The Parole Board, which is independent of government, received a formal request to review the decision to free Connelly last week.