Tag Archives: oceania

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Flags fly at half-mast for Australian man who died on Japanese ski mountain

Flags have been flown at half-mast at the former school of a Melbourne skier who passed away on the slopes in Japan.

Michael Hurst, 27, was skiing in the back country of Niseko, on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, with several friends when he died of a suspected heart attack on Tuesday.

Hurst, who grew up in Melbourne's Bayside area, was remembered by his Mentone school St Bede's College, where flags were flown at half-mast today in his honour.

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Hurst was enjoying a ski season in Japan when he tragically died.Flags were flown at half mast at St Bede's College.

"Michael served our community with distinction as college captain in 2016," principal Deb Frizza said.

"As a faith community, we unite in prayer, commending Michael to the loving mercy of God and praying for comfort, strength, and peace for his family during this time of profound grief.

"We also hold in our prayers our colleagues and community members who knew, taught, and were close to Michael."

According to a translation of a local media report, Hurst went missing while skiing with a group of friends between Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort in Niseko, Hokkaido.

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Michael Hurst, 27, died of a suspected heart attack while skiing in Japan.

Police joined the search and found him being given CPR by a group of four.

Emergency services rushed the man, who had no visible injuries, to hospital where he later died.

According to his LinkedIn profile, the town planner was taking a "career break" in Japan over the 2025-26 ski season, where he was working at a ski resort.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said authorities were providing consular assistance to the family.

"We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time," a spokesperson said in a statement.

Hurst was the second Australian to die on the slopes in Japan in just a matter of days, after 22-year-old Sunshine Coast woman Brooke Day was killed in a ski lift accident at a resort near Hakuba.

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Man who killed his dog and then lied to the media dodges jail time

Drunk and stoned, Nathan Paul McKeown forgot where he had parked his ute containing his "best friend", Arnie the German shepherd.

McKeown, 43, told his wife the car had been stolen, launching a massive police search and a national appeal for information.

More than a week later, seven-year-old Arnie was found dead inside McKeown's ute after a neighbour complained about the smell.

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Nathan McKeown stolen German Sheperd Arnie Today Show November 11, 2025

Months after appearing on TV and radio asking for help to find Arnie, McKeown was spared jail after his "snowball" of lies.

McKeown ran from media into a police station before entering nearby Cleveland Magistrates Court, south-east of Brisbane, under police escort today.

Security had searched the court building for explosive devices due to the volume of death threats McKeown had received since his arrest.

He pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully killing his dog as well as obstructing police by leading them on a fruitless search for his ute.

McKeown's national TV appeals for information sparked Arnie sightings and a social media campaign that amassed millions of views.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta told McKeown he had been "public enemy No.1" after his arrest.

"Members of the public felt betrayed, they felt you perhaps manipulated or exploited their emotions for your own benefit," she said.

"I take into account public condemnation and much of it is justified."

Defence solicitor Patrick Quinn said his client had received "vile" death threats via social media.

"They call for his death, his gassing, for him to be beaten. He has essentially been in hiding," he said.

McKeown's offending was unusual and extreme, the police prosecutor said.

"He left Arnie in the car with no food, water or ventilation," the prosecutor said.

McKeown also pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving and driving under the influence.

The prosecutor said McKeown was captured on CCTV letting Arnie out of the ute to go to the toilet on the evening of November 7 in inner Brisbane's Fortitude Valley.

"McKeown appeared heavily affected by alcohol. He was unsteady," the prosecutor said.

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Arnie the German Shepherd

Vasta heard McKeown did not return and instead visited several venues, bars, service stations and fast food outlets until the early hours of November 8.

McKeown could not remember where he parked and told his wife his ute had been stolen, which she reported to police.

"On a large scale he misdirected police and the public to find the ute. He persisted with the false narrative in national media," the prosecutor said.

The amount of police resources wasted in the search and chasing sightings of Arnie was large, Vasta heard.

A resident smelled a foul odour coming from McKeown's utility on November 17 and police found Arnie in an advanced state of decomposition.

McKeown should not face prison time as he had no prior criminal record, had checked in to drug and alcohol rehabilitation and was deeply remorseful, Vasta heard.

"It's a perfect example of the cover-up being worse than the original offences," Quinn said.

McKeown had owned and trained Arnie since he was a nine-week-old puppy and took the dog with him everywhere, Vasta heard.

"It was a classic snowball that got bigger and bigger…and you didn't have the guts," Vasta said.

"Your actions killed your dog. Your best friend."

Vasta told McKeown he would have been jailed if he had deliberately killed Arnie.

Instead he received the maximum 240 hours of community service and was disqualified from driving for eight months.

"Your past is going to travel with you when people google you. I'm not going to record conviction. That would make things worse."

McKeown declined to comment as he left court.

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TV host’s desperate plea to mother’s kidnappers

US television host Savannah Guthrie has posted a message to her mother's kidnapper, asking them to provide proof that she is alive.

Authorities believe 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was taken from her Tucson-area home in Arizona on Saturday night and are investigating what appears to be ransom notes sent to the media.

In a social media post today, Guthrie said her family is "ready to talk" to the kidnappers.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/DUW3mpqD8qd/

"We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media," the Today anchor said alongside her siblings.

"However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated.

"We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her.

"We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us." 

The three siblings pledged to do everything they could to get their mother back, who, Guthrie added, is fragile, lives in constant pain and needs medication to survive. 

"Everyone is looking for you, mummy, everywhere," she said.

"We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again.

"We love you, mum. Stay strong."

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Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie on Thursday, June 15, 2023

At least three different media outlets, TMZ and CNN Tucson affiliates KOLD and KGUN, report receiving ransom notes earlier this week demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin for Nancy's safe return.

According to the outlets, the notes also described specific evidence in her home.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the notes are legitimate but are investigating.

"We are taking all tips and leads very seriously," the Pima County Sheriff's Department said.

"Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are co-ordinating with the FBI."

Authorities are also trying to piece together the timeline of Nancy's disappearance.

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Nancy Guthrie

Nancy had dinner with family members who took her back to her one-storey home, where she lives alone, in Tucson about 9.30pm on Saturday.

She is believed to have been taken just 15 minutes later. 

Her pacemaker last sent a signal to her iPhone, which was left at the home, about 2am on Sunday. 

Nancy was uncharacteristically absent from church later that same morning, causing a friend to call her family who discovered she was not at home.

Samples and evidence have been collected from the home but authorities have not identified any suspect or person of interest.

"Our mum is our heart and our home," Guthrie said. 

– With CNN

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Man accused of mimicking Bondi attack to remain behind bars

A man accused of mimicking firing at people off the bridge where the Bondi Beach terror attack took place will remain behind bars.

Zayne McMillan allegedly pretended to fire upon people from the Campbell Parade bridge about 7pm on Saturday.

The 22-year-old is accused of abusing bystanders when they confronted him over his actions, causing them to feel fearful and intimidated.

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The footbridge was infamously used by the gunmen during the Bondi terror attack on December 14, which left 15 people dead and dozens injured at the Chanukah by the Sea event.

McMillan was arrested yesterday and charged with stalking or intimidating, intending to cause fear or physical harm and behaving in an offensive manner near a public place or school.

He faced a bail court today to make a bid for release after spending a night behind bars.

McMillan's lawyer, Glen Cremer, argued he should be granted bail because time spent behind bars on remand would further perpetuate his disadvantage as an Indigenous Australian.

The 22-year-old is the primary carer for his mother, who has a psychotic condition, the court was told.

But police prosecutor Chris Manning noted McMillan was on parole at the time of the offences after serving a jail term for offences that included weapons.

His bail application was dismissed by Magistrate Karen Stafford, who said the case against McMillan seemed to be strong.

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Leader of Opposition and NSW Liberal Leader Kellie Sloane.

"He's on parole for some very serious offences of violence … this would appear to be a repetition of violent offending," she said.

McMillan will be back in court on February 10.

Police had received complaints from the public about the actions of two men at the Bondi Bridge, but the other alleged offender is said to have fled the scene.

NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane, whose electorate includes Bondi Beach, described McMillan's alleged actions as "utterly disgraceful and insensitive".

She was one of the first people to rush to the scene to aid victims of the terror attack.

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Almost half a million Aussies are living with the nation’s biggest killer

Almost half a million people are living with the disease responsible for the most deaths in Australia.

Dementia Australia has revealed the number of Australians living with dementia this year has increased to an estimated 446,500.

This figure is projected to more than double to over one million people by 2065.

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Dementia

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The condition is the nation's biggest killer, affecting both sufferers and their families.

The data also revealed an estimated 29,000 people aged 18 to 65 are living with young onset dementia, which could increase to an estimated 41,000 by 2054.

Meanwhile, an estimated 1500 children live with childhood dementia in Australia.

In 2026, there are an estimated 145,700 people living with all forms of dementia in NSW, which is projected to increase to an estimated 252,800 by 2054.

Dementia Australia chief executive Professor Tanya Buchanan said the number of people developing dementia rapidly increasing.

"There is a critical demand for a national program to promote brain health throughout our lives as well as a pressing need to provide quality care and support services for people of all ages living with dementia, their families and carers," Professor Buchanan said.

"Dementia Australia is calling for essential investment from the federal government in implementing the National Dementia Action Plan, a ten-year government framework released in late 2024 aiming to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their carers.

"Australia is recognised internationally for its strengths in dementia care, support and research, but the system still has areas that need improvement. 

"Funding the delivery of the National Dementia Action Plan is essential for all Australians impacted by dementia." 

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