Tag Archives: oceania

Social media blamed after most challenging beach day in decades

Extreme heat has continued to smash Victoria with the state sweltering through its third day of heatwave conditions.

After one of the most challenging days in recent memory on the state's beaches, Surf Life Saving Victoria pointed the finger at the dangers of social media.

On Saturday alone, 145 water rescues were made across Victoria, 17 per cent of the number of incidents recorded over the whole summer in 2024.

READ MORE: Heatwave enters third day and triggers total fire ban in Victoria

Treloar said it was the most water rescues in a single day he'd seen in his entire career.

"In my 20 years plus with this organisation, I don't remember a day in Victoria where we've performed that many rescues," he told 9News.

One man died on Saturday after being pulled from the water at Gunnamatta Beach in Fingal on the Mornington Peninsula, one of Victoria's most dangerous stretches of coastline.

Dozens more were rescued around the coast as the heat brought thousands to beaches around the state.

A teenage girl and her friend were rescued by a 13-year-old boy after they were caught in a dangerous rip at Venus Bay in Victoria.

Today's conditions were calmer as Surf Life Saving Victoria blamed social media as a big factor for putting inexperienced swimmers in danger.

READ MORE: Bodies of British woman and her fiance found inside Vietnam villa

The hunt for hidden beaches and secluded spots is landing swimmers in a lot of trouble.

"The safest reality remains that the safest place to swim is between the red and yellow flags," Treloar said.

Locations such as Bushrangers Bay and Mount Martha Pillars on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula have become hugely popular online but are unmanned by lifeguards

There are more than 60 beaches and pools across the state staffed by surf rescue teams to keep people safe.

This December alone, 33 people have lost their lives to drowning as life savers warn it's the most dangerous time to be in the water.

Further inland, firefighters in Victoria battled another type of extreme.

A grassfire sparked in Port Melbourne about 8.30pm on Saturday, caused panic near the West Gate.

READ MORE: Millions to be impacted as severe winter storm rolls across USA

The flames clung to the dry shrub and pushed the blaze into the path of a storage facility.

It took about 50 firefighters to bring the fire under control.

It is now being treated as suspicious.

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Man in hospital after one-punch attack outside pub

A sickening one-punch attack outside a South Australian pub has left a 26-year-old man in hospital.

Footage obtained by 9News appears to show a heated confrontation between two groups before the situation suddenly turned violent last night.

The moment of impact outside Port Lincoln's Pier Hotel is too graphic to show, as man falls to the ground after being knocked unconscious.

READ MORE: Aussies end 10-year drought as debutant stars again

A sickening one punch attack outside a South Australian pub has left a 26-year-old man in hospital.

The pub was packed with locals and holidaymakers, with many quickly trying to help the man laid out on the footpath.

An ambulance was called to the scene on Tasman Terrace and the 26-year-old was taken to hospital just before 9pm.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said such attacks couild be deadly.

"We've seen tragically in the past where one punch, one erratic decision can cost someone their life and put someone else in jail," he said.

"People are allowed to loosen up and have a few drinks but they're not allowed to consume alcohol and then make completely irrational decisions that put other people's safety in jeopardy."

Police are still looking for the suspected attacker.

The moment of impact is too graphic to show, as man falls to the ground after being knocked unconscious.

He is described as having a heavy muscular build and short dark hair and was wearing a black singlet and shorts.

The suspect was seen leaving with two men in a silver Toyota LandCruiser.

The attack was the second outside a pub in as many days following the ugly scenes at Glenelg on Friday night.

In that incident four men were taken to hospital after a brawl broke out between a group of men and security guards from the Colley Hotel.

Search for body of surfer taken by shark called off

The search for the body of a surfer believed to have been taken by a shark in South Australia has been called off.

Lance Appleby, 28, was attacked by a shark at Granites beach, near Streaky Bay, just before 7pm on Thursday.

Earlier, his brother Kenneth Appleby paid tribute online to the much-loved surfer.

READ MORE: Aussies end 10-year drought as debutant stars again

Lance Appleby, the 28-year-old victim of a suspected fatal shark attack in South Australia has been remembered as a talented surfer, a great footballer and a beautiful young man.

"The pain we are feeling as a family is impossible to describe," he wrote.

"We are absolutely devastated, and there is a gaping hole in our hearts.

"The only solace we can find is knowing that Lance was doing what he loved with a beaming smile on his face.

"Forever young, forever surfing, forever loved."

READ MORE: Two men aged in their 60s die in NSW light plane crash

His former Football Club Marble Range described Appleby as having "a heart of gold, who always had a smile on his face, and adored within our community".

More than $90,000 has been raised for the family online.

‘Hoarder house’ goes up in smoke in Melbourne

Melbourne has been rocked after a house exploded into a terrifying fireball.

Nearby residents fled in panic as the home occupied by a suspected hoarder went up in flames in Noble Park.

READ MORE: Aussies end 10-year drought as debutant stars again

Neighbour Birkan Omerogullari told 9News he thought it was a car accident.

"I couldn't stay home because the smoke was pretty intense inside our house there," he said.

Melbourne has been rocked after a house exploded into a terrifying fireball.

Fire fighters battled the blaze for hours, with clutter in and around the property a challenge for crews.

CFA Chief Fire Officer Jason Heffernan said it was a "hoarder house."

"Crews had to deal with the unique risk of responding to those type of incidents," he said.

The owner wasn't home at the time the fire broke out but he returned to see the damage as fire crews worked to put out spot fires to make it safe for investigators to enter.

Melbourne has been rocked after a house exploded into a terrifying fireball.Nearby residents fled in panic as the home occupied by a suspected hoarder went up in flames in Noble Park.

The damage is so severe what's left of the property will be demolished in stages over the coming days.

Fire fighters say it serves as a timely reminder to keep properties maintained.

‘Horrible’: Family’s fear after two robberies in a week

An Adelaide family is living in fear after being targeted in two home robberies in a week.

The mother, who spoke exclusively to 9News, detailed her ordeal, which sparked a citywide police chase last night.

The mother of two young children, who has not been identified, said she woke to two masked men inside her home, standing just metres away from her.

READ MORE: Aussies end 10-year drought as debutant stars again

The mother, who spoke exclusively to 9News, detailed her ordeal which sparked a city wide police chase last night.

"I just opened my eyes and seen a man standing there in my kitchen," she said.

"It took me a second to realise what was going on, and once the second walked through the back door is when the penny dropped.

"I can't even explain the rush of emotions and fear that ran through me, and I just jumped up and screaming."

A group of four men jumped the back fence, and broke into the family's Ingle Farm home on Monday morning, taking off with a handbag containing house and car keys.

"We could have died," she said.

"They were all masked up, gloved up. They were prepared. Who knows what they could have had on them, who knows what they were going to do to me and the family."

READ MORE: Two men aged in their 60s die in NSW light plane crash

The mother, who spoke exclusively to 9News, detailed her ordeal which sparked a city wide police chase last night.

She said police told her they had "grave concerns" the robbers would return, given they had her house and car keys.

And despite changing the locks to the house, it appears they did.

Last night, security cameras caught a similar group of four men walking up the family driveway just after midnight and taking off, with their Mercedes Benz.

A police helicopter and patrols tracked the stolen car, which was fitted with a GPS tracker, from the CBD to Dublin, then all the way to Point Pearce about 200 kilometres away.

But the offenders are still on the run.

The mother of two young children, who is not being identified, told 9News she woke to two masked men inside her home, standing just metres away from her.

Police are helping the family with extra security measures at home amid fears it could happen again.

"How far's this going to go? What are they going to do to me and my family?" the mother said.

"It's just a horrible way to live, and my family shouldn't have to live like this."

Family’s lucky escape as car careers into bedroom

Video has shown the moment a car ploughs into a family's bedroom north of Brisbane.

Police alleged the 29-year-old driver had been hooning just moments before the crash, leaving the home in ruins and a family heartbroken.

The bathroom wall was also ripped to pieces.

READ MORE: Aussies end 10-year drought as debutant stars again

Video has shown the moment a car ploughs into a family's bedroom north of Brisbane.Police alleged the 29-year-old driver had been hooning just moments before the crash, leaving the home in ruins and a family heartbroken.

Police say it's the result of the driver of a car who lost control ploughing into the property in Dakabin in the Moreton Bay region.

Witness Cameron claimed the car was "absolutely flying".

Security cameras caught the car moments earlier and a flash of light shows the moment of impact.

In another angle, the driver was seen on Sheaves Road.

Witnesses said when the car struck the house it sounded like a bomb going off.

Video has shown the moment a car ploughs into a family's bedroom north of Brisbane.Police alleged the 29-year-old driver had been hooning just moments before the crash, leaving the home in ruins and a family heartbroken.

"He flew on past us, and he skipped over the curb, completely cleared the grass bank, and just went straight through the side of that house," Cameron said.

After smashing into the home, the driver was heard screaming.

Neighbours rushed to the scene to help free the 29-year-old from the crumpled wreck.

The drama unfolded at 8.30pm yesterday, a time when those inside would normally be home.

Fortunately they were on holidays in Kingaroy.

They arrived home 10 minutes later realising they'd dodged potential tragedy.

They are now coming to terms with the loss of thousands of dollars in belongings.

The driver only had minor injuries and was taken to hospital but later discharged.

Police allege he was seen hooning earlier in nearby streets, with his licence suspended.

Residents told 9News the street is a notoriously dangerous stretch of road with multiple crashes in the past few years.

No charges have been laid.