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Heroic fan tackles deadly shooter at victory parade

<p>Three people have been taken into custody after a deadly shooting at a Super Bowl victory parade, where one person has died. </p> <p>At least 21 people have suffered injuries, nine of which being children, at the parade in Kansas City, following the Kansas Chiefs victory over the San Francisco 49ers.</p> <p>As one of the shooters opened fire in the crowd, one heroic football fan was captured on video tackling the gunman to the ground. </p> <p>The video also shows panicked crowds fleeing the sounds of the gunfire, as police ran towards the commotion.</p> <p>Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed in a second update to media that one person had died after 22 people had been shot.</p> <p>“We have three persons detained and under investigation,” she said.</p> <p>“We are working to determine if one of the three is the one that was in that video where fans assisted police.”</p> <p>She added that “right now we do not have a motive, but we are asking those who may potentially have any kind of information, a witness or video, to contact police”.</p> <p>At an earlier briefing, Ms Graves said she was “angry at what happened today”.</p> <p>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said, “The celebration was marred by a shooting. This is absolutely a tragedy.” </p> <p>Witness Kade Collins, who attending the parade with his dad, described the ordeal to local news station Fox 4 KC.</p> <p>“We heard 10 to 12 gunshots, but we thought they were fireworks, so we didn’t really panic at first or get too worked up. But then everyone started screaming and took off running,” Mr Collins said.</p> <p>Mr Collins said his dad saw police tackle a suspect after the crowd saw the gunman. </p> <p>“When we were walking out, there was someone pointing and saying, ‘He’s right there, he’s right there’, and police ran to the guy the crowd was pointing at and tackled him and put him in handcuffs,” he said. “Everyone took off running and screaming.”</p> <p>The Kansas City Chiefs said in a statement that all players, coaches, staff and their families were “safe and accounted for”, while sharing their condolences for those who were impacted by the shooting. </p> <p>“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the team said.</p> <p>"Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City ... We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Tiny chihuahua saves 90-year-old woman with heroic act

<p>In the world of unlikely heroes, step aside Batman, move over Superman, because Minnie the Chihuahua cross is here to steal the spotlight.</p> <p>This petite pooch from Kingston, in the South Australia's southeast, has recently been showered with praise for her unexpected, life-saving antics.</p> <p>Picture this: Minnie, a little dog with a heart as big as her bark, not particularly keen on hugs, found herself in a situation that required more than just a wag of her tail.</p> <p>On that fateful Friday, December 1, Minnie noticed that her 90-year-old owner, Joyce Gibbs, was in a bit of a pickle – struggling to catch a breath. Now, most dogs might just tilt their heads in confusion (you can picture it) or fetch a chew toy, but not Minnie.</p> <p>Untrained in any form of medical assistance, Minnie decided to take matters into her own paws. Whether by sheer luck or by innate instinct, the canine prodigy leaped onto Joyce’s lap and – brace yourselves –  <em>pressed the medical alert device hanging around her neck</em>. Yes, you heard that right; she hit the SOS button, sending out a message that would make any emergency service scramble into action.</p> <p>Lyn Gibbs, Joyce’s daughter, expressed her astonishment, “Minnie never jumps up in that chair when mum is in it..." she <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/chihuahua-praised-for-saving-90-year-old-south-australian-owner-struggling-to-breathe-c-12821344" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told 7News</a>. "Minnie knew she needed help, so she jumped up, trying to help her.”</p> <p>A stroke of genius? An incredibly lucky accident? Either way, Minnie became the the hero of the moment, saving the day like a furry little Avenger.</p> <p>As Joyce found herself in the hospital grappling with Rhinovirus, Minnie continued to be her unwavering companion. Doctors predicted a three-week recovery period, but after only four days, Joyce was back home, thanks to the vigilant care of her four-legged saviour.</p> <p>Lyn couldn’t help but gush about Minnie’s dedication, “Minnie’s been so good from the day I got her... she’s the best dog... she doesn’t leave her side.” Move over Florence Nightingale; we’ve got Minnie, the dedicated dog nurse, taking care of business.</p> <p>This heartwarming tale isn’t just about Minnie’s heroics; it’s a reminder of the importance of those pesky but life-saving medical alert devices. As Lyn says: “The medical alert is just so important for old people... a lot of them won’t wear them. They put them on the cupboard or on the table, but you really need them at all times, especially in the shower.”</p> <p>So, take heed: wear your devices and maybe, just maybe, you'll have a four-legged hero by your side, ready to leap into action when you least expect it.</p> <p>In a world where a Chihuahua can be the difference between a close call and catastrophe, we salute you, Minnie, for proving that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.</p> <p><em>Images: 7News</em></p>

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Kiwi firefighters receive rare Aussie honour for heroic efforts

<p dir="ltr">A New Zealand firefighter has been awarded one of Australia’s special service awards for his efforts in fighting bushfires during the summer of 2019 and 2020.</p> <p dir="ltr">Phil Muldoon, Lake Ōkāreka’s chief rural fire officer, was one of 53 firefighters awarded the Australia National Emergency Medal during a recent awards ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">Muldoon, who worked 16-hour days fighting fires, said the honour was very humbling.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s not what we do it for but it is nice to be recognised, especially from the Australian Government,” Muldoon told <em><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/australia-bush-fires-nz-firefighter-given-rare-and-special-honour/4K7KKB2WRVEHXJKJ7IC5WBFY4I/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was among a 208-strong contingent of New Zealanders sent to help their Aussie neighbours, including personnel from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), the Department of Conservation, forestry company partners, and the New Zealand Defence Force.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We were proud to see 27 Department of Conservation firefighters awarded the Australia National Emergency Medal last week for their efforts fighting the devastating Australian wildfires during the 2019/2020 black summer. 🎖️<a href="https://t.co/Wh7xVdZQ8g">https://t.co/Wh7xVdZQ8g</a> <a href="https://t.co/vl8iEC9acs">pic.twitter.com/vl8iEC9acs</a></p> <p>— Department of Conservation (@docgovtnz) <a href="https://twitter.com/docgovtnz/status/1591974150008377344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The majority of those who took part received the award during recent official ceremonies hosted in New Zealand by Australian High Commissioner HE Harinder Sidhu.</p> <p dir="ltr">Muldoon received his award along with 38 firefighters from FENZ, two members of the NZ Army, eight NZ Air Force members, two from the Department of Conservation, and three from forestry company partners.</p> <p dir="ltr">Having been a firefighter for 25 years, Muldoon said fighting the bushfires was his 16th deployment and that firefighters were chosen to deploy based on their skillset.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We went to help their firefighters in Australia who had a tough season. We’re fresh feet on the ground and give them a break,” Muldoon said, adding that the contingent brought New Zealand’s “can-do” attitude with them.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A great honour to present the Australian National Emergency Medal at Ohakea <a href="https://twitter.com/NZAirForce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZAirForce</a> base, and to personally thank members of the <a href="https://twitter.com/NZDefenceForce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZDefenceForce</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FireEmergencyNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FireEmergencyNZ</a> for their service to Australia in support of the 2019-20 Australian Bushfires response. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZAirForce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZAirForce</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Force4NZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Force4NZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/GtTUay8VY6">pic.twitter.com/GtTUay8VY6</a></p> <p>— Harinder Sidhu (@AusHCNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/AusHCNZ/status/1580682019985854464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this month, nine firefighters from Northland received the award, including wildfire specialist Rory Renwick.</p> <p dir="ltr">After spending 14 days fighting blazes in remote Australian bush, Renwick said the gratitude expressed through the medal was just “icing on the cake”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"People stopped you on the street to shake your hand and say thank you. It's humbling and pretty amazing," he told <em><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/northland-firefighters-awarded-medal-for-efforts-during-australian-bushfires/FIMYEOSD5QQGEYTVSFHIRP34WI/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Renwick explained that New Zealand crews were often working in remote areas and tackling large fires.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We were trying to put out the edge of the fire to stop it spreading," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We did anything from patrolling edges [and] dealing with small hotspots to working with aircraft and heavy machinery to slow the fire down and stop it."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I was presented with a national emergency <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/medal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#medal</a> Monday night for the 19/20 bushfires here in Australia. <a href="https://t.co/L8il9Eob7P">pic.twitter.com/L8il9Eob7P</a></p> <p>— Craig Chiffers (@cchiffers) <a href="https://twitter.com/cchiffers/status/1569818214888263681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The award, which was approved by Queen Elizabeth II in 2011, is given to those who performed significant or sustained service during “nationally-significant emergencies”, according to the Governor-General’s <a href="https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awardsnational-emergency-medal/bushfires-2019-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Muldoon, Renwick, and the many others recognised for their efforts during the bushfires will receive a medal with a clasp that reads, “BUSHFIRES 19-20”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Russell Wood, the national commander of FENZ, said the award had never been given to any member of the organisation before.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is a rare and special honour that the Australian Government has extended to us,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The bushfires in Australia in 2019/20 were catastrophic and we were glad we could be there to help them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am immensely proud of our people, who responded to the call so selflessly and put their time and energy into fighting one of the biggest wildfire disasters of our time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a dangerous environment for everyone to be in, and they showed true Kiwi spirit in their sustained efforts under challenging conditions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a nation, we are very proud of our fine firefighters.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Fire and Emergency NZ (Facebook)</em></p>

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Shocking twist to 12-year-old’s heroic fundraising effort

<p dir="ltr">A 12-year-old boy who raised over $400,000 (NZ 480,000) for those suffering in Ukraine has experienced a sudden shock - his social media accounts have been targeted by Russian hackers.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3f4c4284-7fff-75e4-9f41-65f2826569a5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Gabriel Clark’s story started when his dad, TV and film director Richard Clark, posted to Twitter asking his followers to follow his son’s woodworking account on Instagram.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lovely twitter people - I don't know how many of you are also <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instagram?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instagram</a> users but I'm looking for a wee favour. I've a 12yr old who loves woodwork. He spends hours on his lathe making bowls and creating chopping boards which he's sells to save up for a mountain bike. 1/3 <a href="https://t.co/Ny60rFf1TE">pic.twitter.com/Ny60rFf1TE</a></p> <p>— Richard R Clark 🇺🇦 (@rclarkie) <a href="https://twitter.com/rclarkie/status/1507415791116857349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">By the following day, Gabriel’s followers grew from just six to over 33,000 and he had received a whopping 20,000 orders for the bowls and chopping boards he makes using his lathe.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a lot to take in for a wee lad of 12yrs (sic),” his dad wrote in a Twitter thread recounting the situation.</p> <p dir="ltr">After calculating that it would take him 32 years to fulfil every order, Gabriel decided to make just one bowl, called ‘Gabriel’s Bowl for Ukraine’.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We set up a Just Giving page 10 days ago for Save the Children’s Ukraine Appeal, with Gabriel setting a target of £5,000,” Richard explained. “The fundraiser would stay live until Easter when one donor would be chosen at random to win his bowl.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Within 24 hours, donations exceeded £50,000 and by April 21, nearly 14,000 people had given a total of £251,661, with an entrant named Renuka Chapman winning the special prize.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-38c7529e-7fff-cb3a-a323-dbcf793b8e71"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">But, Gabriel’s successes have been soured within just one week, with Mr Clark revealing that Russian hackers had taken down Gabriel’s Instagram account and they had lost all of his content.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ok everyone. GABRIEL REALLY NEEDS YOUR HELP. Russian hackers have taken down his <a href="https://twitter.com/instagram?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@instagram</a> account clarkie_woodwood. All posts and everything gone. We desperately need Instagram to contact us.<br />Please help &amp; RT! <a href="https://t.co/pWubH87cKQ">pic.twitter.com/pWubH87cKQ</a></p> <p>— Richard R Clark 🇺🇦 (@rclarkie) <a href="https://twitter.com/rclarkie/status/1519957679287975940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Appealing for online help once again, even Ben Wallace, the UK’s Defence Secretary, called on the country’s National Cyber Security Centre to lend a hand.</p> <p dir="ltr">“@NCSC (The National Cyber Security Centre’s Twitter account) let’s see what we can do to help. What a thing to do to Gabriel!” Mr Wallace wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">As of publication, Mr Clark confirmed that his son’s account was “half back at least”, describing it as “one less stressful day.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e350c057-7fff-e19d-bd95-7018f8ecddd2"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @rclarkie (Twitter)</em></p>

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Father’s final heroic act saves his daughter

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A US man has been remembered as a hero after he died saving his daughter’s life in a plane crash.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mike Perdue was one of four people who perished after a light plane crashed near Michigan’s Beaver Island over the weekend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His daughter, 11-year-old Laney, was the sole survivor of the crash.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He cradled her in his arms,” family friend Ryan Wojan </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/world/us-dads-final-act-to-save-daughter-before-tragic-plane-crash-in-michigan-c-4579789" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She doesn’t remember anything, except for her daddy squeezing her so hard.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He saved her life… he died a hero.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:270px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845703/e8911d523598f44beaaec6e097ca5f0844fb8dec.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9dbe2ff61c414b6095ac9181c66c9fba" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: NBC / UpNorthLive</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Laney has undergone two surgeries so far and is expected to recover after suffering multiple fractures during the crash.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Wojan added that all of her injuries occurred on the opposite side of where her dad had been sitting in the plane.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He and Mr Perdue were meeting on the island for opening day of firearm deer season, with the Perdue’s flying on the same plane he had three hours earlier.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Laney had joined her dad on the way to meet a family friend for the weekend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Wojan said his friend’s two passions were his family - including his wife and four kids - and his faith.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845702/61232801_1636911094768244_r.jpeg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7567644df43747dea1d81cb5863661e6" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: GoFundMe</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He’s taken his girls out hunting and fishing but there’s a special bond between a dad and his sons,” Mr Wojan said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And he was very much looking forward to getting his kids involved with hunting and fishing and I feel a great weight to be a part of that for them going forward.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/prayers-for-perdues?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=copy_link_all&amp;utm_source=customer" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">fundraiser</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> started for the Perdue family to help them pay for funeral costs has received over $USD 109,000 ($AUD 149,000 or $NZD 156,000) in donations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The other victims of the crash included Kate Leese and Adam Kendall, who were travelling in the plane to take their dogs to the vet.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The dogs also died in the crash.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Kate and Adam were meant for each other. They lived 20 lives in the time they knew each other. Kate was larger than life,” Kate’s sister, Amanda Leese, said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She wanted to experience the world. She wanted to taste it. She wanted to explore it and Adam was right there with her.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pilot was the fourth victim of the crash and remains unidentified.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Investigations are being conducted to determine the cause of the crash.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: NBC / UpNorthLive</span></em></p>

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Heroic bus driver saves woman and 4-year-old

<p>A bus driver has been hailed a hero after his quick reaction saved a woman and her four-year-old son from the ledge of a bridge. </p> <p>According to surveillance footage, the woman and her child were walking along a non-pedestrian bridge in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. </p> <p>The video then shows the mother begin to lift her son over the barrier of the bridge and place her own leg over the side. </p> <p>The bus driver, Zhang Zhide, pulled up to the pair and rushed out of the bus before wrapping his arms around them both and pulling them to safety. </p> <p>Passengers on the bus rushed to the aid of the driver as the woman continued to struggle. </p> <p><span>Speaking to reporters Guangzhou Daily about the incident, Mr Zhang, 48, said he was thankful he managed to prevent a tragedy with just seconds to spare.</span></p> <p><span>"When I think of it now, I'm quite scared, because the guardrail is very short. If I arrive later or if I don't have enough strength, the consequences would be unimaginable," he said.</span></p> <p><span>Mr Zhang said he was watching the woman carefully as he could sense something was not quite right. </span></p> <p><span>After passengers helped the woman to calm down, she was taken to the local police station where a relative picked up her four-year-old child. </span></p> <p><span>The Guangzhou Public Transport Group said Mr Zhang would receive a reward for his behaviour while on duty.</span></p> <p><span>This was not the first time Mr Zhang has helped someone while on duty, as he recalled once helping a pregnant woman get to a hospital. </span></p> <p><span>"We also maintain a high degree of vigilance at all times. We can help others and it makes me feel that this job is more meaningful," he said.</span></p> <p><span>The video of the surveillance footage has since been viewed more than 250 million times, with many praising Mr Zhang's efforts. </span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Weibo / Guangzhou Daily</em></p>

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Heroic mum fights off mountain lion with her bare hands

<p>A mother in California is being hailed a hero after fighting off a dangerous mountain lion that attacked her son.</p> <p>The woman used her bare hands to fend off the animal after it lunged at her five-year-old son and dragged him along the front lawn of his home. </p> <p><span>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the boy was playing near his house, west of Los Angeles, when the mountain lion attacked. </span></p> <p><span>After the mother heard the boy's screams, her protective instincts kicked in and she rushed to the rescue. </span></p> <p>"She ran out of the house and started punching and striking the mountain lion with her bare hands and got him off her son," Department spokesman Patrick Foy told the Associated Press.</p> <p>"The true hero of this story is his mom because she absolutely saved her son’s life."</p> <p>Once the boy was free from the jaws of the mountain lion, he was immediately taken to the hospital where law enforcement were notified of the attack. </p> <p>Mr Foy shared that the five-year-old boy had sustained traumatic injuries to his head and torso.</p> <p>Authorities also confirmed that following the attack, the mountain lion has been shot and killed by a wildlife officer. </p> <p>The officer was sent to the scene shortly after the attack, arriving to find the mountain lion crouching in the bushes with its “ears back and hissing” at him.</p> <p>“Due to its behaviour and proximity to the attack, the warden believed it was likely the attacking lion and to protect public safety shot and killed it on site,” the wildlife department said in a statement Saturday.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

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“Heroic” officers and bystanders free trapped baby

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shocking footage has captured the moment police officers and bystanders lifting a car to save a trapped baby.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The incident happened in the town of Yonkers in New York on Friday, when a 43-year-old driver allegedly crashed into a car then careened across the road and into the front of a local barber shop.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the car moved across the road, a woman was crossing the street with her eight-month-old daughter in her arms. The pair were hit by the car and landed on the bonnet as it crashed into the shop.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two police officers, who were nearby ordering breakfast, rushed to the scene to investigate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once it was discovered the baby was trapped underneath the car, the officers and several bystanders worked together to lift the car and free the baby.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Luckily, two veteran officers of Yonkers’ finest just happened to be getting breakfast next door and quickly took action along with members of the community to rescue a child trapper under the vehicle and render aid to her mother,” Police Commissioner John Mueller said in a statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The actions taken are nothing short of heroic.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The mother and daughter were left with serious injuries but are expected to survive.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The mother suffered a fractured femur and the baby had a fractured skull and third-degree burns on her back and foot, according to police.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The driver, David Poncurak, was uninjured.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He was charged with several offences, including second-degree vehicular assault, driving while intoxicated, and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Yonkers Police Department</span></em></p>

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“Yelling for help”: Passengers reveal heroic actions of P&O cruise ship as they spend 10 hours rescuing migrants

<p>British passengers on board a P&amp;O cruise liner have explained how the ship helped to rescue more than 20 migrants who were on an inflatable dinghy off the Spanish coast.</p> <p>Around 3,000 passengers were enjoying the stunning views of the Mediterranean as the ship sailed from Cadiz to Barcelona when they heard whistling, yelling and shouts for help coming from the water.</p> <p>Passengers rushed to the ship’s balcony where they spotted an overcrowded dinghy, which was struggling to stay afloat.</p> <p>The cruise ship quickly came to a halt as they spent an hour trying to find the inflatable raft.</p> <p>A lifeboat was then sent to pick up the passengers, most of whom were men in their late teens. This heroic action took ten hours, as the cruise liner had to turn around to rescue those in the dinghy.</p> <p>One passenger, who did not want to give her name, said to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7503963/British-passengers-P-O-cruise-tell-giant-ship-rescued-20-migrants-Spanish-coast.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail</a></em>: “Once the migrants were on board we had to go back on ourselves to Almeria, which took up a lot of time.</p> <p>“The attitude of the passengers was quite mixed. Many were angry that we had been delayed and had to rescue these migrants. It was actually quite shocking what some people were saying.”</p> <p>The passenger added: “It's not what you expect to happen on a Mediterranean cruise, but these people were just floating in the middle of the sea and were clearly in distress. We couldn't just leave them.”</p> <p>Dorothy Hallet, 73, told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7503963/British-passengers-P-O-cruise-tell-giant-ship-rescued-20-migrants-Spanish-coast.html" target="_blank">MailOnline</a></em>: 'It was certainly quite an interesting experience.</p> <p>“On rushing towards the balcony, it was clear to see that in the water was an inflatable and overloaded dinghy.</p> <p>“The officers on the bridge were aware of the situation but it takes some considerable time to stop a large ship and then circle it around to find the small craft again.</p> <p>“The captain did an excellent job of manoeuvring the vessel.”</p> <p>After the migrants were brought on board the ship, an endeavour that took two hours, they were searched by the ship’s security staff.</p> <p>The captain then apologised for the delay, explaining that it was caused by “migrants in distress”.</p> <p>Once the passengers reached Almeria, the migrants were taken off the ship by the Spanish coastguard and were handed over to local police.</p> <p>Passengers also revealed that upon leaving the Azura, the migrants thanked them and the ship's officials for helping to save their lives.</p> <p>Mrs Hallet, from Hampshire, who was on the cruise with her husband, added: “It's been a great humanitarian operation by P&amp;O and they should be applauded for that. What happens next to those people will be down to the authorities.</p> <p>“No matter what people think regarding those who make the often foolhardy and hazardous journeys from North Africa towards the countries of southern Europe, when faced with the possibility of rescuing drowning people we are bound by the instincts of humanity to save them.'”</p>

Cruising

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Seconds before heartache: Heroic neighbour rescues boy from danger

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A family has been left counting their blessings after security footage revealed the seconds disaster struck for a 6-year-old boy playing with two other children. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The video shows three children playing at the bottom of a driveway in Texas, US, when one of the boys bent down to greet a dog that wandered over. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, when the young child leaned over, the dog launched and knocked him over before climbing on top of him. </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">PITBULL ATTACK: A teenager in Conroe, Texas, helped save his 6-year-old neighbor from a pitbull attack, drawing the animal away and allowing the boy to run for safety; both suffered bite wounds and the dog was reportedly taken by animal control. <a href="https://t.co/OFdgEGuLb9">https://t.co/OFdgEGuLb9</a> <a href="https://t.co/uc7sHT4poE">pic.twitter.com/uc7sHT4poE</a></p> — World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABCWorldNews/status/1154783435585654784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The two other children ran towards their homes as the six-year-old struggled to overpower the dog – until thankfully, a neighbour intervened. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Springing into action, the dog lost interest in the boy and instead chases the man who successfully distracted hm. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Local news station </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">KHOU11 </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">identified the neighbour as Grant Brown, who suffered cuts to his hand in the ordeal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The dog ran away and the young victim was recorded running to safety in his home. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The canine was reportedly handed over to the city’s County Animal Control. </span></p>

Caring

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Passenger films moment heroic pilot abandons landing plane metres from runway

<p>A hero pilot in the UK has used his skill to narrowly avoid disaster, abandoning his landing metres from the ground to avoid the effects of mega storm, Storm Eleanor.</p> <p>And the remarkable thing is it was all captured on video!</p> <blockquote class="twitter-video"> <p dir="ltr">LCY: where each flight today comes with a free rollercoaster ride. Very sporting go-around on today’s BA8705 from EDI. Someone buy that captain a beer! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StormEleanor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StormEleanor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonCityAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LondonCityAir</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/standardnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@standardnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyMailUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DailyMailUK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/KH0r4OHCRT">pic.twitter.com/KH0r4OHCRT</a></p> — Graham Kirk (@ghkirk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ghkirk/status/948489609931051008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>The footage, which was uploaded by Twitter user Graham Kirk who was on the hair-raising flight, shows just how close the plane came to making a rough landing.</p> <p>“LCY: where each flight today comes with a free rollercoaster ride,” Kirk wrote.</p> <p>“Very sporting go-around on today’s BA8705 from EDI.</p> <p>“Someone buy that captain a beer!”</p> <p><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The Sun</strong></em></span></a> reports the flight, which departed from Edinburgh, was prevented from landing safely by the gale force winds caused by Storm Eleanor.</p> <p>At the end of the video, an air hostess announces:</p> <p>“Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has discontinued our approach.</p> <p>“Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened and you’ll have more information shortly.”</p> <p>The flight would eventually land safely, thanks to the captain’s skill.</p> <p>What do you think of the footage? Have you ever had an aborted landing?</p>

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Heroic Chihuahua saves 92-year-old owner

<p>A rescued shelter dog has saved the life of his 92-year-old owner, after she took a rather bad fall in her front garden.</p> <p>Marie Alexander went out for a short stroll the mail box when disaster struck; she twisted her foot and fell backwards onto the ground. Despite her efforts, she was unable to pick herself up and was without a phone to call for help.</p> <p>Thankfully, her nine-year-old pup, Sassy, sprang into action. The nonagenarian told local news source  <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ftaoo7mNqc" target="_blank">ABC Action News</a></strong></span></em> that Sassy barked non-stop at passing cars for some five hours in an attempt to get help, while she lay immobile in the Florida heat.</p> <p>Finally, Sassy’s bark caught the attention of a couple walking by, who found Marie in the nick of time. She was dehydrated and had suffered bruised ribs but her spirits were high. She says that she is lucky to have survived, but even luckier to have a loyal dog like Sassy.</p> <p>“I saved her at the shelter and she saved me,” Marie told the ABC. </p> <p>Do you have a heart-waring story about a heroic animal to share with the community? Let us know in the comments below. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/special-bond-between-senior-dogs-and-their-owners/"><em>Images capture special bond between senior dogs and their owners</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/08/why-pets-give-you-the-side-eye/"><em>Why pets give you the side eye</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/why-do-dogs-tilt-their-head/"><em>Why do dogs tilt their head?</em></a></strong></span></p>

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Heroic dog dies while saving baby from house fire

<p>An eight-month-old girl has survived a tragic house fire thanks to the heroic efforts of the family dog.</p> <p>The baby girl, Viviana Poremski, was surrounded by flames after a fire broke out on the second floor of her Baltimore home on Sunday. Polo, the family's beloved six-year-old dog, stayed with the baby and shielded her from the encroaching flames.</p> <p><img width="412" height="412" src="https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlt1/v/t1.0-0/p526x296/13770327_1562210514085293_7611096941282879573_n.jpg?oh=645f84b5446769ed058cdd0f96751ee1&amp;oe=58145365&amp;__gda__=1477657870_1a33abedfeb4ae282430029ddae436be" class="_1p6f _1p6g img" style="max-width: 498px; max-height: 498px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>The baby's mother, Erika Poremski, had stepped out of the house for a moment to get something from her car when the house went up in flames. The distraught mum attempted to break into the house to rescue her daughter and dog, but the heat and smoke were too much. When firefighters arrived, they discovered Polo shielding Viviana from the flames with his body.</p> <p>Sadly, Polo did not survive the fire, but due to his heroic efforts, Viviana survived. She is however in serious conditions with burns on her arm and side.</p> <p>Mother Erika is devastated at the death of her dog, but amazed that even though Polo could have run out of the burning home, he chose to stay with her daughter.</p> <p>"He was my first baby, and now I lost him," she told local news station WBAL-TV. "And I'm just praying I don't lose her. She's all I have and it just happened so fast, I just don't understand it ... She's doing the best she can right now. She's fighting."</p> <p>The cause of the fire is still under investigation, WBAL-TV reports.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/test-to-find-out-how-smart-your-dog-is/"><em>Take this test to find out how smart your dog is</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/why-do-dogs-tilt-their-head/"><em>Why do dogs tilt their head?</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/9-tips-for-calming-your-cat/"><em>9 tips for calming your cat</em></a></strong></span></p>

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Woman and her dog heroically rescued from floodwaters

<p>Amid some of the worst flooding the US state of Louisiana has ever seen, a beautiful act of bravery has been captured on video.</p> <p>A woman and her dog were trapped in their rapidly-sinking car in the capital of Baton Rouge when they were spotted by a rescue boat.</p> <p>“Oh my god I'm drowning,” the woman can be heard shouting from the convertible before rescuer David Phung tears open its roof, pulling her from the car.</p> <p>Despite fears the woman’s dog was lost, Phung can be seen emerging from the floodwaters moments later with the beloved pooch, thankfully still alive.</p> <p>Take a look at the incredible footage in the video above and tell us in the comments below, what’s the most daring rescue you’ve ever witnessed?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/little-boy-asks-for-shoes-for-the-poor-instead-of-birthday-presents/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>10-year-old boy asks for shoes for needy kids instead of birthday presents</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/grandmother-gives-up-spot-on-organ-transplant-list/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Great grandmother gives up spot on organ transplant list for younger woman</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/dolphin-steals-ipad/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Woman’s iPad stolen by dolphin at SeaWorld</span></em></strong></a></p>

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Heroic 7-year-old girl saves family from house fire

<p>A 7-year-old girl who saved her family from a fire said her mother frantically searched for her sister as the flames took hold.</p> <p>Alyssah Moanaroa-Yates, was woken late at night by smoke and started screaming, alerting her parents to a fire that had been started by a free-standing wood burner.</p> <p>"I could smell the smoke," Alyssah said. "My sister was in bed still sleeping and we didn't know where she was and mum got her and she started crying."</p> <p>The family of five children and two adults were living in a converted shed on a rural property at Whakamarama near Tauranga.</p> <p>The shed was about 8 metres by 6m, but extra rooms had been added on and the seven were living there, chief fire officer Ian Blunt said.</p> <p><img width="500" height="279" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/21238/hero-seven-year-old-girl-in-text-_500x279.jpg" alt="Hero Seven Year Old Girl In Text -" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Alyssah's mother, Serenity, said she was in an adjoining room with her partner and their 3-month-old daughter, Cha-Leigh.</p> <p>"I was asleep with my newborn, my partner had just come and jumped in the bed, a few seconds later [Alyssah] just yelled. My partner yelled 'get out of the house'."</p> <p>Her partner received second degree burns to his forearms trying to put out the fire, which started when cardboard around the woodburner caught alight.</p> <p>The man was treated by ambulance and damage to the interior of the shed was relatively minor.</p> <p>"I'm embarrassed about it," Serenity said.</p> <p>"I had the same thing when I was little - I actually woke up to the smoke and woke up my dad, so it was a big flashback."</p> <p>She said the family only moved into the garage two weeks ago. Her sister was renting the adjoining house with her family.</p> <p>Serenity said they had been squeezed into a single room at her partner's mother's house before that.</p> <p>"It's ridiculous, with the government paying millions of dollars for what, and there's homeless people."</p> <p>She said she was a stay at home mum and her partner worked full-time. They were not eligible for a state house but couldn't afford market rents. The garage was $160 a week.</p> <p>"I would prefer something better, but a it's roof over my kids' heads."</p> <p>She said the fireplace would be removed and the power would have to be disconnected because the fire service said the wiring was faulty. "They were saying it's quite deadly."</p> <p>They were now "cuddled up in my sister's lounge" and would move back into the garage when it was cleaned up as they had nowhere else to go. "Are we meant to sleep in our tent? The government needs a kick up the arse, they need to open their eyes to the reality of how other people are living."</p> <p>She said she was just grateful that her family was OK, thanks to Alyssah.</p> <p>"She was very proud, and so were we."</p> <p>Ian Blunt, chief fire officer with the Omokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade, said the woodburner, which was mounted on loose bricks, appeared not to have been legally installed.</p> <p>"There were seven very lucky people there," Blunt said.</p> <p>Fire investigator Jon Rewi said there were no fire safety systems in place at the house.</p> <p>"The owner did produce a smoke alarm. It was still in its wrapping in a drawer. They don't work like that," he said.</p> <p>"These people are so fortunate...if it was an hour later and that child had gone to sleep, we would have probably had a very grim outcome."</p> <p>Rewi urged everyone to have working, 10-year photoelectric fire alarms and said the fire service would install some for the family involved in the Friday night fire.</p> <p>From June 1 landlords will be responsible for making sure rented properties have working smoke alarms.</p> <p>With winter approaching, Rewi said people should check heating devices and make sure fireplaces and chimneys are "cleaned by professionals".</p> <p>Wasn't Alyssah such a quick thinker! Please leave any messages of support or congratulations in the comments below!</p> <p><em>Written by Tony Wall. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz</strong></span></a>. </em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/04/cat-meets-dogs-at-dog-show/" target="_blank">Watch this friendly cat meet 50 dogs at a dog show</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/04/prince-george-president-barack-obama-photos/" target="_blank">The story behind Prince George’s presidential photos</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/04/lifeguard-helps-wheelchair-bound-veteran-surf/" target="_blank">Lifeguard helps make wheelchair-bound army vet's dream come true</a></strong></em></span></p>

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Heroic teens rescue 93-year-old who fell from ferry

<p>A group of heroic Australian teenagers who saved the life of a 93-year-old man who fell from a ferry in the northern Sydney suburb of Manly, are set to be formally thanked by Manly Council for their courageous act.</p> <p>The incident occurred around 12:30pm last Sunday, when the four teenagers noticed the man floating face down in the water about 10 metres from the ferry. While the four teenagers, aged 15 to 17, admitted the experience was terrifying, they didn’t hesitate to act.</p> <p>William Zuber, a 16-year-old who goes to St Paul’s Catholic College in Manly, was first to dive in and described the incident to the Manly Daily: “I thought I heard a slap and a lot of commotion. I took my shirt and shoes off and dived straight off. It was the fastest I’d ever swum. I wish people had jumped in before – by the time we go there it had been ages. It was terrifying.”</p> <p><img width="422" height="238" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/9954/brave-teens-save-man-from-ferry_422x238.jpg" alt="Brave Teens Save Man From Ferry" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><em>Image credit: Bam Srisombun</em></p> <p>Greg Hiotis, a 17-year-old from Balgowlah Boys, followed his friend in: “I flipped him over. He was frothing at the mouth I think. I tried to pump his heart and William gave him mouth to mouth.”</p> <p>Kieran Thor from Davidson High and Mitchell Lockie from Balgowlah Boys followed their friends in, and were eventually assisted by a manager from the nearby Hugos restaurant Adam Polly, a diner named Chris and a local worker Brendan Riley who all lauded the boy’s bravery.</p> <p>Manly Mayor Jean Hay said talks on how to reward the boys were taking place: “We are looking at putting on a reception to thank them and I will be recommending them for a bravery award.”</p> <p>The 93-year-old man remains in hospital, but surely owes his life to these brave boys.</p>

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