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Home and Away star shares shocking injury

<p>Beloved <em>Home and Away</em> star Lynne McGranger has documented a shocking injury she sustained while she was walking her daughter's dog. </p> <p>The 70-year-old shared that she "face planted the road" after taking a tumble and not looking where she was going. </p> <p>She shared a before and after photo of the accident, sharing how quickly her morning had changed.</p> <p>“One minute walking your daughter and son-in-law’s dog with your MOG (mother of the groom). Nek minit (sic) you’ve face planted the road 😳😱😢🤦‍♀️,” she captioned the post.</p> <p>Addressing her caption she later added, “I must’ve been shaken up. I made punctuation mistakes 🤣😱🤦‍♀️”.</p> <p>The close-up of the injuries showed the actress with a bloodied lip and bruising on her chin, right cheek and nose.</p> <p>Friends and followers shared their best wishes for a speedy recovery after the painful accident. </p> <p>“Oh gosh Lynnie!!!! Sending love - I was hoping that was on-set makeup 😮 xx,” former <em>Home and Away</em> actress Sarah Roberts said.</p> <p>“Aww Lynny ❤️❤️❤️ hope you’re all good!” Johnny Ruffo’s partner Tahnee Sims wrote.</p> <p>“Damn, that looks pretty badass! Hope you’re all good though Lynne ❤️,” Home and Away’s Ethan Browne said.</p> <figure><picture>Diehard fans of the show also shared their messages of support, with one person writing, "<source srcset="https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=100&impolicy=sevennews_v2 100w,https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=150&impolicy=sevennews_v2 150w,https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=250&impolicy=sevennews_v2 250w,https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=320&impolicy=sevennews_v2 320w,https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=414&impolicy=sevennews_v2 414w,https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=500&impolicy=sevennews_v2 500w,https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=640&impolicy=sevennews_v2 640w,https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=828&impolicy=sevennews_v2 828w,https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-11885705/0db0b6f348379d14736b4992660d3fa675b2b0fd.jpg?imwidth=1024&impolicy=sevennews_v2 1024w" media="(min-width: 0px)" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 95vw,(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1020px) 50vw,650px" data-ratio="1080:1350" />Ouch, now how to write that into the script.”</picture> <p>“Oh Lynne. I hope you are ok. That’s a mess. On the plus side, it could make a great story for Irene. Hope you heal quickly, love you lots xxx,” another agreed.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p> </figure>

Caring

“It pains me”: Tennis star shares sad news

<p dir="ltr">Emma Raducanu has revealed that she will have to miss the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, as she undergoes three “minor” surgeries on both of her hands and left ankle.</p> <p dir="ltr">The twenty-year-old posted the update to Instagram on Wednesday, revealing that she has kept the severity of her injuries private for some time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Raducanu shared a snap from her hospital bed with a cast on her right hand, after undergoing the first of her three planned procedures.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is safe to say the last 10 months have been difficult as I dealt with a recurring injury on a bone of both hands,” she wrote in the handwritten statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I tried my best to manage the pain and play through it most of this year and end of last year by reducing practice load dramatically, missing weeks of training as well as cutting last season short to try heal it, unfortunately it’s not enough.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m disappointed to share that I will be out for the next few months and while I am at it will have another minor procedure that is due on my ankle.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It pains me that I will miss the summer events and I tried to downplay the issues so I thank all my fans who continued to support me when you did not know the facts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Looking forward to seeing you all back out there,” she ended the note with a hand drawn heart.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 2021 US Open champion has been struggling with a string of injuries as she tried to adjust to the demands of being a professional tennis player.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her most recent hand injury forced her to withdraw from the Billie Jean King Cup finals at the end of the last year. At the beginning of this year, she rolled her ankle mid-match in a tournament in Auckland.</p> <p dir="ltr">Raducanu is set to have the operation on her left hand this month after getting surgery for her left ankle in the coming weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr">She hopes to train on the tennis court again by the end of the summer, but her team has refused to predict an exact return date.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many fans and fellow tennis players have commented their support and well wishes for the star.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Rest up, Emma, and come back stronger 💜💚,” commented the official Wimbledon Instagram account.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Speedy recovery ❤️,” wrote Ukrainian tennis player, Marta Kostyuk.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Surgery is never nice, always a little scary, well done,” commented one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Get well soon Emma and you have many fans around the world supporting you and having your back,” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Get well soon Emma!, we will be waiting for you when the moment is right, wishing you the best,” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

News

Aussie tourist makes disturbing claim about Fiji resort where young boy was killed

<p>An Aussie tourist has spoken out about an injury he sustained while holidaying at Club Wyndham Denarau Island resort in Fiji, where an 8-year-old boy died last week. </p> <p>Cairo Winitana passed away while on holiday with his family, after he was chasing frogs in the five-star resort’s flower garden when he allegedly touched a light that delivered him a fatal electric shock. </p> <p>Now, an Aussie tourist who visited the resort last year says he too received an electric shock on the grounds of the luxury villa. </p> <p>The unnamed holiday-goer says he was shocked by an exposed light fitting, where wires were draped between two lampposts where they got wet from the rain. </p> <p>The damaged light delivered a hefty shock to the tourist, but he walked away relatively unharmed. </p> <p>After Cairo was found unresponsive in the gardens of the resort, desperate guests tried to revive him, as they shared the distress for the young boy. </p> <p>Thomas Meier told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_NEW&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnews%2Fnsw%2Fsydney-boy-cairo-waitana-dies-at-fiji-resort%2Fnews-story%2F0da28333a98b983059b5e07871498679&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-low-control-score&V21spcbehaviour=append" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a> that he found the youngster unconscious in a garden bed.</p> <p>He told the publication he believed the child had been fatally injured after innocently playing with frogs near a bolt which was screwed into the ground where a live current was coming from.</p> <p>“As we were walking through the gardens we just saw this boy face down in the garden,” Mr Meier, 24, said.</p> <p>“My uncle went up to him and we were trying to tap him on the shoulder to see if he was responsive and he wasn’t moving.”</p> <p>He explained that his uncle received an electric shock as he assisted Cairo, before bystanders rushed to help.</p> <p>The child’s mother, Amber de Thierry, was soon found by resort guests, with Mr Meier describing her intense distress.</p> <p>“Eventually the mum turned up and she was screaming, crying, calling out to her son Cairo. She had one of her relatives hugging her,” he said.</p> <p>“We were all just sitting around hoping this little boy is going to wake up after a couple of shots of this defibrillator.”</p> <p>A post-mortem examination on Tuesday day confirmed Cairo’s cause of death was electrocution, as previously suspected.</p> <p>A devastated Ms de Thierry has also shared an <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/my-heart-aches-mum-of-young-boy-who-died-in-fiji-speaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emotional tribute</a> to her beloved boy on social media.</p> <p>“I loved you my son, from the moment I found out I was carrying you and will love you forever more my beautiful blue eyes,” she wrote.</p> <p>Loved ones have since set up at <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/qte4ja-help-bring-our-boy-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page to help Ms de Thierry and her partner Clarke Winitana bring Cairo’s body home.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / GoFundMe</em></p>

News

Why do I sprain my ankle so often and how can I cut the risk of it happening again?

<p>Are you one of those people who seems to be forever spraining their ankle?</p> <p>To some extent, ankle sprains are <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/54/6/603/420863/Epidemiology-of-Ankle-Sprains-and-Chronic-Ankle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">part and parcel</a> of being active.</p> <p>But if it’s happening again and again, here’s what may be going on – and how you can reduce your risk of recurrent ankle sprain.</p> <h2>One sprain can lead to another… and another</h2> <p>A large <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-013-0102-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> of ankle sprain studies in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-013-0102-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sports Medicine</a> found most people who actively play sport or train can expect to have a fairly low incidence of ankle sprain per 1,000 hours of training time. But it also said:</p> <blockquote> <p>Females were at a higher risk of sustaining an ankle sprain compared with males and children compared with adolescents and adults, with indoor and court sports the highest risk activity.</p> </blockquote> <p>The most frequent type of ankle sprain occurs if the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are stretched or torn when the joint moves beyond the normal range of movement. This is known as an inversion or lateral ankle sprain.</p> <p>Strong evidence from <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/56/6/578/466668/Lateral-Ankle-Sprain-and-Subsequent-Ankle-Sprain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studies</a> suggests once people sprain their ankle, they are more likely to re-sprain it. As one <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/56/6/578/466668/Lateral-Ankle-Sprain-and-Subsequent-Ankle-Sprain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> of the evidence put it:</p> <blockquote> <p>a history of lateral ankle sprain is known to disrupt the structural integrity of the ligaments and sensorimotor function, likely impairing an individual’s ability to avoid injurious situations.</p> </blockquote> <p>Some ankle sprains might seem to be very minor, with almost no swelling or mobility problems. But some people can end up with what’s known as chronic ankle instability, where they tend to re-sprain their ankle again and again.</p> <p>Another <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-017-0781-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> looking at factors contributing to chronic ankle instability found</p> <blockquote> <p>feelings of instability and recurrent ankle sprain injuries (termed chronic ankle instability, or CAI) have been reported in up to 70% of patients. The subsequent development of CAI has adverse health consequences including reduced quality of life and early-onset osteoarthritis.</p> </blockquote> <p>Once an ankle fracture is excluded, busy hospital emergency departments often send patients home with instructions to ice the ankle and keep off it for a day or two. There’s often no advice to follow up with a physio for rehabilitation.</p> <p>This is unfortunate, as evidence suggests people with a history of ankle sprains will likely:</p> <ul> <li> <p>become progressively <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/50/7/742/112426/Physical-Activity-Levels-in-College-Students-With" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less active</a></p> </li> <li> <p>have <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/24/1496.long" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher</a> body mass indices</p> </li> <li> <p>report more general body <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/24/1496.long" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pain</a> and</p> </li> <li> <p>generally tend to have a lower <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/24/1496.long" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quality of life</a>.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>Even the other ankle may be at risk</h2> <p>Research suggests people who sprain their ankle may be more likely to have <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/56/6/578/466668/Lateral-Ankle-Sprain-and-Subsequent-Ankle-Sprain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">injuries</a> to other joints on the same leg, or even the opposite leg. A review in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4196323/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Journal of Sports Physiotherapy</a> noted “an ankle sprain is linked to both re-injury and subsequent injury to the contralateral side”.</p> <p>Why? It may have something to do with the brain’s tremendous ability to continually adapt.</p> <p>Just as <a href="http://www.ajnr.org/content/36/11/2048" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extended bed rest</a> or prolonged microgravity exposure in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68201-3_3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">astronauts</a> can cause changes in the brain and the way it relates to movement, perhaps our brains subconsciously compensate after an ankle injury.</p> <p>That could be by, for example, via limping or a slight change in the way you walk; perhaps you subconsciously don’t want to challenge the ankle due to fear of re-spraining. This may put other joints or the opposite limb at heightened risk.</p> <p>This neuroplasticity adds new challenges to the assessment or rehabilitation of ankle injury, and to predicting who is likely to be at increased <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00913847.2020.1780098?journalCode=ipsm20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risk of subsequent injuries</a>.</p> <h2>What can you do to reduce the risk of re-spraining your ankle?</h2> <p>If you’re getting recurrent ankle sprains, see a physiotherapist. They will be able to teach you how to reduce the risk.</p> <p>Currently the best evidence for reducing the chances of re-spraining your ankle sprain comes down to two main things:</p> <p>1) Protecting the joint with an ankle brace when active</p> <p>This could mean using a <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/54/6/650/420871/Prevention-of-Lateral-Ankle-Sprains" target="_blank" rel="noopener">professionally fitted external support brace</a> (not an elastic sleeve). This is a relatively low cost and effective means of risk reduction.</p> <p>2) Using balancing exercises and ‘proprioceptive training’</p> <p>Examples of <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/52/11/1065/112804/Proprioceptive-Training-for-the-Prevention-of" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proprioceptive training</a> include:</p> <ul> <li> <p>balancing on each leg, one at a time, while throwing and catching a ball against a wall</p> </li> <li> <p>balancing on an ankle disc or wobble board for three to five minutes daily.</p> </li> </ul> <p>These exercises can help strengthen the muscles and ligaments in your ankle. As one literature review put it:</p> <p>Proprioceptive training is a cost- and time-effective intervention that can benefit patients who have sustained a previous ankle sprain during physical activity and can subsequently reduce the risk of further complications.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-sprain-my-ankle-so-often-and-how-can-i-cut-the-risk-of-it-happening-again-190751" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Body

Sports watches could help reduce falls and injuries in elderly people

<p>Falls are a significant health issue in Australia – in <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/injury/falls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2019-2020</a> they were the largest contributor to hospitalised injuries and the leading cause of deaths due to injury.</p> <p>But people aged 65 and over are more likely to be hospitalised or die due to a fall compared to any other age, so Australian researchers have created an algorithm that could be used to help improve their walking stability and reduce the risk of falls.</p> <p>When paired with a wearable technology device, like a smartwatch, The Walk Watch algorithm accurately measures walking steadiness and speed.</p> <p>The algorithm was developed in a new study <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-20327-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in <em>Scientific Reports</em>.</p> <p>One of the lead authors of the paper, Lloyd Chan, PhD candidate at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and the University of New South Wales Medicine & Health, says this is the first time an algorithm for measuring gait quality has been widely tested in real-world environments and will be made commercially available.</p> <p>“We know that the way people walk is a predictor of their health. For example, people who walk more slowly, infrequently, in smaller steps or for shorter distances are typically more likely to suffer a fall,” says Chan.</p> <p>“Our goal was to capture this data through looking at how people naturally walk in their daily lives – and then test this broadly on over 70,000 individuals.”</p> <p>Digital gait biomarkers are measurements of a person’s gait – such as posture, cadence, walking speed and length of stride – that can provide insight into their overall health, functional decline, and can predict their likelihood to fall.</p> <p>But conventional digital gait biomarker measurements are usually geared towards walking on treadmills in the lab and so they don’t accurately assess gait from walking activities in real-world environments.</p> <p>Also, studies have shown that wearable devices positioned on the lower back and ankle can provide reliable digital gait biomarkers, but these placements can be awkward for the people wearing them.</p> <div> <p>Devices worn on the wrists are much more convenient, but measurements can be less reliable due to arm movements and being situated further from a person’s centre of mass.</p> </div> <p>This study aimed to address both of these issues.</p> <p>In the first stage, 101 participants between 19 and 81 years old, wore the UK Biobank wrist sensor and were recorded performing structured mobility routines in their homes and while walking and running in a lab setting.</p> <p>Using this new data, the researchers then developed a digital gait biomarker extraction algorithm – Watch Walk – that could measure the gait quality of the individuals wearing the wrist sensor device.</p> <p>In the second stage of the study, they then tested the validity of the digital gait biomarkers on 78,822 participants aged 46 to 77 years from the UK Biobank database.</p> <p>Participants wore a sensor on their dominant wrist for seven days, producing a total of 11,646 four-second recordings of movement. These recordings were then classified into ‘walking, running, stationary or unspecified arm’ activities and the Watch Walk algorithm was found to measure these activities with a 93%, 98%, 86%, and 74% precision, respectively.</p> <p>The authors acknowledge that the digital gait biomarkers were not validated in participants who use walking aids, and walking speed accuracy was lower for walks slower than 0.7 metres/second and faster than 1.8 m/s – so further studies are still needed.</p> <p>“Our findings build on advances in wrist-worn accelerometer technology, which have previously been more limited to measurements of step count and sleep,” explains Chan.</p> <p>“As a measurement tool, Watch Walk has so many possibilities. Individuals can gain reliable feedback on their gait and track their improvement over time.</p> <p>“In the future, we hope to be able to analyse how people walk and predict their risk of disease or mortality,” says Chan.</p> <p>A Watch Walk app is currently in development and slated for release in late 2023.</p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=217683&title=Sports+watches+could+help+reduce+falls+and+injuries+in+elderly+people" width="1" height="1" /></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/algorithm-smart-watch-falls-elderly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/imma-perfetto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Imma Perfetto</a>. Imma Perfetto is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Science Communication from the University of Adelaide.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Technology

4 tips for looking after an injured partner

<p>As hard as it can be to recover from an injury yourself, it can be just as difficult to watch your partner go through the same pain. Whether it’s a fall, a simple sprain, back pain or something more serious, there are lots of easy ways in which you can help them on their path to recovery.</p> <p><strong>1. Make your home more accessible</strong></p> <p>If your partner’s injury affects their strength or ability to walk, you need to take a good look at your home and see what you can do to make mobility easier. Removing possible obstructions like plants and pieces of furniture is a good way to start. If you have any rugs, temporarily move them or at the very least ensure they are stuck down securely and won’t be able to trip anyone up.</p> <p><strong>2. Communicate</strong></p> <p>Open up the path for communication with your partner and encourage them not to suppress what they’re feeling. People’s pride often prevents them from admitting they’re in pain, so make sure your partner knows how important it is to you that they are open and honest throughout their recovery. Plus, it’s always easier when you have a shoulder to cry on or someone to vent to.</p> <p><strong>3. Keep them busy</strong></p> <p>It’s easy for formerly active people to slip into depression when suddenly finding themselves stuck indoors. Therefore, it’s just as essential to look after their mental health as it is their physical health. Suggest ways they can keep themselves occupied and productive. Why not learn a language? There are hundreds of free educational apps and resources out there to keep your partner busy and maybe even teach them a new skill.</p> <p><strong>4. Treatment</strong></p> <p>Stubborn partners can be a real pain to treat. First you have to get them to the doctor, then you have to make sure they’re actually going through with the treatment. However hard it may be, though, if your partner doesn’t receive immediate treatment, their condition could simply keep getting worse.</p> <p>Have you ever had to care for an injured partner? We’d love to hear your advice. Share your tips with us in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

"The injuries are horrific": Rollercoaster victim identified

<p>The victim of a <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/the-screaming-was-so-loud-young-woman-struck-by-roller-coaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shocking roller coast accident</a> has been identified as Melbourne based woman Shylah Rodden.</p> <p>Ms Rodden, aged 26, remains in intensive care after sustaining horrific injuries in the accident, which remains under investigation.</p> <p>Her father, Alan Ridden, says there is great mystery surrounding the situation. On Monday, police claimed Shylah was struck by the ride at the Royal Melbourne Show while trying to retrieve her mobile phone from the tracks, however eye witnesses claim she had been on the ride.</p> <p>Horrified audience members watched on as the chaos unfolded, with paramedics treating Shylah for serious injuries before she was taken to hospital. Her father suggests these injuries are life-changing.</p> <p>“Obviously I can't talk to my daughter. She's going to be in a coma for quite a while,” Mr Rodden told <em>Daily Mail Australia.</em></p> <p>“The injuries are horrific. Horrific. She's brain damaged. It's pelvic, her arms, legs, back, neck - there's hardly a thing that's not broken. I just can't work out how the hell so much damage has been done. Even the doctors have said they haven't seen anything as bad as this for a long time.”</p> <p>One witness, who had been positioned next to the ride, claimed police assertions the woman had been retrieving a phone were not accurate.</p> <p>"I did not see her walking or climbing on the tracks at all, we saw her flying from the ride, where she landed and how she landed is not consistent with being hit," a woman claimed.</p> <p>"Not from what we witnessed. We were standing right next to the ride when it happened."</p> <p>The witness had taken her young son on the ride shortly before the accident.</p> <p>"We saw her fall from the ride, (heard) the scream and the crack of her hitting the ground. My husband was one of the first on the scene. We were standing right next to it when it happened ," she said.</p> <p>In a statement issued by Victoria Police, investigators claimed the woman may have walked onto the track to try and retrieve a dropped phone.</p> <p>Speaking to ABC Mornings host Virginia Trioli on Monday, Show CEO Brad Jenkins refused to say whether there was a fence around the ride or how high that fence was.</p> <p>The incident remains under investigation and anyone who witnessed it are urged to call crime stoppers.</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

News

“The screaming was so loud”: Young woman struck by roller coaster

<p dir="ltr">A young woman has been taken to hospital after being struck by a roller coaster at the Melbourne Royal Show.</p> <p dir="ltr">Several witnesses reported hearing screams just before the ride was abruptly shut down at around 5.45pm on Sunday</p> <p dir="ltr">Emergency services found the woman, in her 20s, with serious facial injuries at the show’s Rebel Coaster ride before she was taken to hospital in critical condition.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police believe the woman walked onto the track while attempting to retrieve her phone.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Police are currently on scene at the Melbourne Royal Show following reports a young woman has been injured,” Victoria Police said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Officers are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and a crime scene has been established.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It appears at this early stage the woman, believed to be aged in her 20s, may have walked on and entered the track to try to retrieve a dropped phone before she was hit by a roller coaster carriage, about 5.45pm.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-71cde708-7fff-9292-984a-cabe26e8e789"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Sadly the woman was then found injured on the ground. Detectives from the Yarra Crime Investigation Unit are attending the scene and will work with WorkSafe to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/melb-ride-injury1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Showgoers who were on the ride during the incident were reportedly stuck on it for several hours. Image: 7News</em></p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement, the Melbourne Royal Show confirmed a “reported injury on the Rebel Coaster ride” and that no one fell from the ride.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are working closely with the ride operator, WorkSafe Victoria and Victoria Police to investigate the issue further, however we can confirm that no one has fallen from the ride,” the event said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The ride in question will be closed for the foreseeable future and updates will be made as information comes to hand.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A stall owner told the <em><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/woman-injured-on-ride-at-the-melbourne-royal-show/news-story/6152e44b860642bca1e80b25d90e1516" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a></em> she heard loud screams after the ride suddenly stopped.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Everyone was stuck in the ride for one to two hours … but the screaming was so loud – I think everyone must have been really scared,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The ride went up like normal, then there were screams, then it stopped and stayed that way for ages.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Those on the Rebel Coaster when it stopped were reportedly stuck on the ride for over an hour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Witnesses were moved away from the ride, which has been shut down, and the area was cordoned off.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7c60079c-7fff-d680-ce5e-e1df17ffe8e4"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7News</em></p>

News

Not “your average beanie”: Smart Aussie invention to help stroke and trauma patients

<p dir="ltr">A new ‘smart helmet’ packed with tech is being developed to monitor brains of patients who have suffered a stroke, injury or trauma by a team of Australian scientists and developers thanks to funding from the Victorian government.</p> <p dir="ltr">Patients with these kinds of injuries often experience brain swelling and have parts of their skull removed to prevent the brain from pushing on structures such as the brainstem, the part of the brain that regulates the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, <a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/brain-drowns-in-its-own-fluid-after-a-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which can be fatal</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The SkullPro, developed by Anatomics Pty Ltd and the CSIRO, is a customised protective helmet that includes sensors that relay data back to the patient’s neurosurgeon to help them determine the best time to repair the skull.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the helmet, the conditions of patients’ brains can be monitored while they recover at home.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c30fb9f0-7fff-5de6-6b83-53be40564edb"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Neurosurgeons can monitor their brain function in real time thanks to a ‘brain machine interface’ developed using machine learning, advanced sensors and microelectronics.</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/CDApuNgj68s/?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/CDApuNgj68s/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Anatomics (@anatomicsrx)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that Anatomics’ development of the helmet would be among 11 Victorian medical technology products funded through the latest round of MedTech grants.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This isn’t your average beanie. This is a Smart Helmet,” Mr Andrews <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/posts/pfbid02SJfjW1BcypXz8ubJHtQUTPvG349spbWAch4Eib1nguHedjAH1fFhWg4DaPJ9V5kNl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It helps monitor the brains of patients who've had a stroke or suffered traumatic brain injury. It lets doctors know how the brain is healing and helps surgeons decide on the ideal time to perform operations on the skull to give patients the best possible chance of a full recovery. It's been researched, designed and manufactured right here in Bentleigh East by Anatomics.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It's the kind of technology that doesn't just save lives – it changes lives too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Andrews added that the series of grants would help support “Victorian innovation” and create jobs.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We're backing Anatomics and 11 other Victorian medical technology manufacturers with a new round of MedTech grants. Creating jobs and supporting Victorian innovation,” the post continued.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c713391-7fff-9b9e-2205-2217707d9715"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“That's something we can all get behind.”</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/B8xqoDDnORs/?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/B8xqoDDnORs/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Anatomics (@anatomicsrx)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The team developing the SkullPro hope it will lay the foundation for research relating to brain injuries, diagnostics, and treatments in Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a <a href="https://www.anatomics.com/au/news/2020/07/24/smart-skullpro.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, Professor Paul D’Urso, a neurosurgeon and the founder of Anatomics, said the grant would “greatly benefit brain injured patients throughout the world”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The recently announced funding through MTPConnect’s BioMedTech Horizons program will allow Anatomics and CSIRO to lay the foundations for advanced diagnostics and therapies for decades to come that will greatly benefit brain injured patients through-out the world,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We should all be proud of the pioneering R&D (Research & Development) that has already occurred in Australia and the opportunities that this grant will deliver to our future."</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-bb14f8a1-7fff-b6d7-650f-abcedbfc94fc"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @anatomicsrx (Instagram)</em></p>

Mind

A history of head injuries could impact your sense of smell

<p dir="ltr">A history of head injuries could make you more likely to experience a loss of your sense of smell, according to a team of international researchers.</p> <p dir="ltr">The study, published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2022.1920" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery</a></em>, found that out of 5,961 participants - including 1,666 people who had a history of head injuries - those who had suffered from at least two head injuries or had more severe injuries were more likely to report a loss of smell.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you’ve ever had a nose full of snot during a severe cold or sinus infection, you’ve likely experienced a temoorary bout of anosmia - a full or partial loss of your sense of smell - but it can also be permanent.</p> <p dir="ltr">The team reported that 24 percent of those with a history of head injuries self-reported a loss of smell, in comparison to 20 percent of those with no head injuries, with 15 percent having objective anosmia versus 13 percent in the cohort with no injuries.</p> <p dir="ltr">For those with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), previous studies have found that 14 to 20 percent suffer from a loss of smell, with this most-recent study finding that the likelihood of suffering from smell loss relied on both the number of head injuries and their severity.</p> <p dir="ltr">The researchers found that both self-reporting a loss of smell and being objectively assessed to have anosmia were associated with a person having a history of at least two head injuries which were moderate, severe or penetrating.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for how TBIs cause a loss of smell, the authors suggest that it could include the shearing of the olfactory nerve fibres anchored to the cribriform plate, a part of the ethmoid bone that is anchored in the nasal cavity that is covered in holes to allow for nerves to convey smells to the brain.</p> <p dir="ltr">They also suggest that injuries to the sinonasal tract, olfactory bulbs, and olfactory-eloquent cortical brain regions could be behind smell loss, but note that other factors such as severe depression, posttraumatic epilepsy, and medications prescribed to manage TBIs could be responsible.</p> <p dir="ltr">Surprisingly, the team reported that a high proportion of participants were unaware of the extent of their loss of smell, echoing findings from previous studies.</p> <p dir="ltr">They found that those with a history of head injuries were more likely to under-report or over-report the extent of their smell loss - which was also measured using objective olfactory testing - in comparison to those who hadn’t suffered a head injury.</p> <p dir="ltr">Given that a loss of smell is often inaccurately reported by those with head injuries and that it is associated with negative effects on mental and physical health, the team argue that their study has important considerations for health practitioners working with patients with a history of head injuries.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Findings also suggest important clinical considerations for the diagnosis and treatment of posttraumatic olfactory loss; that individuals with remote prior head injury are at risk for posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction but are unlikely to be aware of their deficits; and conversely, that individuals with prior head injury may be more likely to overreport subjective olfactory deficits, which may not be confirmed by objective testing,” they write.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Taken together, there should be consideration of objective psychophysical olfactory assessment in patients with head injury.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3fa7b9f3-7fff-41af-93ce-6d8988e762d4"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Mind

Michael Schumacher’s family accused of lying about star’s condition

<p dir="ltr">Michael Schumacher's family have been accused of lying about the F1 star’s condition following a scary brain injury incident. </p> <p dir="ltr">The F1 champion’s health has been closely monitored following a terrifying skiing accident at a French resort of Meribel in December 2013. </p> <p dir="ltr">His wife and family have been keeping his condition under wraps as he recovers at their home in Switzerland. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, Schumacher's former manager Willi Weber, 80, has accused the family of preventing him from visiting and speaking to the star since the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">Weber has spoken to Schumacher's wife Corinna and close friend Jean Todt who repeatedly told him that “it’s too early” and to just “wait”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I tried hundreds of times to contact Corinna and she didn't answer," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I called Jean Todt to ask him if I should go to the hospital and he told me to wait – it's too early.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I called the next day and no one answered. I didn't expect behaviour like that and I'm still angry about it. They kept me out, telling me it's too early, well now it's too late. It's been nine years. Maybe they should just say it the way it is.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I could understand the situation initially as I always did everything I could for Michael to protect his private life. But since then we have only heard lies from them."</p> <p dir="ltr">Corrina appeared in the Netflix documentary <em>SCHUMACHER</em>, and spoke about wanting to protect her family after her husband’s incident. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength, I find," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We're together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.</p> <p dir="ltr">"And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We're trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

“I have been suffering”: Rafael Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon

<p dir="ltr">Rafael Nadal has officially withdrawn from Wimbledon ahead of his semi-final match against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury, prompting his Aussie competitor to sail straight into Sunday’s men’s final.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nadal confirmed the news on Friday morning (AEST) after it was reported that he suffered a 7mm abdominal tear during his quarter-final win against Taylor Fritz.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Unfortunately, as you can imagine, if I am here, I have to pull out from the tournament,” he said in a press conference.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As everybody saw yesterday, I had been suffering with pain in the abdominal. I was not OK there, as yesterday I said. That’s confirmed. I have a tear in the muscle in the abdominal.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was thinking during the whole day about the decision to make. It doesn’t make sense to go (on), even if I try through my career to keep going.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was very tough circumstances but it is obvious if I keep going the injury will be worse and worse.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c490f47c-7fff-766e-5fbd-2f338f74fc5c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s the thing I can say now and feel very sad to say that.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We're sad to see it end this way, <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RafaelNadal</a></p> <p>Thank you for another year of unforgettable moments at The Championships<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/XadiEVxaWF">pic.twitter.com/XadiEVxaWF</a></p> <p>— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/1545111323926740992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The 36-year-old estimated it would take “three, four weeks” to recover from the injury, though a timeline for his return to competing is unclear according to multiple reports.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though he reiterated that he will continue playing, Nadal said his injury prevented him from playing at his best.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I made the decision because I believe that I can’t win two matches under the circumstances,” he said. “It is not only that I can't serve at the right speed, it is that I can't do the normal movement to serve.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After I say that, to imagine myself winning two matches, and for respect to myself in some way, I don’t want to go out there and not be competitive enough to play at the level I need to play to achieve my goals.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Nadal’s withdrawal has dashed his chances of winning his 23rd grand slam title at this year’s competition, which would have made him tie with Serena Williams on the all-time list for having the most major singles trophies.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b42deb21-7fff-97af-b408-f33804e7e359"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">In response to his opponent’s announcement, Kyrgios took to Instagram to wish Nadal well on his recovery.</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/CfuR8AKhwjP/?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/CfuR8AKhwjP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Different players, different personalities @rafaelnadal I hope your recovery goes well and we all hope to see you healthy soon. Till next time,” the Canberran captioned a throwback photo of the pair shaking hands at the net.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kyrgios, who has become the first Australian man to make the Wimbledon singles final since Mark Philippoussis in 2003, will face Novak Djokovic or Cameron Norrie, who are due to play the other semi-final match on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-af46f9d6-7fff-cf64-71d0-657f9bfa8a1a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

News

Moral injury: what happens when exhausted health workers can no longer provide the care they want for their patients

<p>Healthcare workers in New Zealand already face life-and-death decisions daily. But as multiple winter illnesses add pressure to a system already stretched by COVID, staff now also have to deal with <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300534812/covid19-union-and-frontline-worker-say-staff-at-middlemore-hospital-facing-increasing-abuse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">daily abuse</a>, acute <a href="https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/05/christchurch-hospital-cancels-surgeries-as-it-hits-112-pct-capacity.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">staff shortages</a> and <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/06/17/dhb-clashes-with-union-over-stretched-palmerston-north-ed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unsafe working conditions</a>. At times, they cannot provide the care they would like for their patients.</p> <p>The impact on health workers is often described as <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/great-minds-health-workers-on-covid-19-frontlines-burnt-and-bled-by-two-years-of-virus/T7JXOXGXEKKCICUNOMUJYT4QWM/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stress and burnout</a>. The consequences of this prolonged pressure can be seen in the number of <a href="https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/acem-welcomes-111b-health-nz-budget-urges-fixes-health-workforce-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doctors</a>, <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nursing-shortage-nurses-broken-while-sector-faces-thousands-of-vacancies/L7NUXOPG4AB472OKXOH5QJSUMU/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nurses</a> and other <a href="https://capsulenz.com/be/therapist-shortage-nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health professionals</a> leaving their jobs for overseas positions and the private sector, or being lost to their professions completely.</p> <p>Many of these healthcare workers may well be suffering from a more serious form of psychological distress than burnout: moral injury.</p> <p><a href="https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Moral-Stress-Healthcare-Workers-COVID-19-Guide-to-Moral-Injury.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moral injury</a> refers to the psychological, social and spiritual impact of events on a person who holds strong values (such as caring for patients) and operates in high-stakes situations (hospital emergency care), but has to act in a way inconsistent with those values.</p> <p>Examples include having to turn patients away despite them being in pain or discomfort; being unable to provide adequate care due to staff shortages; having to care for a dying patient isolated from their loved ones while wearing full protective gear.</p> <p>Symptoms of moral injury can include strong feelings of guilt and shame (about not being able to uphold healthcare values, for example) as well as high levels of anger and contempt towards the system that prevents proper care.</p> <p>High levels of self-criticism, loss of trust in people and organisations and a weakening of personal relationships are further <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00113-9/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms</a> of moral injury.</p> <p>It can be viewed as a <a href="https://www.afta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Physicians-aren%E2%80%99t-%E2%80%98burning-out.%E2%80%99-They%E2%80%99re-suffering-from-moral-injury..pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more severe form of burnout</a>. But while burnout can happen in most workplaces, moral injury requires the three core components listed above.</p> <p><strong>From war to the operating table</strong></p> <p>The term moral injury arose in <a href="https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/cooccurring/moral_injury.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">military psychology</a> to refer to situations where, for example, soldiers were unable to intervene to save lives in case they risked breaching the rules of engagement. More recently, the term has been adapted to apply to healthcare.</p> <p>Viewing the experiences of health workers through this lens can help us understand why they may experience a seesawing emotional state and the confusing conflict of simultaneously wanting to be at work while wishing they were anywhere but.</p> <p>For healthcare workers, understanding the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6752815/#:%7E:text=Over%20time%2C%20these%20repetitive%20insults,is%20in%20some%20way%20deficient" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concept of moral injury</a> may help reframe it as something that is happening to them rather than because they don’t have the skills to cope. The latter can sometimes be a mistaken implication of the term burnout.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471254/original/file-20220627-22-u7c2tg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471254/original/file-20220627-22-u7c2tg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471254/original/file-20220627-22-u7c2tg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471254/original/file-20220627-22-u7c2tg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471254/original/file-20220627-22-u7c2tg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471254/original/file-20220627-22-u7c2tg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471254/original/file-20220627-22-u7c2tg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Exhausted nurse" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Staff shortages can take health workers beyond exhaustion and burnout.</span> <span class="attribution">Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure> <p>While healthcare workers are largely at the mercy of the organisations they work for, there are some steps individuals can take to alleviate moral injury. Firstly, simply recognising they may be suffering from this condition can reduce confusion and validate their experiences.</p> <p>Secondly, reconnecting back to an individual’s values and beliefs can help refocus and re-energise, at least temporarily. Reminding themselves why they got into this job in the first place is a useful place to start.</p> <p><strong>Organisational responses</strong></p> <p>Organisations and businesses must play a lead role in preventing and treating moral injury. Many of the factors leading to it (lack of resources or staff, a pandemic or peak flu season) are outside the control of individuals.</p> <p>Most modern businesses will be aware they have a legal responsibility under the 2015 <a href="https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2015/0070/latest/DLM5976660.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health and Safety at Work Act</a> to look after their employees’ mental and physical well-being.</p> <p>At a high level, organisations can advocate for systemic change and increases in funding and resourcing, where needed. But these higher-level changes take time to achieve. In the meantime, it is important healthcare workers are protected and supported.</p> <p>Broad steps an organisation can take to prevent or reduce moral injury include removing the burden of difficult ethical decisions from frontline workers and instead adopting evidence-based policies to guide an organisation-wide response. Where possible, rotating staff between high and low-stress environments may help.</p> <p>Providing funding for workers to access professional psychological supervision is another practical step businesses can consider. At a team level, it can be helpful to have leaders who are visible, validating and can help make sense of the moral conflict. Leaders can also play a role in keeping alive professional values and modelling their own struggles with the situation.</p> <p>The general public also has a role to play in supporting healthcare workers. Any steps we can take to protect our own health and thereby reduce pressure on the system can have a cumulative effect on the well-being of doctors, nurses and allied health clinicians. The health of our nation rests with those who work in this field and it is in all our interest that their health is protected and prioritised.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/185485/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dougal-sutherland-747623" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dougal Sutherland</a>, Clinical Psychologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-herenga-waka-victoria-university-of-wellington-1200" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/moral-injury-what-happens-when-exhausted-health-workers-can-no-longer-provide-the-care-they-want-for-their-patients-185485" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

Woman wakes from coma to find she is now single

<p>An Australian woman has gone viral after revealing how her fiance left her for another woman while she was in a coma for three months.</p> <p>Brie Duval, 25, was living in Canada when her life took a horrific turn in 2020. She was out with friends when she fell off a 10m retaining wall, crashing headfirst onto the pavement.</p> <p>The 25-year-old was left with a brain injury and several broken bones and was flown to the University of Alberta Hospital where she was placed on life support in the ICU.</p> <p>Brie’s parents refused to turn off her life support and she miraculously began to show signs of improvement, waking up after three months. Additionally, Brie also suffered from post-traumatic amnesia, forgetting “simple things” like her passwords and address, she ended up remaining in hospital for an extra five months.</p> <p>Once she was able to remember day-to-day things, she was given back her phone and her first thought was to call her fiancé, as he hadn’t been with her in the hospital.</p> <p>That’s when she discovered her boyfriend of four years had moved in with another woman.</p> <p>In a TikTok that has been viewed two million times, Brie explained that when she went to call him for the first time after “finally” waking up from her coma, she found a text on her phone from another woman.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@hotcomagirl1/video/7103109625695784194" data-video-id="7103109625695784194"> <section><a title="@hotcomagirl1" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hotcomagirl1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@hotcomagirl1</a> Real coma experience vs. senior year coma experience! <a title="fyp" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fyp</a> <a title="coma" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/coma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#coma</a> <a title="braininjuryawareness" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/braininjuryawareness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#braininjuryawareness</a> <a title="braininjurysurvivor" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/braininjurysurvivor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#braininjurysurvivor</a> <a title="♬ original sound - HotComaGirl113" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7103109615402912513" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - HotComaGirl113</a></section> </blockquote> <p>He also blocked her on all his social media accounts with the young woman claiming she hadn’t heard from her former fiance now in 11 months.</p> <p>“He doesn’t care that you nearly died with a 10% chance of living, but you know, at least he’s happy,” she continued.</p> <p>Brie’s video was immediately flooded with thousands of comments from other users also shocked by her fiance’s actions.</p> <p>Overwhelmed by all the support, Brie jumped into the comments section to thank viewers.</p> <p>“Thank you all for this support! I’ve had such a hard time and all of this love means the world,” she wrote.</p> <p>It prompted her to share several other videos, with one clarifying how exactly she fell.</p> <p>“So I did still plummet headfirst into concrete and go into a coma, I just wasn’t on a rooftop bar. I just said that because it was easier in the story to say rooftop bar.”</p> <p>If the news of her fiance wasn’t bad enough, given her freak accident happened at the height of the pandemic, her parents were unable to visit her in Canada, due to restrictions in Australia.</p> <p>“They told my mum that I had a 10 per cent chance of living and that she should get over to Canada as soon as she could because things weren’t looking good.”</p> <p>“My mum and dad went to the government and asked for special permission to say goodbye to me as things were bad at that point. They refused them, they would not give them a chance and they would not give them a reason, they just flat out said no.</p> <p>“So my mum told doctors in Canada to keep my life support on and do not under any circumstances turn that off, which they had to medically abide by.”</p> <p>Brie told the publication the incident made her realise she never wants to be apart from her family again and she has since moved back to Australia to be near them.</p> <p>The recovery process for Brie is ongoing as she continues to learn to live with a traumatic brain injury (TBI).</p> <p>“Getting back to normal life, just trying to establish what my new normal is – I couldn’t swallow when I first woke up. I’ve had to try and learn how to walk again – from my waist down to my toes, it feels like it’s gone dead,” she told the publication.</p> <p>She continues to share videos to raise awareness of what it’s like to live with a TBI.</p> <p><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

Model shares grisly injury from Paris Fashion Week

<p dir="ltr">A German model has shared brutal footage after she was injured from running into a pole during Paris Fashion Week.</p> <p dir="ltr">Caroline Duar took to TikTok to share her story, as well as footage and photos of her bruised and bloodied eye, in a series of videos from early March.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 27-year-old explained how she was “lost in thoughts” while on a run and slammed into a pole, knocking herself out.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b86902ee-7fff-055d-6317-8573e152aa79"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">After spending six hours in a Parisian hospital, she was forced to wear sunglasses to hide her injury at shows.</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/CanhDSIIx-C/?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/CanhDSIIx-C/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Caroline Daur (@carodaur)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“When I was running, and I was like lost in thoughts, I ran full speed into a pole… like full speed,” she <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@carodaur/video/7072017297556229381?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id7019154073816286722" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a> in one clip.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was knocked out on the floor and there was so much blood. I was in the hospital for six hours and got some stitches.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@carodaur/video/7071667008097619206?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id7019154073816286722" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another</a> video, she shared a series of photos of herself holding a napkin to her wounded eye from the hospital and with it looking swollen in the days after.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4faa4599-7fff-34a0-05e6-78b1aed085ff"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Her followers shared their shock and concern for her following the injury and wished the influencer a quick recovery.</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/Ca2xVgmoUyC/?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/Ca2xVgmoUyC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Caroline Daur (@carodaur)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I thought you had eyeshadow on at first,” one fan joked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Glad you’re okay, that looks so intense,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Awww I’m so sorry, I hope you heal quickly!” a third commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">Caroline went on to attend several fashion shows after her injury, covering up her eye with a pair of large dark sunglasses.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7d27021d-7fff-5767-1720-70ff94be871a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @carodaur (Instagram)</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Queen attends christening of her great grandsons despite recent injury

<p dir="ltr">Queen Elizabeth II has attended the joint christening of two of her great-grandchildren in Windsor despite recently<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/queen-elizabeth-ii-releases-message-after-back-sprain" target="_blank">spraining her back</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Queen was photographed being driven to the All Saints Chapel near the Royal Lodge on Sunday afternoon, where the joint christening of Princess Eugenie’s son August and Zara Tindall’s son Lucas was taking place, in what is believed to be the first joint royal christening.</p> <p dir="ltr">Princess Eugenie and husband Jack welcomed their first child, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank in February, while Zara Tindall and husband Mike welcomed their third child, Lucas Philip, in late March. Both boys share the middle name Philip in honour of their great-grandfather Prince Philip, who died in April.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLgrGXhlpuK/?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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLgrGXhlpuK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">August and Lucas are cousins, as are Eugenie and Zara, Eugenie being the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson and Zara being the daughter of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips.</p> <p dir="ltr">The private service was attended by a small number of relatives, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of York. The Queen wore a matching lime green hat and coat for one of her first outings since her recent injury.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Queen has been resting for roughly a month per doctors’ advice, and had to cancel her appearance at the COP26 Climate Conference as a result, instead<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/international-travel/my-dear-late-husband-queen-elizabeth-discusses-prince-philip-in-climate-speech" target="_blank">delivering her speech via video link</a>. In a sign of improving health,<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/queen-makes-first-in-person-appearance-since-being-hospitalised" target="_blank">late last week</a>, she hosted the outgoing armed forces chief at Windsor Castle in one of her first engagements since the injury.</p> <p dir="ltr">Holy water from Prince Charles and Camilla’s<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/international-travel/prince-charles-and-camilla-to-embark-on-first-royal-tour-since-2019" target="_blank">recent royal tour</a><span> </span>to Jordan is believed to have been used during the baptism. The Prince of Wales reportedly brought back roughly a dozen bottles from the River Jordan, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was baptised, to use for future royal baptisms.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Queen Elizabeth II releases message after back sprain

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Queen Elizabeth has sent a message from Windsor Castle to be delivered by her youngest son, Prince Edward, at the 11th General Synod of the Church of England.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Edward represented the royal family at the event on Tuesday and delivered her address.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845682/queen-elizabeth1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4ac63c624a7a437a9a0821dc28f4350d" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Edward delivers Queen Elizabeth’s address to the General Synod. Image: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is hard to believe that it is over 50 years since Prince Philip and I attended the very first meeting of the General Synod,” she said in her speech, referencing her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“None of us can slow the passage of time; and while we often focus on all that has changed in the intervening years, much remains unchanged, including the Gospel of Christ and his teachings.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Queen’s comments come after her most recent health troubles - which saw her cut back on public appearances - and comments in her COP26 video message to world leaders that “none of us will live forever”.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845683/queen-elizabeth2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ed00f75e16b446e6b132b81b41f73be4" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Queen Elizabeth delivering her address to the General Synod over the years. Image: @theroyalfamily (Instagram)</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s interesting that during a time when the Queen has been unwell we have had two addresses from her which have included lines that remind us that no-one is immune to the ageing process,” a royal insider told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/queen-elizabeth-message-windsor-castle-back-sprain/7e297191-1274-40cb-93fb-aeec0dcf68e1" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">9Honey</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Her recent spate of ill health and her having to rest is a reminder that she is 95, and even though we have been so used to seeing her carry out her duties in a way that belies her age, of course that can’t go on forever.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her Majesty also mentioned the “weariness” people have felt during the pandemic in her speech to the General Synod, noting how many have relied on their faith during this period.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Of course, in our richly diverse modern society, the wellbeing of the nation depends on the contribution of people of all faiths, and of none,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But for people of faith, the last few years have been particularly hard, with unprecedented restrictions in accessing the comfort and reassurance of public worship. For many, it has been a time of anxiety, of grief, and of weariness.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845684/queen-elizabeth3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/62b8eebabf4b4015bd5366ce94d1fad8" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Catherina, Duchess of Cambridge, attend the Remembrance Sunday commemoration in London. Image: @theroyalfamily (Instagram)</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the monarch intended to attend Remembrance Sunday commemorations at the Cenotaph in London, she was forced to pull out on the day due to a back sprain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is unknown whether her back injury has been the cause of her most recent rest period, hospital visit, and public use of a walking stick for the first time in 17 years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the palace has only confirmed that the Queen’s condition is not related to COVID-19.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @theroyalfamily (Instagram)</span></em></p>

Caring

Babysitter charged with murder of baby 35 years later

<p>In 1985, Terry McKirchy was given a light sentence of attempted murder for shaking five-month-old Benjamin Dowling so severely, he suffered permanent brain damage.</p> <p>But the baby never recovered from his injuries and lived his entire life with severe disabilities. He was never able to communicate, needed metal rods inserted near his spine to keep him upright and used a feeding tube to eat.</p> <p>In 2019, a medical examiner from Florida said Dowling finally succumbed to his injuries and died, aged 35.</p> <p>At the time of the incident, McKirchy, 59, told his parents Dowling had fallen off the couch, according to Fox News. The baby was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with shaken infant syndrome.</p> <p>When his mother, Rae, saw him on the night he suffered his injuries, she told police her boy's hands "were clenched and he was turning blue," according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.</p> <p>Ms Dowling and her husband, Joe, said their first son never progressed past a five-month-old after suffering his injuries and continued to depend on his family and others for support all his life.</p> <p>The couple said in a statement: “Benjamin never crawled, fully rolled over, walked, never talked, never fed himself, he never enjoyed a hamburger or an ice cream cone, he could never tell us when he had an itch or anything hurt."</p> <p>“When he cried in pain, we as a family and caregivers had to guess as to what was wrong and hope that we could satisfy his need,” they added.</p> <p>The babysitter spent weekends in jail as part of her sentence but a Broward County Grand jury recently indicted McKirchy as guilty of first-degree murder and she is now jailed near her home in Sugar Land, Texas, pending her return to Florida.</p> <p>Confusion as to why McKirchy wasn't charged with a harsher sentence at the time centres around the fact she was pregnant at the time. David Weinstein, a Miami defence lawyer and former prosecutor who's not involved in the case, said perhaps witnesses were not available or the available medical evidence was not strong.</p> <p>Now the homicide case appears stronger because the medical and scientific evidence has progressed. As prosecutors said in a statement: “The passage of time between the injuries sustained and the death of the victim were considered by the forensic experts who conducted the autopsy and ruled the death was directly caused by the injuries from 1984."</p> <p>“This case was presented to the grand jury, which determined that this was a homicide.”</p> <p>Mr Dowling’s parents said their son “would never know how much he was loved and could never tell others of his love for them.”</p> <p>“Benjamin did smile when he was around his family, although he could never verbalise anything, we believe he knew who we were and that we were working hard to help him,” they said.</p> <p><em><strong>Image credit: AAP</strong></em></p>

Legal

19-year-old athlete fights for life after tragic accident

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A 19-year-old Sunshine Coast triathlete is fighting for life in hospital after a severe bicycle crash on the weekend.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alexa Leary was out on her normal morning ride at Pomona on Saturday when she was seriously injured before being transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where she remains in an induced coma.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The athlete suffered a fractured scapula, ribs, shoulder blade, and wrist, a major knee injury, and a collapsed lung. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her family has been told she also suffered major brain damage, with blood clots discovered on her brain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Leary, a competitive triathlete and trainer at F45 Noosa, has been described as “beautiful”, “bubbly”, and “strong”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We are all feeling the effect of Alexa’s situation and it’s rocked us. We are trying to continue life as normal but under the smiles we are beyond broken,” F45 Noosa said in a post.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Her family are standing by … taking each moment she doesn’t decline as a mini victory.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We need to keep this family in our thoughts and prayers, they need us and we need Lex to pull through.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Lexi girl, you are stronger than you know, braver than us all and we totally know you will conquer this mountain. Come one Lexi, we are all waiting for you.”</span></p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLOYyLIBqEf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLOYyLIBqEf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ALEXA LEARY ✨ (@alexaleary.tri)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her sister Maddy shared on Instagram that the blood clots were the biggest concern, with doctors initially saying they would try and treat them on Tuesday, July 20.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, on Tuesday night Maddy said “they didn’t touch the blood clots today. They said maybe tomorrow, instead.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alexa’s boyfriend, Will O’Dwyer, has posted images of his girlfriend alongside messages telling her to “stay strong my darling, I love you, you can do this”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Belinda, Alexa’s mum, took to Facebook to share that doctors had to “take the risk” to give her daughter blood thinners, otherwise the clots “could take her life”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Race Pace Coaching have described Alexa as “an awesome and tough athlete” who is “tenacious as they come”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She will need every ounce of her resilience over coming days and into the future with a long period of hospitalisation appearing inevitable,” the group said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her brother Max described his sister as “a ray of sunshine” and said “the Leary household has never been so cold”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You have always been strong and it’s not fair how much s*** you have been through this year; but you have to keep fighting … We want our big sister back,” he said.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Alexa Leary / Instagram</span></em></p>

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Roger Federer’s distressing announcement

<p><span>Roger Federer has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Tokyo Olympics after a major “setback” in his knee injury recovery.</span><br /><br /><span>The 20-time Grand Slam champion was beaten by Hubert Hurkacz during Wimbledon in the quarter-finals last week.</span><br /><br /><span>Last year however, the 39-year-old underwent two surgeries on his right knee.</span><br /><br /><span>He has been training to win an Olympic singles gold medal, but now it looks like the star might have to wait another four years.</span></p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRhJdfFBgE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRhJdfFBgE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Roger Federer (@rogerfederer)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>The global pandemic delayed the 2020 Olympic Games by a year, and while it will still go ahead – it will largely be held behind closed doors.</span><br /><br /><span>Strict health restrictions will also be in place.</span><br /><br /><span>The Olympic singles title is the only major tournament Federer is yet to win.</span><br /><br /><span>The tennis star lost during the semi-finals in 2000, in Sydney.</span><br /><br /><span>In 2012, he would go on to be beaten by Andy Murray in London, just weeks after dominating the Brit on the same Centre Court in the Wimbledon final.</span><br /><br /><span>Federer did however win doubles gold with Stan Wawrinka in Beijing 13 years ago.</span><br /><br /><span>The star’s loss to Hurkacz was only his 14th defeat at Wimbledon in over 119 matches.</span><br /><br /><span>It is also the first time he has been beaten in the tournament in straight sets since 2002.</span><br /><br /><span>Additionally, it was Federer’s first time he’s lost a set 6-0 at Wimbledon, and just the third time at a Slam.</span><br /><br /><span>“With everything that comes after Wimbledon, we were always going to sit down and talk about it because clearly now Wimbledon is over,” Federer announced.</span><br /><br /><span>“I got to take a few days. Just see, OK, what do I need to do to get in better shape so I can be more competitive.”</span><br /><br /><span>He slipped to ninth in the ATP rankings after Wimbledon, which is his lowest position since March 2017.</span></p>

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Home and Away star shares shocking injury

“It pains me”: Tennis star shares sad news

Aussie tourist makes disturbing claim about Fiji resort where young boy was killed

Why do I sprain my ankle so often and how can I cut the risk of it happening again?

Sports watches could help reduce falls and injuries in elderly people

4 tips for looking after an injured partner

"The injuries are horrific": Rollercoaster victim identified

“The screaming was so loud”: Young woman struck by roller coaster

Not “your average beanie”: Smart Aussie invention to help stroke and trauma patients

A history of head injuries could impact your sense of smell

Michael Schumacher’s family accused of lying about star’s condition

“I have been suffering”: Rafael Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon

Moral injury: what happens when exhausted health workers can no longer provide the care they want for their patients

Woman wakes from coma to find she is now single

Model shares grisly injury from Paris Fashion Week

Queen attends christening of her great grandsons despite recent injury

Queen Elizabeth II releases message after back sprain

Babysitter charged with murder of baby 35 years later

19-year-old athlete fights for life after tragic accident

Roger Federer’s distressing announcement

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Home and Away star shares shocking injury

“It pains me”: Tennis star shares sad news

Aussie tourist makes disturbing claim about Fiji resort where young boy was killed

Why do I sprain my ankle so often and how can I cut the risk of it happening again?

Sports watches could help reduce falls and injuries in elderly people

4 tips for looking after an injured partner

"The injuries are horrific": Rollercoaster victim identified

“The screaming was so loud”: Young woman struck by roller coaster

Not “your average beanie”: Smart Aussie invention to help stroke and trauma patients

A history of head injuries could impact your sense of smell

Michael Schumacher’s family accused of lying about star’s condition

“I have been suffering”: Rafael Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon

Moral injury: what happens when exhausted health workers can no longer provide the care they want for their patients

Woman wakes from coma to find she is now single

Model shares grisly injury from Paris Fashion Week

Queen attends christening of her great grandsons despite recent injury

Queen Elizabeth II releases message after back sprain

Babysitter charged with murder of baby 35 years later

19-year-old athlete fights for life after tragic accident

Roger Federer’s distressing announcement

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