Man Dies at Hunter Valley Coal Mine

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A contractor has tragically died at a coal mine in the Hunter Valley.

Police have confirmed the 39-year-old who was employed as a dump truck driver at the Glendell Coal Mine in Ravensworth, was found in his truck shortly after 1pm yesterday.

He died of a massive heart attack while behind the wheel of the "wobbly" articulated truck.

The coal mine's emergency response team rushed to the man's aid and attempted to resusitate him for some time until an ambulance from Singleton arrived.

Paramedics spent 10 minutes on the 39-year-old but he couldn't be resusitated.

CFMEU District President Peter Jordan said the man was undertaking top soil work in an isolated part of the mine which is being rehabilitated.

The company he was contracted by was a small Singleton company caleed NJR Excavations.

Tragedy as Teenager Dies in Incident at Lambton Swimming Pool

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police say there are still a lot of questions left for the coroner to answer following the death of a young man at Lambton Pool yesterday after he suffered a medical episode.

Police were called to the swim centre on Durham Road at about 5pm following reports a young man had assaulted a staff member.

As it happened though, a 17-year-old and his carer were at the pool when he began causing harm to himself and surrounding property. Members of staff, as well as his carer, tried to help him by restraining him so he wouldn't cause any more harm to himself or to others.

Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell says he was punching himself in the head and starting to get aggressive.

Police arrived with paramedics and tried to help the young male by restraining him, but tragically this was when its understood he suffered a medical episode causing him to go unconscious and into cardiac arrest.

He was rushed to the John Hunter Hospital but sadly couldn't be resuscitated.

Crime scene at Lambton pool last night. Image 9News

"When I say restraining there is no suggestion whatsoever that this person was laid on his stomach or anyone was laying across the chest area of this male so there's no suggestion there is any likelihood of suffocation," said Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell.

"There is some suggestion he had a pre-existing medical situation but that needs to be investigated and clarified very clearly so we have left that to the coroner."

A critical incident investigation is underway into the incident.

Newcastle City Council's interim CEO Jeremy Bath also addressed the media today giving his sympathies to all of those involved and said everyone responded in the best way they could to save the young man's life.

"All we can do is express sour sympathies not only to the man's family but to his carer that was with him at the time and ensure that the staff are cared for and given the appropriate counselling and support."

Crime scene at Lambton pool last night. Image 9News

He said two members of staff decided not to come back into work today; one of them was directly involved in the incident suffering minor scratches, bite marks and bruises.

"He's doing ok and is actually at the pool today. He wanted to come back to work today which is a testament to his character and leadership. Certainly, my understanding is that he actually feared for his life yesterday as the incident unfolded with the young man who passed away as he ultimately become more aggressive," said CEO Jeremy Bath.

Assistant Commissioner Mitchell is making the welfare of everyone involved, not just his police, but members of staff and the public, a top priority.

"Certainly, from a policing aspect, we wrap a lot of welfare around our officers. I guess with a critical investigation team as they speak to witnesses it is generally our protocol to ensure we suggest to individuals that if they were feeling some form of anxiety from this situation to seek counselling."

Investigations are continuing.

EARLIER:

BY IAN CROUCH

More details have come to light about the death of a teenager following an incident at Lambton Pool.

Police were called to the Durham Road swim centre just after 5.00pm Tuesday to reports a teenager had assaulted a member of staff.

It's now been revealed the 17-year-old was visiting the pool with his carer when he began causing harm to himself and surrounding property.

Newcastle Council has released a statement saying the boy's carer and passers-by restrained him to try to stop him doing further harm to himself, but he suffered a medical episode and went into cardiac arrest.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate the boy but he couldn't be revived.

Police have commenced a critical incident investigation.

Newcastle City Council owns the pool and a council spokesman says they are providing assistance to the pool operator, Lane 4 Aquatics and the staff involved.

Man who killed woman in a tragic accident faced court for the first time

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The man who stands accused of causing the death of a 65-year-old woman in a crash at Mayfield in July has faced Newcastle Court for the first time.

Andrew Wayne is accused of allegedly running a red light on Industrial Drive in his Ford Territory and as a result slamming into a Holden Astra turning right onto Tourle Street killing Gweneth Downey.

He didn't enter any pleas and remains on bail with the condition of not getting behind the wheel of a car.

The matter returns to court next Wednesday.

Image abc.net.au

Ice-related deaths doubled in regional areas

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Regional and rural areas are at the top of the list of being the worst for drug related deaths including here in the Hunter.

Research compiled by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre has found methamphetamine-related deaths in Australia have doubled between 2009 and 2015.

Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord is calling on the Berejiklian government to hold a drug summit at State Parliament to discuss challenges and possible new treatment measures for drug use and overdose particularly involving the drug ice.

The research also found 43 per cent of ice-related deaths were from overdose and 41 per cent of them were in regional and rural areas.

Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord
Image @WaltSecordMLC

Walt Secord says it's been nearly 18 years since the last drug summit and too much has changed for current measures to combat drug usage to still be applicable.

"Drug use in NSW and Australia has significantly changed over the last two decades - ice has replaced heroin, and I think it's time that we do new approaches to the challenges particularly in rural and regional areas."

He also says he's seeing firsthand how bad drug-related problems, particularly with ice are getting, with his shadow ministerial office receiving letters, emails and telephone calls from the parents of young people addicted to ice on a regular basis. 

Walt Secord says it's time to gather experts together to find better solutions and better treatments. 

"Drug use in NSW has significantly changed since the last drug summit. At that time we brought together family members, judges, doctors, medical experts, paramedics, everyone involved in that sector - we all came together and people with good will all worked together."

Accused murderer's trial begins

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The toddler who went missing from Scone more than 16 years ago still hasn't been found, but her mother and accused murderer's trial began yesterday in Newcastle Supreme Court.

The 44-year-old woman, who can't be identified for legal reasons, stands accused of murdering her 16 month old daughter between Christmas 2000 and Christmas 2001.

She was arrested in Scone last year when community services became involved with another child - she has been diagnosed with mental illness and Crown Prosecutor Lee Carr alleges when asked where her daughter was she gave varying accounts and never told authorities her exact whereabouts.

One such account includes the mother alleging she sent the toddler to live with an elderly couple. But investigations into the alleged couple found they didn't even exist.

The Crown said in his opening address: "the accused killed the child and disposed of the body. That body having never been found".

The trial continues.

Three arrested after man dies in John Hunter Hospital

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Three men have been arrested following the death of a Central Coast man at the John Hunter Hospital last month.

The 21-year-old man was found unconscious on the roadway of Lake Haven Drive near Lyle Street last month with serious head injuries.


He was treated at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital. After discovering the extent of his injuries, the man's family made the tragic decision to switch off his life support and he died.

An investigation into his death commenced which led to detectives to the arrest of a 37-year-old man in Kanwal yesterday morning. He was taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with allegedly concealing serious indictable offence of another person.

The two other men aged 28 and 34, were also arrested yesterday and were allegedly charged with his murder and refused bail.

All three will face court today.

Quad Bike roundtable today in a bid to end fatalities

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI and JESSICA ROUSE

With more than thirty quad bike deaths in the state since 2011 including the death of a 60-year-old man in the Upper Hunter earlier this year, NSW Labor has decided to convene a roundtable on quad bike safety.

The roundtable taking place today will see stakeholders get together to look at a range of strategies including age restrictions, to try and prevent further quad bike deaths. It also comes after a recent examination of reforms in Queensland.

 Representatives at the roundtable include The Royal Australian College of Surgeons, NSW Farmers Association, Country Women's Association, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and Quad Safe Australia.

Shadow Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Yasmin Catley says we've already seen too many quad bike deaths this year alone. 

"It's time that we bring together all of the stakeholders to address the problems of accidents and then with the use of quad bikes so we're bringing all of the stakeholders together to have that discussion so that we can talk about coming up with some resolutions that will address the issues of death and safety on quad bikes."

She also said the government had been invited to attend, but they declined. She believes the best and only way to come to a solution is a joint effort, but it won't work if only one side comes to the party.

"The government have been invited but unfortunately they have declined to come and it's really quite disappointing I have to say. This is something that the Labor Party want to have a bipartisan approach on and of course, that should be the case because when we're addressing any tragedy like this you need to have a bipartisan approach," said Yasmin Catley.

Stockton Centre death taken to parliament

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has taken the death of one Stockton Centre resident and the hospitalisation of another to parliament overnight. 

He's calling on Disability Services Minister Ray Williams to explain how the terrible incidences could have possibly occurred not long after the two women moved into the group home.

The former Stockton Centre resident died reportedly suffering dehydration and the other disabled woman suffered serious health complications after moving into the home.

"I'm calling for the investigation to occur and for the government to stick to their commitment to have the same quality of care in both places," said Tim Crakanthorp.

"My greatest concern is that the same level of care that was occurring at the Stockton Centre isn't occurring at group homes which is a commitment that the government gave, so I'm going to be meeting with the minister [Ray Williams] to take this up with him."

Death at Stockton group home

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

An investigation has been launched into the death of a disabled woman at a Stockton Group home.

Another resident is in hospital suffering serious health issues just weeks after moving into the group home.

The former centre resident and the severely disabled woman had only just moved into their new home when they experienced health complications believed to be linked to dehydration and feeding issues - the second woman is still recovering in hospital.

The quality of care is being questioned within the group homes with residents moving in from the Stockton Centre which is due to close.

The State Opposition says it highlights the concerns about transferring severely disabled residents out of the Centre, possibly into care which is not up to standard.

Shadow Minister for the Hunter Kate Washington says the government promised the high level of care given to Stockton Centre would continue at Group homes.

"Governments have been providing reassurances for families and advocates that the care will be what it needs to be and we just have very little confidence that government is doing that. The government instead tells us that with giving additional resources to the ombudsman as far as I'm concerned it's all far too late by the time its gone to the ombudsman," said Kate Washington.

Image Newcastle Herald.

Don't share those Easter goodies with your pets this weekend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

We are being urged to be selfish this Easter and keep our chocolates to ourselves instead of sharing with our pets.

Unless you want to spend the holiday in animal emergency.

Chocolate contains a caffeine compound which stimulates the nerves and heart, which is fine for a human, but too stimulating for our dogs.

If dogs consume chocolate it can cause tremors, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in extraneous circumstances, even death.

Managing director at the Newcastle Animal Referral and Emergency Centre David Tabrett, is urging pet owners to be careful and hide the Easter eggs out of reach from their pets.

"Remember that dogs are more sensitive to these compounds. Make sure that you provide an alternative for dogs if you are going to involve them in those celebrations and be particularly careful if you're doing Easter egg hunts that dogs don't find the Easter eggs around the house."

Dark chocolate tends to be the most toxic to dogs as it contains a higher amount of cocoa, and therefore caffeine. For instance a 70% dark chocolate Easter egg is very toxic.

To save your dog, and to save them missing out on some Easter treats, dog treats containing carob is the perfect alternative.

"If you're using a safer compound like a carob type chocolate, that's actually much safer for dogs and avoids all of the problems we see when dogs find the Easter egg stash," said David.

If your dog does start to show any of the symptoms over this long weekend, make sure you seek advice and head straight to your vet or nearest animal emergency.

14-month old girl drowns in Port Stephens

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A weekend in Port Stephens has ended in tragedy with the drowning death of a 14-month old girl.

At about 4:15pm yesterday, the little girl was found in a backyard pool by a relative in Medowie.

She was pulled unconscious from the water with both family and attending police performing CPR before NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived.

She was taken to John Hunter Hospital, but was unable to be revived.