Giselle Wakatama

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Giselle Wakatama

A man is dead and another is in a critical condition after being pulled from the surf at Port Stephens, north of Newcastle, this afternoon. Emergency services responded to reports two swimmers were in trouble at Zenith Beach, Shoal Bay, just before 3pm. Friends and members of the public retrieved the men from the water and performed CPR, alongside police. Paramedics took over but could not revive one of the men, who died at the scene. Loading

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Giselle Wakatama

A former Aboriginal Education Officer at a Hunter Valley high school has pleaded guilty to sexting a schoolgirl, and not guilty to kidnapping two others and plying them with drugs. Jayden Hudson Thorpe, 32, is on trial in Newcastle District Court, after he pleaded not guilty to two charges of take and detain a person with intent to obtain advantage, and two counts of drug supply.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Giselle Wakatama

A New South Wales mother wants answers after her mentally ill son went missing following his discharge from a Newcastle hospital 10 weeks ago. Andrew Dumbrell, 34, has been missing since January 14. The day before he disappeared, Mr Dumbrell, who is epileptic and has schizophrenia, was taken by ambulance to the Calvary Mater Hospital in the Newcastle suburb of Waratah. "Obviously, Andrew wasn't well — he needed to get some treatment, so he headed to the Mater," his mother, Angela Jackson, said.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Giselle Wakatama

James Cunneen has pleaded not guilty to helping cover up the murder of Carly McBride, whose remains were found in NSW bushland in 2016. The prosecution allege Mr Cunneen helped another man escape arrest, and that the pair "actively tried to cast blame" on other persons. Mr Cunneen's trial is set to run three months. Prosecutors say a Hunter Valley man on trial for allegedly covering up the murder of Carly McBride spent three years helping another man avoid arrest over her death.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Giselle Wakatama

Vets and wildlife volunteers say more than 100 corellas that survived a suspected mass bird poisoning in Newcastle are regaining strength after hundreds died on Monday. The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is investigating the bird deaths that occurred across the inner city suburbs of Carrington, Hamilton, and Broadmeadow. While some of the birds were euthanased, at least 100 survivors have been nursed back to health by local vets and wildlife carers.