Latest news with #tragedy
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Handsome Texan dad-of-three killed in horrific freak accident while enjoying game of golf with his father
A father-of-three has died after being struck by a bolt of lightning in a 'freak accident' on the golf course. Spencer Loalbo, 41, was golfing with his father Robert at The Bridges Golf Club in Gunter, Texas, about 60 miles north of Dallas, on June 8 when tragedy struck. The pair were among the 150 people participating in the Member-Guest Tournament that Sunday afternoon, hours before severe storms were expected to roll through. But as the pair were at the 12th hole, a single bolt of lightning stuck 'out of nowhere', killing Spencer instantly, KXII reports. A local firefighter playing holes right behind them rushed into action and began to render aid, but nothing could be done to save Spencer and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Robert was struck as well, but to a lesser degree, and rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition for treatment. Spencer never got a chance to say goodbye to his wife Kaylee or their three young daughters, Evelynn, 8, Charlotte, 6, and three-year-old Nora. He is remembered for his generosity and dedication to his faith, with Kaylee sharing how her husband would often feed the homeless, offer rides to strangers without transportation and donate to those in need. Spencer and Robert were struck by lightning around 5:15pm on June 8 during 'perfect' weather conditions, when skies were blue and the radar was clear. But a single storm cloud had moved ahead of the severe weather system that hit four hours later and was over the pair as they played the 12th hole. Witnesses said the tragedy happened 'so fast' called the strike an unexplainable 'act of God'. A man who was golfing 150 yards away from Robert and Spencer, claims he and his wife felt the static charge from the bolt and were left with lingering 'tingling sensations' in the days that followed. Spencer loved serving others and would always put his family and friends above himself, his family said on a GoFundMe page. He was a 'devoted follower of Jesus' and a 'selfless giver', which his wife says was a reflection of his Christian faith. Storms were rolling through the area at the time, but the thunderbolt that killed Loalbo came from the blue, eyewitnesses including his father said 'I think that was his way of showing others who Jesus is, and it just came so natural to him,' Kaylee told KVUE. The family, in his obituary, recalled how once during a homeless outreach, Spencer met a woman in a wheelchair. It was cold and she had wet socks. Spencer took off his own socks and shoes, placed them on her feet, and returned to his own car with bare feet and in tears. Kaylee says she hopes by sharing Spencer's story others will be 'encouraged to be more like my husband'.
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Blackout, then blaze: What led up to the fatal fire that claimed the life of Hamzah Zainudin's mother-in-law in Ipoh home
IPOH, June 20 — The home of Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's in-laws in Kampung Sungai Rapat Tambahan here reportedly experienced a power outage before it caught fire last night. The blaze claimed the life of Hamzah's mother-in-law, Datin Salmiah Nyak Matt, 84, while her husband, Datuk Abdul Ghani Ngah, 83, suffered from breathing difficulties. Their son, Ahmad Ikhwan, 57, said his youngest sibling, who lives at the house, told him the incident occurred at about 9.15pm. 'My brother went out to check on the neighbours, thinking there was a blackout in the whole area, but there wasn't. 'Then he saw thick smoke coming out of mum's room. He rushed back in and saw the room was already filled with smoke,' he told reporters here today. Ahmad Ikhwan said his father is currently receiving treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) here. He added that his mother's remains will be buried at the Kampung Rapat Jaya Muslim cemetery after funeral prayers at Masjid Jamek Kampung Melayu Sungai Rapat today. Meanwhile, Hamzah was seen arriving at the HRPB Forensics Department with his wife, Datin Seri Norashikin Abdul Ghani, before accompanying the hearse to the mosque. Earlier, Ipoh police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the police received an emergency call at 9.19pm and confirmed that the fire involved a two-storey house. The incident involved six individuals, four of whom, aged between 18 and 49, escaped unharmed. — Bernama
Malay Mail
4 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Family member says blackout struck Hamzah Zainudin's in-laws' home moments before fatal fire
IPOH, June 20 — The home of Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's in-laws in Kampung Sungai Rapat Tambahan here reportedly experienced a power outage before it caught fire last night. The blaze claimed the life of Hamzah's mother-in-law, Datin Salmiah Nyak Matt, 84, while her husband, Datuk Abdul Ghani Ngah, 83, suffered from breathing difficulties. Their son, Ahmad Ikhwan, 57, said his youngest sibling, who lives at the house, told him the incident occurred at about 9.15pm. 'My brother went out to check on the neighbours, thinking there was a blackout in the whole area, but there wasn't. 'Then he saw thick smoke coming out of mum's room. He rushed back in and saw the room was already filled with smoke,' he told reporters here today. Ahmad Ikhwan said his father is currently receiving treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) here. He added that his mother's remains will be buried at the Kampung Rapat Jaya Muslim cemetery after funeral prayers at Masjid Jamek Kampung Melayu Sungai Rapat today. Meanwhile, Hamzah was seen arriving at the HRPB Forensics Department with his wife, Datin Seri Norashikin Abdul Ghani, before accompanying the hearse to the mosque. Earlier, Ipoh police chief ACP Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the police received an emergency call at 9.19pm and confirmed that the fire involved a two-storey house. The incident involved six individuals, four of whom, aged between 18 and 49, escaped unharmed. — Bernama
Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
PM Anwar offers condolences to Hamzah Zainudin after mother-in-law dies in Ipoh house fire
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended his condolences to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin following the passing of his mother-in-law, Datin Salmiah Nyak Matt, 84, who died in a house fire last night. In a Facebook post, Anwar also offered prayers and support to Hamzah and his family. 'I hope that Hamzah will remain strong in facing this terrible ordeal, and I pray for the best for him and his family. May Allah forgive the sins of his mother-in-law, Salmiah, and grant her a special place in Jannah, Insya-Allah,' he said. Salmiah died in a fire that broke out at a two-storey house in Jalan Raja Abdullah, Kampung Sungai Rapat Tambahan, Ipoh, Perak, at around 9pm yesterday. Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Sayani Saidon said Salmiah's husband, Datuk Abdul Ghani Ngah, 83, who was found in a room upstairs, suffered shortness of breath and was sent to Raja Perempuan Bainun Hospital (HRPB) for treatment. Four other family members in the house, comprising three men and one woman aged between 18 and 49, escaped unhurt. — Bernama
.png%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
7 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Simon Calder answers your air travel safety questions – from Boeing worries to the truth about budget airlines
The crash of Air India flight AI171 has shaken confidence in air travel and triggered an outpouring of questions during a recent Independent Ask Me Anything. It was the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an aircraft that had safely carried over a billion passengers since entering service in 2011. But on 12 June, just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad, the flight bound for London Gatwick crashed. Only one of the 242 people on board survived. Dozens more died on the ground. A preliminary report is expected in about three months. If there is evidence of a previously unknown problem that could jeopardise the safety of other aircraft, investigators will announce their initial conclusions as soon as possible. As always in the early stages of an investigation, aviation safety experts will consider a wide spectrum of possible contributory factors – from mechanical issues to the behaviour of the pilots, who, until and unless anything is known to the contrary, are presumed blameless. Lessons on how to improve safety in future will be shared with the aviation community. That is how aviation safety works: it is built on lessons learnt from past tragedies. A lot of attention has focused on seat 11A, where the sole survivor of the Air India tragedy was located. But there is no such thing as a guaranteed safest seat on an aircraft. As long-in-the-tooth safety experts tend to say: 'Tell me what sort of accident you're planning to have, and I'll tell you the safest place to sit.' As I told readers during the Q&A, the most useful contribution every passenger can make is to pay full attention to the safety briefing. Make it 'muscle memory' to know where your nearest exit is – and under no circumstances stop to collect your cabin baggage. Several readers asked whether flying is still safe, whether budget airlines cut corners, and if Boeing can still be trusted. Others asked about the world's riskiest airports and how to stay calm in the face of fear. These are important questions – and the answers matter more now than ever. Below are selected highlights from the Ask Me Anything, where I responded as directly and clearly as possible. For those who want to go deeper, you can sign up to my weekly AMA email, exclusively for Independent Premium subscribers. Sophieeeeeee A: Airports are extremely variable in the degree of challenge they present to pilots. Some in Europe and worldwide require special training. These include Innsbruck in Austria, Dubrovnik in Croatia and Funchal in Madeira. But that doesn't make them more dangerous: as with so much in aviation, providing extra training is part of designing out risk. Tragically, there is one part of the world where the terrain is difficult and where accidents happen far too frequently: Nepal. However, while the airports are extremely challenging, procedures and training should mitigate the risk. Q: How do you stay calm and realistic about flight safety? SimonL A: Look at the numbers. On that tragic Thursday, 12 June, more than 270 people lost their lives aboard Air India flight 171 and on the ground. Yet the same day, far more road users in India died in accidents. You are far safer on an aircraft than on the roads – in any part of the world – and in Europe, crashes are extraordinarily rare. Q: If I ever feel something's off during a flight, is there anything I can actually do? Jase A: Aviation has many cases in which passengers have alerted crew to a dangerous situation, and you should certainly speak up if you consider the safety of the aircraft is jeopardised. Q: Should we worry about flying on a Boeing? Colette Austin A: Boeing has made thousands of superb aircraft. I would not hesitate to fly on one of its planes. The world's safest airline (in terms of passengers carried without a fatal accident), Ryanair, flies only Boeing 737 aircraft. But in the past decade, its safety culture has been called into question. Shocking shortcomings at the plane manufacturer were exposed in the aftermath of two fatal crashes of the Boeing 737 Max. The fatally flawed design led to the temporary grounding of the aircraft worldwide, and in 2024 another incident, in which a door plug burst open at 16,000 feet, triggered further investigations. This is the first fatal accident involving the 787. Soon after it entered service in 2011, concerns over the fire risk from lithium batteries led to a temporary grounding. More than 1,000 Boeing 787 aircraft are in service with dozens of international airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, both of which have exemplary safety records. Q: Are budget airlines just as safe as the big names? Sophieeeeeee A: 'If you think safety is expensive, try having an accident' – that is the standard response to such questions, and I think it is fair. The second-safest airline worldwide, after Ryanair, is easyJet. Both are focused on keeping costs down. But safety is paramount. Q: Are there parts of the world where you'd personally think twice about flying, because of safety standards? SammyW Nepal figures disproportionately heavily in the accident statistics. But even there, you are safer in the sky than on the roads. In Iran and Russia, international sanctions mean that aircraft are not being maintained to the appropriate levels. And small airlines with old aircraft – such as those in parts of Africa – do not inspire confidence, particularly during stormy weather in tropical The European Union has a useful list of airlines that are banned from EU airspace. They include Air Zimbabwe, numerous Afghan, Iranian and Iraqi aircraft, plus carriers based in Armenia, Congo, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nepal, Sudan, Suriname and Tanzania. These questions and answers were part of an 'Ask Me Anything' hosted by Simon Calder at 1pm BST on Wednesday, 18 June. Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.
