What we learned today – Wednesday, 27 December
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. Stay safe out there. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow with all the latest. Here were today’s major stories:
The death toll from the wild weather on the east coast rose to nine, with some of the bodies swept into flood waters.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in the disastrous east coast thunderstorms.
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, said the cost of Queensland storm damage is in the “billions”, as disaster funding was activated for Gold Coast.
A volunteer firefighter has died while responding to a bushfire threatening homes near Esperance in Western Australia.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for NSW and the central Queensland coast.
A man has died and three people have required medical attention at Birubi beach near Port Stephens after being pulled from the water.
Updated
Man dies at Birubi beach near Port Stephens
A man has died and three people have required medical attention at Birubi beach, Anna Bay, after being pulled from the water.
The 33-year-old man was assisted by bystanders but could not be revived and died at the scene, just after 2.40pm today.
A woman and a man were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
A third man was treated at the scene by paramedics, but he did not require any further treatment.
Officers attached to Port Stephens–Hunter police district have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.
A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.
Updated
