A British married couple have drowned at a popular beach on the New South Wales coast in Australia.

They ran into difficulty while swimming at Shellharbour Beach, about 70 miles (114km) south of Sydney, shortly after 11am (local time) on Wednesday.

The 66-year-old man and 64-year-old woman were pulled from the water by members of the public, who performed CPR, before paramedics arrived.

Despite their efforts, the pair could not be revived and died at the scene, NSW Police said.

The couple had been visiting family in the Illawarra region.

Inspector Luke Geradts said some of the couple’s relatives were with them at the beach.

“This is a timely reminder of the dangers and unpredictability of the ocean,” he said.

“This is a tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family who lost their loved ones today.”

Inspector Geradts praised the actions of two off-duty nurses and a young man who ran to the couple’s rescue, recovering them from the water and giving them the “best chance of survival”.

“Although a tragic outcome today, their efforts are to be commended,” he said.

He said the conditions in the surf had been “rough” and police believe the couple were caught in a rip current.

“We really want to encourage people to swim between the flags… because if you do get into trouble it’s going to give yourself the best chance,” he said.

“Every time we go to one of these incidents, a family has lost a loved one, and that’s what’s so hard about it, for a family to lose a loved one,” he added.

A report on the couple’s death will be prepared for the coroner.

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of two British nationals who have died in New South Wales and are in contact with local authorities.”

Deaths from drowning have occurred across Australia‘s coastline over the summer, with 50 recorded in coastal waters between 1 December and 2 March, according to Surf Life Saving Australia.

“But the intensity [we need] I think they find it a four days ago. The players have to live it. I insist many times. Two or three months ago I said, ‘We play today to prove to ourselves this is how you have to play to arrive in the latter stages to compete against good teams’ because we have 60 or 70 per cent of new players this season.

“In November, December, January we had to win those games but we had to play in the way to visualise and see, ‘Oh we can do things, be aware we can do it’. Otherwise it will just be the next step and next season we’ll be back and do it again but once we are here to have to prove ourselves at our best otherwise when you arrive in the semi finals or finals of the Champions League and you are not who you are it is more difficult.

“You can be lucky yes – it’s not 38 games like the Premier League or La Liga where you have to be so consistent – but in this competition sometimes you deserve to go through and it doesn’t happen and other times you play really bad and go through because football is unpredictable sometimes.

“But we have to try to earn the tickets, I want to deserve to be in the next round and I have the feeling to deserve to be in the next round is to be who you are, it’s the only chance.”

After Real, City face West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday evening before the return leg against the Madrid giants next Tuesday.

City then face Arsenal in the League Cup final, Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals and Chelsea and Arsenal in the league, with a Champions League quarter-final potentially also to navigate.

Guardiola believes City have to stay true to themselves if they are to prevail in this period.

“Play better than the opponent,” he said. “In a football game there are a lot of factors today – set-pieces in the Premier League ar an incredible weapon. But play better than the opponent.

“When I was the manager of Barcelona I always had the feeling we were. At Bayern Munich and Manchester City we were never who I think we were supposed to be. That was my feeling at times.

“Always when I come here [to Madrid] or in Munich or at Anfield with Jürgen [Klopp as Liverpool manager] for example when we played Champions League – try to be ourselves and face the opponent and don’t look to much at the consequences.

“If we’re out we’re out – congratulate Madrid and next season try to be back. But at least we were who we are. That’s always my biggest concern in the biggest stages when I arrive in March, April and May in the semi-finals and finals of the biggest completions.

“It’s not always possible, let me be clear. Because the opponent is better so you cannot impose what you want, it’s impossible, but at least try it.

“I think [we reached that with City] the year that we won the final of the Champions League [in 2023] playing not a good final for example [against Inter Milan].

“Once you arrive two or three times [in a final] you will be better, you need to experience that, it’s difficult to arrive the first time and win it. But that team suffered experiences in the past that helped.

“Losing here [in Madrid] in the last minute, playing good against Tottenham and being out in the quarter finals, in many games where we were outstanding and went out. It’s something you have to live. But now there are a lot of players who didn’t experience that so we will see how we react and how we behave.”

Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea will not win another Premier League or Champions League until they sign a new goalkeeper after their 5-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

In a thrilling game at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, Chelsea pulled back PSG on two occasions before the Champions League holders scored three late goals to give Liam Rosenior’s side a mountain to climb in the return leg at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.

Filip Jorgensen started in goal ahead of Robert Sanchez but the 23-year-old was at fault for PSG’s third as his pass was intercepted before Vitinha produced an excellent lob to put Luis Enrique’s side in front.

Speaking after Chelsea’s 5-2 defeat to PSG, Carragher praised Rosenior for his tactical approach but believes his side will be unable to challenge for silverware until a new goalkeeper is brought to Stamford Bridge.

‘It was a brilliant game, I think the best game certainly I’ve seen in the Champions League this season,’ Carragher told CBS Sports.

‘Chelsea didn’t deserve to lose 5-2 but they’ve only got themselves to blame for that.

‘I’ve been critical of Chelsea for a long time, but I’m being deadly serious, they can’t go any further until they sort the goalkeeping issue out. I’ve been saying this consistently.

‘The new ownership have come in and spent absolute billions and right now they’ve got some great players in the team and I think in these early stages Liam Rosenior has been brilliant, I thought Rosenior as a manager tonight, looking at how he set the team up, caused PSG real problems, they didn’t deserve to lose as in the way the game was set up and how they played.

‘But big mistakes cost them at centre-back and goalkeeper and that has been an issue and will continue to be an issue for any Chelsea manager going forward when they’re trying to win the Premier League and Champions League because they’re a million miles off it.

‘That’s why they lost tonight, not because they haven’t got great attacking players or the manager knows what he’s doing, tactically they were fantastic tonight. They were let down by a mistake from the goalkeeper at 2-2 and then the game just completely unravelled and now all of a sudden it looks like they’ve got no chance of going through.’

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A significant amount of drugs were found at his home as well as an extendable baton which is considered an offensive weapon

A drug dealer was found with messages on his phone from a customer who complained about the quailty of the cocaine he sold him. When police raided the dealer’s home he was found in possession of more than £1,000 of cocaine and more than £5,000 worth of cannabis.

Cameron Cummings, 28, was raided by police at his home in Cardiff on January 2 and was arrested. During a search of his home officers recovered various amounts of cocaine, cannabis and cannabis resin.

A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Wednesday heard police seized drug paraphernalia including cannabis cuttings, scales, snap bags and various mobile phones. Also discovered was an extendable baton which is considered an offensive weapon.

Messages on one of the phones revealed Cummings had been running a drugs line. One of the messages received was from a customer complaining about the quality of the cocaine he had purchased and referred to it being “bashed” – slang for adulterated.

The defendant responded by saying he used creatine to “bash” the drugs, but the customer said the cocaine was “burning”. Cummings offered the customer a “free fat one” on the next occasion.

Other messages made reference to amounts of drugs including a “T-shirt” and a “leg”. Cummings also appeared to be directing others, with one message reading: “Hop on thing and do a few bits.”

Reference was also made to confidential apps in order for the defendant to message people without being detected by the authorities.

During his interview he told officers he bought drugs in bulk as he and his family were heavy users. Prosecutor Sol Hartley said: “The prosecution say that was farcical.”

In total police seized 30g of cocaine worth more than £1,000, more than 1kg of cannabis worth more than £5,000, and £3,635 in cash.

Cummings, of Stafford Road, Grangetown, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs and possession of an offensive weapon. The court heard he has no previous convictions.

In mitigation Elin Morgan said her client built up a drug debt which made him turn to dealing. The barrister said the defendant has a young child who he saw daily before he was remanded into custody.

Recorder David Harris sentenced Cummings to a total of 36 months imprisonment. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

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In the lettings market, tenant demand was broadly stable over the three months to February, but landlord instructions were “firmly negative”, pointing to a shortage of rental homes. Professionals are expecting rents to rise overall in the next three months, the report found.

The 52-year-old has confirmed he will no longer be a judge on the BBC cooking competition after appearing on its latest series.

In a statement on Instagram on Wednesday, Tebbutt said: “A lot of lovely people have contacted me about not doing the next series of MasterChef: The Professionals.

“I was only ever doing one series and I loved judging on it and will continue working with MasterChef.”

Tebbutt joined chefs Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti for the cooking competition’s 18th series, which aired earlier this year.

In September, it was revealed he would be taking part in the series and at the time, Tebbutt said working with Wareing and Galetti was “an absolute honour”.

He is best known as the host of BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, and has also presented Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped and Drop Down Menu.

Tebbutt replaced the former face of the show, Gregg Wallace, who was sacked following a series of misconduct allegations relating to his time on the amateur series, MasterChef.

Wallace, who also co-presented the spin-off Celebrity MasterChef, issued an apology saying he was “deeply sorry for any distress caused” and that he “never set out to harm or humiliate”, in the wake of an investigation which upheld 45 out of 83 allegations against him.

The BBC has been contacted for comment.

“Each day we see how international events can impact also on our domestic ambitions and daily lives, as well as on global security.    “Over the course of the summit, we will discuss how we can strengthen competitiveness and resilience and reduce the cost of living, harness the potential of our shared seas while protecting our marine environment, deliver essential infrastructure at pace and scale, and ensure energy affordability and energy security across Ireland and the UK.”

The US President was on stage launching an attack on California Governor Gavin Newsom when the incident unfolded.

Donald Trump’s rally speech was interrupted tonight, as a dramatic medical emergency unfolded immediately behind the US President.

An elderly Trump supporter standing on the podium in Kentucky behind Trump began to sway and looked unwell. Other supporters moved out of the way to allow her to brace herself on the barrier – but after a few moments she appeared to lose consciousness and was helped to the floor, reports the Mirror.

Oblivious to what was happening behind him, Trump continued his speech – in which he was at the time attacking California Governor Gavin Newsom – before being alerted to the situation by fans shouting “medic, medic.”

Trump turned and saw what was happening and said: “Is there a doctor in the house please?” He told those rushing to the person’s aide to “take your time….we have all the time. These people are great people. We have all the time.”

As medics arrived to assist, Trump added: “First responders are incredible, by the way.” He then said to the crowd: “Wanna hear a song? Let’s see if the people backstage are listening to me. How about “Ave Maria?”

TV doctor-turned Trump administration health official Dr Mehmet Oz was among those assisting the woman who collapsed.

“It’s Dr Oz, can you believe it?” Trump said as the crowd applauded. “Dr Oz! Wow, he’s a good doctor.”

Trump is visiting Kentucky on his “affordability tour”. In November, the White House announced that he would travel the country more frequently ahead of this year’s midterm elections to show he’s taking America’s cost of living crisis seriously.

Before the incident Trump had spent most of the speech talking about the war in Iran, which has sent US petrol prices skyrocketing.

The US national average petrol price as of today is $3.578 a gallon – nearly 60 cents higher than it was a month ago, according to the US motoring and travel organisation AAA.

He also gave several shout-outs to Youtuber-turned low-level boxer Jake Paul, who is in the audience. Paul is an avid Trump supporter.

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In the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside, there is a learner driver centre unlike any you have ever seen. Here, you won’t find any examiners, provisional licences or emergency stops (hopefully) – just excitable dogs racing around practising with their new wheels.

That’s because it is home to Broken Biscuits, a disabled animal rescue charity and sanctuary where poorly and recovering pups are given a new lease of life at what the founders say is the ‘world’s first disabled dog park’.

Here, disabled dogs are initiated at the learner driver centre, where they can run around, negotiate obstacles and navigate their wheelchairs at speed on tarmac before being promoted to the park, where they yip, chase balls and run without a care in the world.

Tim Giles, co-founder of Broken Biscuits, tells Metro: ‘A lot of times, when you get a dog fitted into a wheelchair, if it’s in strange surroundings, like a park, the dog will just stand there. But we found the best place to take a dog to do a fitting was a tennis court, because there is tarmac, a fence around it and they have space to run around.’

After their discovery, Tim, 58, and co-founder and wife Cassie Carney, 49, built the racetrack to get the dogs running again.

The seven-acre park enables dogs to pass their learner driver’s test on hard surfaces, before graduating to a grassy area alongside stables and small houses where timid dogs can hide or take a break and grassy mounds which more advanced wheelchair users can climb up and race down.   

The couple set up the charity 18 years ago after going on holiday in Europe and seeing how many stray puppies were paralysed then euthanised after being hit by cars.

Cassie, a veterinary nurse, and Tim started working with clinics, providing spaying and neutering in Moldova, Bosnia and Romania, when they came across Otto, a shih tzu-yorkie cross whose back legs were amputated after he was hit by a car and was due to be put down.

They brought Otto back to the UK in 2009, along with two other dogs, and set up a sanctuary that is now home to 20.

Cassie admits that working with disabled dogs, they made ‘a lot of mistakes’, because fitting wheelchairs is a complicated art. They often require a lot of adaptation, and dogs in shelters are frequently undernourished, so the fit needs to change as the pups gain weight.

‘If you get the wrong equipment, you then put the dog off. If you put them in a wheelchair that’s rubbing on their body or becomes too hot in the sun because the bars heat up, you lose that trust with the dog. So you’ve spent all this money on a wheelchair, and you feel like you failed them,’ she explains.

For the past few years, the couple have been working alongside Rachel Wettner, founder of dog charity Winston’s Wheels. She knows just how valuable a wheelchair can be after she was told her beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier Winston would have to be put down in 2017 due to a spinal tumour.

‘We [she and husband Sydney who passed away last year] took him to the vets and after scans and tests they said – just take him home and enjoy him, and when you’re ready, put him to sleep. And that was it,’ Rachel, from Suffolk, tells Metro.

‘It was heartbreaking because even though he couldn’t use his back legs, he was exactly the same dog down to his waist. He was cheeky and playful and he just wanted to carry on. And we were devastated – we’d had him from a puppy so we had such a close bond. We were just determined we weren’t going to give up on him.’

In desperation, Rachel, a learning mentor for young adults with special needs, asked for advice on social media and a kind stranger got in touch offering to loan her a wheelchair.

‘That was a real blessing because Winston took to it straight away and did everything he did before – like dog shows and paddling in the sea. It was a total game changer. He really was amazing. And the cat was fascinated by him,’ she recalls.

Every time the wheelchair came out for a run around the garden or a walk, Winston’s tail would wag like crazy, Rachel remembers, and he enjoyed three extra years sniffing around and playing in his wheels before passing away in 2020.

Inspired, Rachel, went on to home two further disabled dogs and set up Winston’s Wheels in his memory, which has helped thousands of dogs.

The charity loans out wheelchairs to pets, which are returned when they are no longer needed after the dog has either recovered or passed away. They have even provided wheelchairs for disabled sheep. And the charity has enlisted the help of Team Tactics, who run corporate days building the wheelchairs to help spread awareness and raise funds.

‘It’s fantastic, because people get to see these special dogs and they fall in love with them instantly. People’s reaction to them is amazing and for them to see how the wheelchairs transform dogs’ lives is brilliant, Rachel says.

Disabled dogs can live a long time – as Otto is living proof. Although now aged 13 and going through heart failure, he ‘still looks and acts like a puppy’, Cassie says.

Care for disabled dogs has come a long way in recent years aided in part by the popular TV show Colin from Accounts.

‘It’s not unusual to see a dog in a wheelchair now. When we first started, we would have Otto in his chair and cars would stop, people would point, say it’s cruel,’remembers Tim.

Cassie adds: ‘Disabled dogs are put into a “freak show” – “too difficult” category. But we want to normalise it. It doesn’t have to be that difficult or scary. Nearly all pet parents will have their dog become disabled at some point in their life – by being hit by a car or having a stroke.

‘But also, they will become disabled as they age. They will lose bladder control, their sight, their hearing, or there are diseases like cancer, arthritis and Cushing’s that will affect their mobility. It’s just a normal part of life.

‘Life rolls on and we’re glad to be able to help dogs and their owners as they navigate that.’

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Jeff Blair died after being attacked on Dent Street shortly after 1pm on Tuesday (March 10).

He suffered serious injuries and was taken to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, but sadly died a short time later. A man was last night arrested on suspicion of his murder and remains in custody at this time, police said.

In a statement, his family said: “Jeff was a much-loved son, brother, father, partner, uncle, and good friend to many.

“His ability to apply humour and laughter to any situation and lighten the mood will be irreplaceable to our family.

Jeff Blair, 55, died following a suspected assault in Dent Street (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

“We are devastated to lose Jeff in such tragic circumstances, and he will be forever missed and remembered always, with much love and affection.”

Durham Police said his family is being supported by specialist family liaison officers and they have asked for privacy while they grieve.

A 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and has been taken into police custody where he remains.

Dent Street remained taped with white-suited forensic officers seen working at the scene today.

Police at the scene on Wednesday (March 11). (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Police are expected to remain in the area for some time, and say they are treating the attack as an isolated incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Sharon Alderson, who is leading the investigation, previously said: “We understand that this incident will have caused shock to the community, and our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time.

“While there will be an increased police presence in the area as we carry out our enquiries, I can reassure the community of Shildon that we believe this to be an isolated incident.

“I’d like to thank residents for their support and co-operation while our investigation is carried out.

“A team of officers are currently working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to us.”

On Tuesday residents told how the incident unfolded, and police descended on the street.

Susan Weston came home from the doctors and found her street full of police. The 56-year-old said: “What I saw out the front was just awful. There was blood. I didn’t want to look.

“Seeing that out the front of my house, I felt sick. I felt shaky.”

Another man said: “You couldn’t move around here for police.

“The air ambulance came over and people were running up and down getting things like gauze. Someone was lifted into the ambulance.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident reference 209 of March 10, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.