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Sky News AU
05-08-2025
- Sky News AU
Bordertown, SA: Couple dead in SA murder-suicide identified as Shafeeqa and Mirza Husseini
A small Australian town is reeling after a mother of six was murdered by her partner before taking his own life. The bodies of 41-year-old Shafeeqa Husseini and her husband 47-year-old Mirza were found by police inside a Melvyn St home in Bordertown – about 270km southast of Adelaide – during a welfare check shortly after 11pm on Sunday. SA Police confirmed the man murdered his wife before taking his own life. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Acting Assistant Commissioner Cath Hilliard said Mr Husseini was known to police 'through a previous domestic violence incident earlier in the year, and that involved the deceased woman'. 'However, they were no current court imposed restrictions in relation to the individuals preventing any contact between the couple,' she said. Police said the couple's six children were not home at the time of the incident. Ms Hilliard said a relative made the welfare check, saying they had been in contact with the couple during the day, then lost contact. Residents told The Adelaide Advertiser the family had moved to Australia from Afghanistan about 15 years ago, with some family members working for JBS Meatworks. Neighbour Merrilyn Newman said the family had adult children, some of whom were attending university. 'It's devastating, it's really sad - especially because they are from so far away, so as far as relatives and someone to lean on, you haven't got it,' she told the masthead. The Bordertown Islamic Community Centre manager Adeel Khan said Shafeeqa was a 'good lady' who loved to help community events with her food. 'She was a very good cook, so we used to request her and she used to cook food for our community,' Mr Khan said. He said the small and tight-knit community was horrified by the news. 'It is really sad news … whatever has happened is not good, it's a massive shock,' he said. 'It's a small community, everyone knows each other … so we will be missing these guys.' Originally published as Couple dead in SA murder-suicide identified as Shafeeqa and Mirza Husseini
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Couple left with nothing after devastating caravan inferno at Aussie tourist spot
A young Australian couple's dream road trip, which was meant to be a "fresh start" for the pair, has ended in disaster after their caravan was completely destroyed in a fire just days into their journey. Isabelle and her partner Dave had been on the road for only four days when their holiday took a heartbreaking turn at a popular camping spot on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. "We had spent months planning our dream trip, and only a few days in, disaster struck," Isabelle said. The 28-year-old content creator was helping her partner reverse the caravan into place when she suddenly noticed plumes of smoke billowing out. "While reversing the van, I got out to help direct and ... heard the fire alarm. I saw thick smoke pouring out of the vent above the caravan front door," she recalled. Acting fast, Isabelle rushed to unhook their car and evacuate their three dogs — Lucy, Buddy and Axel — while Dave attempted to fight the flames. "My partner [used an] extinguisher, but it was too late. The smoke was overwhelming, and it was too dangerous to be inside the van with no visibility," she said, describing the moment in a GoFundMe campaign in the wake of the freak accident. "We managed to remove the gas bottles before calling 000, but all we could do was watch as everything we owned burned to the ground." The pair were able to save the dogs, which Isabelle said is "what truly matters". "But the loss is absolutely devastating. We're still in shock, struggling to process that everything we owned is just gone in an instant," she said. Although they escaped unharmed, the ordeal has been crushing. "The dogs were really scared," she told The Adelaide Advertiser. "It was pretty hard to watch, they were shaking heaps." While the caravan was insured, their policy only covers $1,000 worth of contents, far less than the $25,000 worth of belongings they said they lost. Among the items included cameras, a drone, a Starlink satellite, jewellery, passports, fishing and surf gear, kitchen appliances, clothing and sentimental belongings. The couple spent hours searching through the debris, but the only distinguishable items were a burnt passport and a Valentine's Day photo album. Aussies lose $175,000 caravan in 'devastating' fire Caravan family discovers hidden Aussie 'paradise' Aussie 4WD couple's 'brilliant' discovery at free campsite The tragedy has been especially difficult given the couple's recent struggles. Before embarking on their trip, they said they had lost their business "due to non-payment from an interstate company". Despite winning a lengthy legal battle, they received nothing when the company was found to have no assets to liquidate. "This trip was meant to be a fresh start for us," the couple said. "We chose to turn that hardship into something positive by embarking on a trip in our caravan, only for this to happen." Now, they are seeking help to rebuild their lives through the online fundraiser. "We are hoping to raise funds to help replace some of what was lost. We went to Kmart to purchase some clothes and toiletries as we were literally left with what was on our backs. We have booked an Airbnb for a few days to figure out our next steps, and while we await advice from the insurance company. Any support — whether donating or sharing — means the world to us," Isabelle said. Despite everything, they are holding onto what truly matters. "We're staying strong and grateful that we and our pups are safe," she said. Earlier this month in SA, another family lost their $175,000 caravan in a blaze at the Auburn Community Caravan Park, after lithium-ion batteries inside caught fire inside. SA's Country Fire Service said the occupants spotted smoke "coming out of the batteries" before the fire had started. They were able to exit the vehicle safely but it was too late for the caravan. Typically, caravans use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo) batteries rather than lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries because LiFePo is better suited for the demands of caravan power systems. Standard lithium-ion batteries are slightly lighter and more energy-dense, which is why they're used in smartphones and laptops. But as many people pointed out, there are a range of reasons why caravanners might use lithium-ion batteries — including to charge e-mobility devices — but doing so unattended is generally discouraged. FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said "we know they are on the rise" nationally, but people are "still taking dangerous risks". "Please, heed our advice. Lithium-ion fires are happening ... almost every day," he warned. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Extraordinary twist 500 days after Aussie couple's camping tragedy: 'Cried for days'
Losing a cherished pet in an unfamiliar place is a nightmare no owner ever wants to face — let alone being forced to return home without them, weighed down by heartbreak and guilt. But that's exactly what happened to NSW couple Georgia and Josh when their beloved dachshund, Valerie, slipped from her pen and vanished into the wild while they were fishing at Stokes Bay on South Australia's Kangaroo Island in 2023. What followed was a frantic, tear-filled search that stretched over days, but despite their desperate efforts, little Valerie was gone without a trace. Now, some 500 days after the miniature sausage dog vanished, hope is again on the horizon. In an extraordinary twist, it's emerged that there have been several reliable sightings of little Valerie — who weighs less than four kilograms —in the last few months, merely kilometres from Stokes Bay. Starting roughly a year after her disappearance in November, 2023, regular sightings of Valerie have been coming into local wildlife groups on Kangaroo Island, with residents reporting to have witnessed a little dog with a pink colour in shrubs around the bay. According to the Kangala Wildlife Rescue group, "based on firsthand accounts and video evidence", they now believe "Valerie is alive". "She runs at the first sign of humans or vehicles and despite the best efforts of dedicated Island locals, Valerie has been impossible to catch," it wrote online. "The dedicated volunteers from Kangala, in consultation with Valerie's family have set out on a mission to find and catch Valerie so she can be reunited with her loving parents who stand ready to provide the care she will need to come home again. Pet owner's ordeal after beloved dog went missing from courier Owner reunited with beloved missing dog after more than three years Calls grow for total 4WD ban on Australian beaches "We are using surveillance and various trapping and luring methods in the area she was last seen to try and bring her home. This is a tiny dog in a huge area, and we will need help from the public to report any sightings and a lot of luck." Georgie described her heartache at having to return home to Broken Hill following the tragic loss a year and four months ago. "I remember on the first day I was just covered in tears. We barely ate anything," she told The Adelaide Advertiser. "My whole world just crumbled. When we left the island without her, I cried for days." Kangala Wildlife Rescue's Jared Karran believes the little dog has been surviving on road kill and dam water. He explained that the luring techniques had been tailored to suit her small size, but mentioned crews are seeking advice from interstate counterparts on the next best steps. Just this week, more photographic evidence that Valerie is alive surfaced. Georgie, who now lives in Albury, said she was flooded with "mixed emotions", while conscious not to get her hopes up. She said she "never really ruled out" the possibility her beloved companion was in fact alive. Anybody with information on Valerie's whereabouts has been urged to contact Kangala Wildlife Rescue on 0493 257 250 or email at kangalawildliferescue@ Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
