The horrific ordeal that American couple Eileen and Tom Lonergan are assumed to have went through even went on to inspire a film called Open Water.
It was back in 1998 when Eileen and Tom, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were on the trip of a lifetime in Australia.
With Eileen, 28, being an experienced scuba diver, it didn’t take her long to convince her husband, 34, to join her in what they thought would be an experience they’d cherish for a very long time.
Alongside 24 other passengers, they boarded a boat called Outer Edge, manned by skipper Geoffrey ‘Jack’ Nairn, and travelled 60km off the coast to enjoy a day of diving.
As standard with diving trips, a headcount was done at the end of the day and the boat returned to the mainland.
Eileen and Tom Lonergan went on a diving trip in Australia, only to never be seen again (Queensland Police)
But what everyone onboard didn’t at first realize was that Eileen and Tom weren’t among them and were, in fact, left stranded out at sea.
And to make things even worse, it wasn’t until two days after the dive when it was realized by Nairn that the pair had been left behind when he discovered a bag aboard containing their personal belongings, wallets, and passports.
A wide-spread air and sea search took place but, tragically, the couple were never found, leaving their family and friends in utter turmoil – especially after incorrect and hurtful rumors began to spread that Eileen and Tom were involved in a murder-suicide, or that they had staged their disappearance.
It wouldn’t be until a month after their disappearance that signs of the couple began to emerge, with a wetsuit in Eileen’s size being found washed up on the northern Queensland shore, as well as dive jackets, tanks and one of Eileen’s fins.
But the most harrowing discovery came even more months down the line when a fisherman discovered a dive slate – an accessory used for making notes underwater – which had a chilling note scrawled on it.
The couple were accidentally left behind by the group they were diving with (Tom and Eileen Lonergan)
“To anyone who can help us: We have been abandoned on Agin court reef Reef 25 Jan 1998 03pm,” the note read. “Please help us come to rescue us before we die. Help!!!”
The date and time written on the slate suggested Eileen and Tom managed to survive for around a day in the water before sadly losing their battle.
Reports over the years have stated that there was no evidence to suggest their lives came to a violent end, with the film Open Water depicting them as being victims of a shark attack.
Skipper Nairn was charged with manslaughter, with coroner Noel Nunan alleging that he was responsible for the deaths of Eileen and Tom.
There’s no doubt about it, the logo of the American multinational corporation – first founded on 25 January, 1964 – is well recognized across the globe.
Given Nike’s sporting success and how iconic the logo has come to be, you probably thought the design of said logo was a result of years of sketches from the most experienced designers in the world, however, that’s not quite the case.
Nike’s ‘Swoosh’ logo is one of the most recognized logos on the planet (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
On an episode of The David Rubenstein Show – a clip of which is circulating on Twitter – one of Nike’s founders, Phil Knight revealed they ended up going to a ‘graphic art student at Portland State’ in a bid to have a logo designed for the company.
He explained they ‘needed the money’ and he and fellow founder Bill Bowerman offered the student ‘$2 an hour to practice’ and ‘get some designs’ together.
The student spent a total of ’17-and-a-half hours’ on some sketches before she presented what we now all know to be the iconic ‘Swoosh’ logo.
However, despite the success of the logo ever since, Knight admits he wasn’t actually much of a fan of the design at the time, admitting to the student: “Well, I don’t love it, but maybe it will grow on me.”
And when you think of that, it’s hard not to be reminded that the student who designed the logo was paid a measly $2 per hour, which after working for 17.5 hours means she was paid a grand total of $35 – and that hardly seems fair does it?
And it’s not taken long for people to weigh in.
“Imagine, the swoosh that sprinted to fame was sketched for less than a tank of gas—that designer definitely sprinted past the finish line of value!” Another added.
A third commented: “Crazy.”
“Another example of the little guy getting f**ked over by the bigger guy,” a fourth added.
However, fear not, because the student – Carolyn Davidson – didn’t get ripped off as much as you think in the end.
The founder explained how when Nike went public they gave Davidson ‘500 shares of stock’ in 1983 and she also received a call from one of the company’s early hires, Bob Woodell, who invited her to lunch.
The ‘lunch’ turned into a surprise party for the student at Nike’s offices in Washington County. On top of her shares of stock, she was also given a framed certificate signed by Woodell and Knight, recognising her role as the designer of the brand’s logo alongside a gold ring in the shape of the ‘Swoosh’ with a diamond on it.
During the interview, Knight said: “She has not sold a single share. And it’s worth over $1 million now.”
And a Twitter user resolved: “I love a happy ending.
Juliette Wells and Reece Mortensen form the Gold Coast took in an Australian magpie after finding that she had fallen out of a nest
Over the following months Molly the Magpie became an internet sensation when she and their dog Peggy became friends.
But authorities confiscated Molly when it emerged that Wells and Mortensen were not properly trained and licensed to rehabilitate wildlife.
Australia has very strict rules to protect its unique wildlife, and the training is designed to make sure that wild animals do not become overly reliant on humans and can eventually be released.
The pair have been working to allow Molly to come back to them, with the environmental authority in Queensland also indicating it is willing to help them train to become wildlife handlers.
In the midst of this, many people have been trying to help the couple but this has forced them to issue a warning.
Instagram/@peggyandmolly
Wells and Mortensen have warned people about fundraisers which have been launched to ‘help them’.
They said that there have been some pages which are posing as fundraisers but which are not actually connected to them.
The couple said if there is ‘any fundraiser asking for money’ then ‘do not donate’, as ‘this is not us’.
The pair have also called on people advocating for them to not harass anyone who is saying that Molly should not be allowed back.
They said: “We have no idea why this small group of people have done this.”
Instagram/@peggyandmolly
“We do please ask that you do not spread hate or fear on these people,” the couple added.
The pair even recounted how one person was in fear of their safety, saying: “I know of one person who made a mistake of putting her name out in one of the (news) articles and is fearing her safety.”
A petition, not a fundraiser, calling for Molly to be returned has now gathered more than 110,000 signatures.
Officials from the Department of Environment have also said that they are willing to help Wells and Mortensen become licensed in handling wildlife so that they can legally return Molly to them.
The premier said: “What I’m suggesting now is we work with the family to get them that permit, so Molly can be reunited with their family.”
Although called ‘magpies’ after the European species, Australian magpies are not related to them at all, and are a protected species.
Family of missing man finally get answers 57 years after he went to restroom and was never seen again
The family of a man who went missing after visiting the restroom at his local bar have finally got some answers 57 years later.
Father-of-six Alfred Swinscoe, 54, went to the Miners Arms bar in Nottinghamshire, UK in January 1967 and was never seen again.
Around 10.30pm, he told his son to buy a round of drinks while he went to visit the bathroom.
That was the last time his family saw him.
For over five decades his loved ones have been left without any sort of closure, until now.
Earlier this year, Nottinghamshire police identified two people who are suspected of murder.
Though these individuals have now died.
The family finally have answers (SWNS)
The breakthrough came after Alfred’s remains were found in a farmer’s field in Sutton-in-Ashfield in April 2023.
Grandson Russell Lowbridge, who was four when his granddad went missing, said: “I didn’t pay much attention to begin with, but then police posted a photo of a pair of odd socks and I had this incredible flashback, with the black sock in particular.
“I suddenly remembered as a kid putting on my granddad’s sock and pulling them up so the heel came right up to my knee.
“I called police and they came to take a DNA swab. That’s when we found out that it really was Alfred. I was shocked and flabbergasted.
“He was murdered quite viciously. There was blunt force trauma to the head and sharp force trauma to the jaw lines, so it might have been the edge of a spade, and possibly stabbing afterwards.
“They said he fought for his life. There were signs of a broken hand, as if he’d given somebody a good right hook.
Alfred’s remains were found in a farmer’s field in Sutton-in-Ashfield in April 2023 (SWNS)
“And they found trauma to his ribs and his back, as if he’d been grappling with someone and they’d been punching him in the ribs.
“Police believe he’d been left somewhere for a week or more before they buried him, because there were fingers and ribs missing as if he’d been ravaged by foxes and badgers. Whoever killed him went back to make sure he was never found.”
Police say one of the two suspects had a history of violence, and the injuries found on Alfred were similar to injuries he’d inflicted on a man he was convicted of assaulting in April 1966.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Alfred died in the most horrendous way imaginable.
“Not only did he suffer violent injuries, but he was then buried in a field so that no one would find him.
“What makes this crime even more distressing is that it has taken more than 50 years for his remains to be found and for his family to be reunited with their loved one so he can have a proper burial.
“Of course, there will be little relief for his family as there are still so many unanswered questions of what happened that night and the motive behind his murder.
“Many of the people who would have been with Alfred that night, or knew Alfred, are no longer alive and we may never get the full picture of what occurred in January 1967.
“That certainly hasn’t stifled our determination to investigate this crime and leave no stone unturned to find his killer or killers.”
Police are still investigating the case and anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room by clicking the online link https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM22E48-PO1 or calling 101 quoting incident number 648 of the 26th April 2023.
The shortest war in history only lasted 40 minutes, but still managed to take the lives of 500 people.
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, which took place in 1896, is widely known as the shortest war to ever take place.
But sadly, it had many casualties, despite barely lasting an hour.
It all started in August 1896, when the sultan of Zanzibar, Sultan Hamad, died suddenly. Britain, who had influence over the region at the time, had a preference over who would replace the sultan, but Prince Khālid ibn Barghash did not agree.
British forces in front of the sultan’s palace. (Pictures from History/Getty Images)
He took control himself instead – much to the disapproval of the British – which caused tensions between the two sides.
On August 25, the Brits arrived in Zanzibar with soldiers and gunboats, while Prince Khālid took refuge in the palace behind an army of 3,000 soldiers and supporters, as well as several artillery guns.
While directly asking Prince Khālid to surrender, the Brits were also sending troops to protect the British Consulate and control any rioting from the public.
Despite the growing tension – and the ultimatums that chief diplomat, Basil Cave issued to Khālid – the British troops could not proceed without the approval of the government at home.
Prince Khālid ibn Barghash. (Henry Guttmann/Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Cave sent a telegram to the Foreign Office, asking: “Are we authorised in the event of all attempts at a peaceful solution proving useless, to fire on the Palace from the men-of-war?”
The next day, he received the following: “You are authorised to adopt whatever measures you may consider necessary, and will be supported in your action by Her Majesty’s Government. Do not, however, attempt to take any action which you are not certain of being able to accomplish successfully.”
Prince Khālid was issued one final ultimatum on 26 August, but did not surrender.
That afternoon, the harbours were cleared and British women and children taken to safety.
The palace after the bombardment. (Pictures from History/Getty Images)
At 9am the following day, troops began infiltrating the palace, and at 9.02am, ships Racoon, Thrush and Sparrow opened fire on the palace, leading to around 500 casualties.
Many of those killed had died in the fire that engulfed the palace.
Khālid, however, ended up escaping, seeking shelter in the German Consulate before being smuggled into Tanzania. He remained on the run until he was captured in 1916, when British forces invaded East Africa.
Despite the conflict lasting just minutes, it took the lives of many of Khālid’s troops.
