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News in 5: Dad's dying wish turns to disaster; Tassies can access abortions; Jacinda Ardern back at work.

With AAP

1. Dad’s dying wish turns into nightmare, leaving him stranded in Bali.


Duncan Turner just wanted to swim with dolphins with his young daughter before he died. But the Perth father’s bucket list holiday has turned disastrous for the family, who are now stranded in Bali facing ever-growing medical bills.

Duncan, his wife, Michelle Edgar, and five-year-old daughter, Amelie, flew to Singapore last month so that they could swim with dolphins – Amelie’s favourite animal – choosing the tiny nation because the cost and height restrictions were the best fit.

Friends explained on a GoFundMe page set up for the family, that Duncan’s health has been “declining” since he fell down a flight of stairs last year.

“Duncan suffered an undiagnosed blood clot on his brain which led to multiple strokes and seizures, leaving him completely paralysed and unable to talk,” friend Lynette explained.

“He fought hard for many months to regain his speech and the ability to walk, but the multiple strokes and seizures caused permanent damage, and he now has months to live.”

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Duncan required costly life-saving blood transfusions. Image: GoFundMe
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Lynette said that Michelle’s "sole mission" is now to ensure Duncan’s remaining are days are spent with his family and they can create "incredible daddy-daughter memories" that she can treasure.

The dolphin swimming was one of those memory-creating moments, but sadly on the way home Duncan took a turn and was forced to enter hospital after their stopover location of Bali, Indonesia, where he received life-saving blood transfusions.

Due to Duncan's health condition, travel insurance providers would not cover his medical costs and friends said the family knew the trip was a "gamble".

"We weighed up the risk and thought that having special family memories on this holiday was worth taking a risk," Michelle told Seven News.

In just a few days, Duncan's hospital bill had reached $10,000 and he exited against doctor's orders. However he is still not well enough to fly and he is recovering in Bali accommodation with his family, unsure when they'll be able to go home.

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The GoFundMe page has so far surpassed its goal and raised more than $15,000 for the family.

2. Tasmanian women will soon be able to get abortions without interstate travel again.

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Image: Getty.

Tasmanian women will be to access surgical abortions without travelling to the mainland, with a low-cost private provider to begin offering the procedure by October.

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The announcement by the Hodgman government follows anger over the sacking of Angela Williamson by Cricket Australia after she tweeted criticisms of the Liberals' abortion policy, and the closure of the state's only private surgical abortion provider.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson says a patient transport and travel assistance scheme will be available for women needing to travel within Tasmania to have a surgical abortion.

The Liberal government previously ruled out funding the procedure through the public health system but offered assistance for women who needed to travel to the mainland for it.

Tasmania's only private surgical abortion provider closed late last year.

About 200 people rallied in Hobart on Sunday in support of Ms Williamson, who is taking Cricket Australia to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.

3. Queensland boy hospitalised with serious neck injury suffered while playing rugby.

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Image: Seven News.
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A Queensland schoolboy remains in intensive care after injuring his neck in a high school rugby match on Saturday.

Alexander Clark, 15, underwent surgery to stabilise his neck after suffering a significant injury during a Great Public Schools match at Nudgee College on Saturday.

Nudgee principal Peter Fullagar says the surgery was successful but it's yet to be determined if the Year 9 student will require further operations.

"The extent of his injury is unknown at this stage, and may not be known for days or weeks to come as Alexander recovers," Mr Fullagar said in a statement on Sunday.

Clark is expected to remain in ICU at the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane until Wednesday.

He's the second teenager to suffer a serious neck injury in as many weeks while playing rugby.

A Gregory Terrace Year 11 student required spinal surgery and a tracheostomy after a scrum collapsed during a second XV match.

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Conor Tweedy, 16, remains in hospital with muscle paralysis and weakness after his injury on July 21 that damaged the C4 and C5 vertebrae near the base of his neck.

Mr Fullagar said the school would provide support to affected students and staff.

4. Man and son, eight, injured after fall from Sydney balcony.

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Image: Facebook

A man has been flown to hospital after he and his young son fell from a balcony at a Sydney home.

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The 41-year-old, identified as Brad Lewis, was found unconscious at the Church Point home about 4pm on Saturday before being taken to Royal North Shore hospital in a serious condition, police say.

He and his eight-year-old son, Oscar, who suffered minor injures, fell three to four metres.

"CareFlight’s specialist doctor and critical care paramedic treated the man at the scene for serious head injuries," a CareFlight spokesman told News.com.au.

Police are investigating what led to the fall.

5. Jacinda Ardern returns to work today after six weeks maternity leave.

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Image: Facebook.
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New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is ready for her return to parliament after six weeks of maternity leave following the birth of her daughter, Neve.

She says becoming a parent hasn't changed her views on specific government policies, other than reinforcing her view that there needs to be a clear and strong focus on supporting families.

Ms Ardern flew back to the nation's capital, Wellington, from her home in Auckland on Saturday.

She told reporters she and her partner Clarke Gayford would be spending the next few days preparing Premier House - New Zealand's official prime-ministerial residence - for a baby.

"I guess (it's) the first time it's probably had a little one there. We'll be pulling together all of the second-hand furniture our friends have passed onto us for Neve," she said.

"It is an old home, but it is a very warm home."

Ardern said she will feel rested enough when she returns to the capital.

"I'm getting sleep mostly because I'm sharing the load with others, and I'm very grateful for that," she said.

"By that I mean Clarke. We're doing the job together."