1. 35-year-old man struck and killed by lightning while hiking with his family on New Year’s Day.

A 35-year-old man who was hiking with his family has died after being struck by lightning in central Australia on New Year's Day.
Adelaide man Antony Van Der Meer was hiking the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon, about 300km south-west of Alice Springs, with four others when he was struck late on Monday afternoon, NT Police superintendent Pauline Vicary said, according to AAP.
"The party was about one kilometre from the car park when the bolt hit them," Supt Vicary said.
Antony sustained life-threatening injuries and died at the scene, despite attempts to revive him.
The other hikers were not injured, but a spokesman for Northern Territory Police told 9 News they had suffered "extreme shock" after witnessing the sudden loss of Antony.
The area was subjected to heavy rains and winds on Monday, and it's believed Antony was carrying a metal tripod as he and his family walked to find a better vantage point to capture the storm on camera.
Antony's wife, Jessica, shared a tribute to the "love of her life" on Facebook, 7 News reports.
"Antony, you were my soul mate and the love of my life. This has been such a shock and tragedy," she wrote.
The family is now travelling home to Adelaide in order to make preparations for Antony's funeral.
2. The fishing mates who risked their lives attempting to save six people trapped in a sinking seaplane.
