Headlines

Five people have narrowly escaped with their lives after becoming trapped in a cave at Snapper Point in Frazer Park, south of Newcastle. The swimmers had to be pulled from the water in the dangerous rescue – the second time in a week a mission has been launched to retrieve swimmers from the cave.

Coming up in NBN News. A Pacific Highway landmark goes up in flames north of Newcastle. A truckie charged over a double fatal crash on the Central Coast. A rooftop carpark crashes down in the US. And the lucky pooch who rose from the ashes of the Greece fires.

See below for live press conference: Richard Harris LIVE: Colleagues of Australian hero, Richard Harris, honouring his incredible efforts in Thailand. Harris is returning home to be with his family, following the death of his father. #9News | http://9News.com.au Posted by 9 News on Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Updating NBN News, Wednesday July 11: Mission accomplished – the near-impossible operation to get the trapped soccer team and their coach out of a flooded cave is over at last. Fatal fire – a man’s body found in a burnt-out caravan on the Central Coast. Power shake-up – power bills could fall, after the consumer watchdog uncovered pricing problems, now urging an overhaul of the energy sector. Plane crash – one person has been killed and 20 others injured, after a vintage plane crashed in South Africa. And Origin Excitement – while there may be only pride on the line for the Maroons, that hasn’t stopped excitement from building  ahead of State of Origin Three tonight.

Hunter man Keith Goodbun will spend at least 31 years behind bars for the “cruel and well-planned execution” of his estranged wife Molly in 2016. Rescue crews are working frantically to free a soccer team from a cave in Thailand, ahead of predicted heavy rain. Fire crews have battled fierce flames to pull a 41-year-old man to safety from a house fire in Sydney’s north west this morning. A 50-year-old woman has today admitted to grooming a male student, while working at a Port Stephens school. Big changes could be on the way for credit cards – following a worrying new report about just how much Australia owes. The Boomers have arrived home, with coach Luke Longley defending his players over the on-court brawl with the Philippines. And England has progressed to the quarter finals of the World Cup with …

Coming up in NBN News. The gruesome discovery that has Sydney police baffled. The trial begins for a man accused of murdering his wife at Lake Macquarie. A bizarre chase as a soldier steals an armoured vehicle. And a baseball fan’s incredible catch. Plus more local, national and international news, sport and weather.

A man is facing a string of charges over a violent early morning axe attack in the Lake Macquarie suburb of Rathmines. Five homes were damaged or broken into – with an elderly resident injured while trying to stop the rampage.

Police are treating the death of a young woman as suspicious after her body was discovered in South Tamworth overnight. Emergency services were called to a unit on Robert Street about 9.40pm yesterday. Officers found a 22-year-old woman deceased in the home. Police are canvassing the area and are asking for anyone who witnessed anything in the area last night to come forward.

A search has resumed in bushland near Lake Macquarie for a missing Newcastle man. Mitchell Hancock was last seen leaving his home on Clarence Road, New Lambton, about 3am on Tuesday. The 31 year old is believed to be driving a Blue Holden Berlina with NSW registration BRB26U. Police and his family have serious concerns for his welfare after he failed to meet existing appointments or attend work. Local police and Polair are scouring bushland west of Toronto, near Freemans Waterhole. Police are asking for the community to keep a lookout for Mr Hancock and contact them immediately if they see him. He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall with a solid build and has fair hair with a beard and moustache.

Fire has ripped through a high school building in Lake Macquarie overnight. Around 50 firefighters rushed to Hunter Sports High in Gateshead just before 11pm following reports a derelict two storey building was alight. The school is currently undergoing a major upgrade, the building was under demolition before it went up in flames.