Northern Rivers News

An elderly man had died after being hit by a car at Tweed Heads while crossing the road. Police say the 86-year-old was walking across Leisure Drive at Banora Point just before 1pm when he was struck by a vehicle. He was treated at the scene before being transferred to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition where he later died. The 30-year-old female driver wasn’t injured in the crash, but was taken to Tweed heads Hospital for mandatory testing. An investigation into the crash has been launched and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A motorcyclist died after hitting a cow near Lismore this morning. Emergency services were called to Eltham Road just before 5am. The road was closed as paramedics worked on the 33-year-old man but tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The cow also died as a result of the crash. Officers from the Richmond Police District are investigating. (VISION ONLY)

A multi-agency search for a missing swimmer at Ballina has been called off after four days. Lynn “Raz” Burtonwood was reported missing on Saturday morning, when he didn’t return from a morning swim at Lighthouse Beach. Surf lifesavers, police, Marine Rescue, SES crews and community members have been helping with the search. “We don’t believe at this stage that we will be able to locate that person alive, obviously which is tragic but I am confident we’ve searched 100 per cent of the area and if we were able to locate the gentleman, we would have by this stage.” The Ballina Lighthouse Surf Club member was known to be a strong swimmer and he was beloved member of the Ballina community. (AUDIO IN PARTS)

Three men in their 30s, have been charged with supplying a commercial quantity of drugs in the Lismore region. Police raided a home at Tuckombil yesterday and Alstonville today – allegedly seizing more than 22,000 pills believed to be MDMA. “These are the type of pills that have been killing people at these festivals, these are very dangerous drugs, they kill people and that’s 22,000 pills that are now not in the community, not at these dance festivals and we’re very happy with this outcome.” Other drugs, firearms, gold bars and knives were also allegedly located at the two properties. Investigations are ongoing. (AUDIO IN PARTS)

Cape Byron Distillery has developed a name for itself as the creator of award-winning Australian gin. Now it’s branching out – the first barrels of whisky are being laid down, helped along by a North Coast brewery and a master distiller from Scotland.  

A promised $5-million ramp onto the Bruxner Highway will see the “gold standard” in safety delivered to Northern Rivers motorists. Student nurse Jeremy Plooy tragically lost his life while navigating the Alstonville junction last year. His family instrumental in keeping the issue on the agenda. “We will never get him back and our lives are just shattered forever, there’s some way of making sure no one else goes through this horrific life that we have now.” The new ramp at Ellis Road will remove the right hand turn lane from Ballina Road onto the highway – and should be finished by the end of 2020. “I don’t want this to be about elections, this is actually about doing the right thing and I would imagine that whatever happens on the 23rd of March this is a guarantee rock solid commitment.” …

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries have identified a juvenile white shark as the likely culprit for the bite on a 41-year-old man at Byron Bay yesterday. Sam Edwardes was out for a morning surf at Belongil Beach when he was attacked. He was flown to Gold Coast University hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition. Due to the nature of the damage to Mr Edwardes board, shark biologists have been unable to estimate its size. (VISION ONLY)

Firefighters are still battling to gain the upper hand over bushfires burning at Tenterfield and Tabulam on the state’s far north coast. The Tenterfield blaze has so far burned through more than 37,000 hectares. Thankfully, at this stage, there are no properties under threat. The Bruxner Highway will be closed later this afternoon as RFS crews begin a backburning operation. Firefighters are currently undertaking backburning on the Wallangarra fireground. These burns will extend onto the Bruxner Hwy this afternoon. As a result the Highway will be closed between #Tenterfield and #Tabulam from 5pm. #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/iI7FRHcyDA — NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) February 18, 2019 Meanwhile, a fire at Tabulam has kept crews busy overnight, scorching more than 7600 hectares in a week. Posted by Richmond Police District on Saturday, February 16, 2019

Police have released an image of swim fins in an ongoing search for a man who went missing near Ballina. 69-year-old surf lifesaver Lynn ‘Raz’ Burtonwood was last seen on Saturday, when he left for an early morning swim in rough surf. NSW Police, Surf Lifesaving NSW, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the State Emergency Service are continuing a search of the coastline. It’s believed the yellow and black ‘Mad dog’ brand fins were being worn by him at the time of his disappearance and that they could have washed ashore. If beachgoers find a fin, or any other item of interest in the area, they’re being asked to report it to police.   @MarineRescueNSW volunteer crews from Ballina and Evans Head have resumed a search for a man missing off Lighthouse Beach in East Ballina. The search, which began …

A surfer is fighting for his life at Gold Coast University hospital after a shark took a massive bite out of his left thigh on the state’s north coast this morning. 41-year-old, Sam Edwards had only just paddled out for his first wave at Belongil Beach when he was mauled by a shark.