Jeffrey Bush has been presumed dead after he was sucked into a huge 100ft sinkhole that opened beneath his bedroom, causing him to vanish more than eleven years ago.
At the time of the incident, the 37-year-old was asleep in bed at his home in Seffner, Florida.
On the fatal night of February 28, 2013, Jeffrey’s brother Jeremy was startled by a loud crash and rushed into the room only to discover a huge crater where his brother’s bed had been.
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Assuming Jeffrey must have fallen in, Jeremy tried to reach him and climbed in an attempt to rescue his brother but Jeffrey was nowhere to be seen although his screams could be heard.
As the ground around him continued to cave in, Jeremy was pulled to safety by a police officer from the Tampa Police Department and his desperate attempts to save his brother were to no avail.
“The floor was still giving in and the dirt was still going down, but I didn’t care. I wanted to save my brother,” Jeremy told The Guardian at the time. “But I just couldn’t do nothing.
“I could swear I heard him hollering my name to help him.”
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At the time the emergency services arrived, the bedroom had completely crumbled away. “There was no furniture. All he saw was a piece of the mattress sticking up,” a fire rescue spokeswoman.
Equipment was lowered into the sinkhole, but there were no traces of Jeffrey. Experts say that at the surface the sinkhole was about 30 feet across but below the surface it was 100 feet across.
The brothers’ home was later demolished and filled with gravel.
The loss has been devastating for Jeremy and his family, including his wife and daughter who were at the house at the time the sinkhole opened.
“She keeps asking where her Uncle Jeff is,” Jeremy said of his daughter. “I lost everything. I work so hard to support my wife and kid and I lost everything.”
A few years after Jeffrey’s disappearance, the hole opened again and the place was fenced by the authorities as a safety precaution.
In the year 2022, there have been about 27,000 reported sinkhole incidents across the state of Florida, as per the Florida Department of Environmental Protection database.
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Brendan Johnston, an 18-year-old wrestler from Colorado, willingly gave up the chance of placing in the state tournament because the fight he was to participate in was against his fate and beliefs.
Namely, Brendan was schedule to wrestle Angel Rios at the Pepsi Center in Denver for third-place in the 106-pound weight class in the consolation bracket, but the moment he realized his opponent was a girl, he decided to forfeit.
This decision cost him a higher place than the sixth he ended up in.
A few days before this match, Brendan did the same when he was to face Jaslynn Gallegos, a senior at Skyview High in the first round of the tournament on Thursday, as per KDVR.
YouTube – Fox31
Speaking to the outlet, Brendan justified his decision saying, “It’s so physical, physically close. I don’t think that’s really appropriate with a young lady. It’s also very aggressive and I’m not really, I guess, comfortable with that.”
He added: “There is something that I really do find problematic about the idea of wrestling with a girl, and a part of that does come from my faith and my belief.
“And a part of that does come from how I was raised to treat women as well as maybe from different experiences and things.
“I don’t think that I am looking at them as not equal. I am saying that they are women and that is different than being men, because I do believe that men and women are different and we are made differently.
“But I still believe that women are of equal value to men. I don’t think that seeing men and women as different [opposes] the idea of equality.”
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Both his opponents, Rios and Gallegos, made history after becoming the first females to place at the tournament. Rios placed fourth and Gallegos placed fifth.
Speaking to The Greeley Tribune, Rios commented the match Brendan forfeited and said she understood his decision and respected it but questioned why any wrestler, of any gender, would decide to forfeit in the state tournament after making it so far.
“This whole time that I’ve wrestled, it’s just me trying to prove a point that I am just a wrestler,” she told the Washington Post at the time.
“And so the fact that my gender is something that kind of holds me back still is just a little nerve-racking, but I respect his decision. It’s fine.
“My whole thing is that I’m not a girl wrestler; I’m just a wrestler. So it kind of doesn’t hurt my feelings, but I do kind of take it to heart.”
For more on this story go to the video below.
What are your thoughts on Brendan’s decision? Was he right to refuse to wrestle a female?
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Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University’s athletics department reported.
Citing La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote Joe had recently suffered a stoke. The exact cause of death hasn’t been confirmed yet.
La Salle University, where Joe played and coached, said in a statement that he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
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Just like his famous son, Joe was a renowned basketball player himself. Drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the 14th overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons, the then-San Diego Clippers for three seasons, and the Houston Rockets for one season. He also played in Europe.
The 76ers paid tribute to Joe, calling him “a local basketball icon, whose legacy on the court transcended his journey across Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975-79.”
Joe’s sudden passing comes four years after the tragic death of his son Kobe and his granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash with seven other people.
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Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, wrote on her Instagram story on Tuesday, “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing.
“We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Former Kobe teammate Doug Young praised Joe as the ideal “role model.”
“Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion and I could not have asked for a more positive mentor, teacher, and role model,” Young told ESPN. “It’s difficult to overstate how much he influenced me and my teammates. He made basketball fun and made us all want to be better; he believed in us. I’ll never forget his infectious smile, his bear hugs and the incredible bond he shared with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we loved and admired more than the Bryants, and that started with Joe.”
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Arn Tellem, the vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe Bryant’s agent, expressed his sadness over the loss of Joe and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philly hoops legend. “Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always cherish. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
May he rest in peace.
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Pax Jolie-Pitt, the 20-year-old son of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie was hospitalized Monday following an accident while riding an electric bike in Los Feliz Blvd in LA during rush hour at around 5pm, as reported by NBC News.
According to a source who spoke to the news outlet, Jolie is by her son’s side and he’s in “stable condition.”
As per TMZ, Pax suffered a head injury after his electric bike was involved in a crash with a car.
Pax Jolie-Pitt and Angelina Jolie in New York City on December 28, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
According to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ, Pax’s electric bike collided with the rear of the car at an intersection. After the accident, the driver got out of the car to make sure Pax was fine and waited with him until the ambulance arrived.
“A vehicle was waiting at a red light, and an individual on an electric bike rear-ended the vehicle. There is no evidence of a crime and we ended up taking a severe traffic report,” Los Angeles Police Department Officer David Cuellar told NBC News on Tuesday.
Angelina Jolie and Pax Jolie-Pitt in New York City on August 16, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Last year, Pax, whom Jolie adopted from Vietnam and is the second oldest child of the ex-couple, made headlines for criticizing his dad in a resurfaced 2020 social media message in which he referred to him as to an ‘awful human being.’
“You time and time again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person,” Pax wrote in the post unearthed by MailOnline. “You have no consideration or empathy towards your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence. You will never understand the damage you have done to my family because you are incapable of doing so.” Pax concluded the post: “You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell. You may tell yourself and the world whatever you want but the truth will come to light someday.”
Angelina Jolie and Pax Jolie-Pitt attend the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 7, 2018. | Source: Getty Images
Those close to Pitt said the allegations made by Pax were a “depressing smear,” with one Hollywood star stating that Pitt “has great respect for all of his children and it’s depressing to see this dragged up.
“It’s frustrating to see Brad being painted as some kind of “bad person” when it’s far from the truth. He chooses to keep a dignified silence and that speaks volumes,” the A-lister told The Sun.
Angelina Jolie Pitt and Brad Pitt at the Museum of Modern Art on November 4, 2015, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Jolie filed for divorce from Brad in 2019 after five years of marriage and their relationship remained stranded, with their kids taking their mom’s side.
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Jacklyn Zeman, who played Bobbie Spencer for 45 years on ABC’s General Hospital has died aged 70. As per reports, she fought cancer for a short while prior to her sudden passing.
The news of her passing was shared by the show’s executive producer Frank Valentini.
“I am heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Jackie Zeman,” he posted on Twitter. “Just like her character, the legendary Bobbie Spencer, she was a bright light and a true professional that brought so much positive energy with her work.”
ABC Entertainment and General Hospital released a statement as well. “Jacklyn Zeman has been a beloved member of the General Hospital and ABC family since she originated the iconic role of Bobbie Spencer over 45 years ago. She leaves behind a lasting legacy for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of the bad girl turned heroine and will always be remembered for her kind heart and radiant spirit. We are devastated by the news of her passing, and send our deepest condolences to Jackie’s family, friends and loved ones.”
Zeman first joined the cast of the long-running daytime drama in 1977, according to Imdb.
Zeman’s sudden passing came three days prior to her birthday and less than two weeks after her final episode of General Hospital, which aired on April 27.
Denise Alexander, Zeman’s co-star, shared a touching tribute. “Oh girl, I can’t stop crying because I keep hearing your voice and laughing. I have always loved and cherished your sweetness, humor, brilliance, and lovely goodness. The finest embraces, too. I will always love you. Denise,” she wrote in a brief letter that was first made available by Soap Hub on May 15.
“I’m very happy that I got to spend so much time with this lovely woman. Jackie had the best stories to tell, a contagious spirit, and such a remarkable life. She enjoyed working on General Hospital,” Laura Wright, who portrayed Carly Spencer, the character who was Zeman’s daughter in the serial show, stated on Instagram.
Tamara Braun was among those who pays their tribute to Zeman. “I am at a loss for words. This hurts and disturbs me beyond words. I wish to hug you. Join us in our laughter. Tell stories. Talk real talk because that’s what we did.”
Zeman is survived by two daughters, Cassidy and Lacey from her first marriage to Glenn Gordon. She was married and divorced two more times to Steve Gribbin and disc jockey Murray Kaufman who went by “Murray the K.”
Rest in peace, Jacklyn Zeman, you are missed.
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Princess Diana stood out as anything but a conventional royal. Dubbed the People’s Princess, she was not just a beloved figure but also a fiercely devoted mother.
She frequently broke royal norms to focus on her children’s well-being, often attending and engaging in school activities for Prince William and Prince Harry.
It’s safe to say that her passion for motherhood was unmatched.
Sadly, her marriage to then-prince Charles was a far cry from a perfect union.
Her life was always closely followed by the media, and sadly, that had a lot to do with the tragic car accident in which she lost her life in August of 1997. Allegedly, she was running away from the press when the tragedy happened.
From the moment she became a Princess, everyone wanted a piece of her life. According to The Guardian, magazines were offering up to half a million dollars for photos of her.
Prince William, Princess Diana and Prince Harry during their ski holiday in Lech, Austria on March 30, 1993 | Source: Getty Images
Her children were perfectly aware of the way their mother was treated by the media and how that affected her life and Harry promised himself he would never allow his wife to be ever treated the same way. According to him, he even considered leaving the Royal Family when he was in his 20’s.
“Look what it did to my mum, how am I ever going to settle down and have a wife and a family when I know that it’s going to happen again,” Harry said during an appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast. “I don’t want to be part of this,” he added.
William and Harry never miss a chance to remind everyone just how special their mother was.
“When everybody says ‘she was funny, give us an example’. All I can hear is her laugh,” Harry said in an interview he and William gave back in 2017.
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“She was one of the naughtiest parents, she’d come and watch us play football and smuggle sweet into her socks, literally walking back from a football match and having five packages of [candy]. And just, the whole shirt was full with sweets.”
“We felt incredibly loved by her, and I’m very grateful that the love still feels there,” William added.” It feels like a good time to remember her and hopefully provide a different side.”
“It was that love, even though she was on the other side of the room, as her son you could feel it,” Harry said.
She did all in her power to provide a normal childhood to her sons. “William adores his little brother and spends the entire time swamping Harry with an endless supply of hugs and kisses, hardly letting the parents near!” Diana’s handwritten letter to a former steward at Buckingham Palace, Cyril Dickman, states, as reported by The Sun.
One time, she told the chef to cancel lunch for the boys because they wanted to go to McDonald’s with her. “And I said, ‘Oh my God – your Royal Highness, I can do that, I can do burgers.’ And she said, ‘No, it’s the toy they want,’” chef Darren McGrady told Marie Claire.
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Her tragic passing was a huge blow not only for Britain, but for the entire world, especially for her sons, who were 12 and 15 at the time.
Recalling that traumatic experience, Harry described the moment he got word of his mother’s passing in his book, Spare. He described how his father sat beside his bed, telling him: “Darling boy, Mummy’s been in a car crash.
“There were complications. Mummy was quite badly injured and taken to hospital, darling boy,” Harry recalled his father saying. “He always called me ‘darling boy,’ but he was saying it quite a lot now. His voice was soft. He was in shock, it seemed.
“With a head injury. They tried, darling boy. I’m afraid she didn’t make it.”
The prince further claimed that Charles put his hand on his knee, saying: “It’s going to be OK,” but that he “didn’t hug” him.
“Everyone knows where they were and what they were doing the night my mother died,” Harry stated.
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“I cried once, at the burial, and you know I go into detail about how strange it was and how actually there was some guilt that I felt and I think William felt as well, by walking around the outside of Kensington Palace.”
“There were 50,000 bouquets of flowers to our mother and there we were shaking people’s hands, smiling,” he continued. “I’ve seen the videos, right, I looked back over it all. And the wet hands that we were shaking, we couldn’t understand why their hands were wet, but it was all the tears that they were wiping away.”
Princes William and Harry walking behind her casket on the day of her funeral is an image many Britons could never forget.
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Later, Harry slammed the decision that the two young boys had to walk through London with the world watching.
Sadly, after everything William and Harry have been through, their relationship is now stranded. It seems that it all started when Harry decided to leave Britain behind. Once he and Meghan stepped down from their royal duties and settled in the States, they opened up about the life at the Palace and accused the members of the Firm of plenty of things. In the interviews they had given, they spoke of things that were going on behind closed doors. The relationship between the two brothers was ruined even further with the release of Harry’s book Spare, which led to more bridges to be burnt.
We truly hope that in the time to come, they would both be willing to put their differences aside and be close as they were when their mother was still alive.
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The Samoan Olympic boxing team is mourning the devastating loss of Lionel Elika Fatupaito, their highly respected coach who passed away on Friday, the 26th, in the athletes’ village located in Seine-Saint-Denis, France.
According to reports, the cause of death was a cardiac arrest. He was 60.
Fatupaito became ill in his room at approximately 10:20 a.m. local time on Friday, shortly before the opening ceremony was scheduled to start in Paris. According to Le Parisien, he was accompanied by an athlete when he had the sudden medical emergency. Despite the intervention of emergency services, he was declared deceased at the scene from “natural causes.”
The investigation has been handed over to the Seine-Saint-Denis judicial police.
The International Boxing Federation (IBA) has extended its deepest condolences following the tragedy that cast a shadow over the Games. They honored Fatupaito’s steadfast dedication, noting that his passion and commitment to boxing “have left a lasting impression on the sport.”
“His legacy will continue to inspire future generations. Our thoughts and prayers are with Team Samoa and all those affected by this profound loss,” the message further read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Team Samoa and all those affected by this profound loss.”
The Samoan Olympic body’s president Pauga Talalelei Pauga said in the Oceania statement: “Lionel was one of Samoa’s top boxing coaches and a great believer in the Olympic ideal.”
The Paris organizing committee expressed they are “deeply saddened to learn of the death of a member of the Samoan delegation. Our thoughts are with his family, his loved ones and his delegation.”
Samoan Boxer, Tupuola Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali | Source: Instagram/atoplodzickifaoagali
Fatupaito was in France to assist in coaching the sole boxer from Samoa, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali. Plodzicki-Faoagali is scheduled to begin his 92-kilogram competition on Sunday against Belgium’s Victor Schelstraete. The 25-year-old, originally from Australia, is participating in his second Olympic Games.
Plodzicki-Faoagali expressed his emotional struggle, stating on Instagram that the past week has been exceptionally difficult and mentally draining, particularly in light of the recent loss of his coach.
Expressing his gratitude to the people of Samoa for their cheering and support, the boxer also paid tribute to Fatupaito, writing, “Thinking of you coach, wish you were here in the corner today.”
We are so very sorry for this loss. Our thoughts and prayers go to the grieving family. May he rest in peace.
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The news of the sudden passing of one of the greatest Irish and world singers, Sinéad O’Connor, shook the world a year ago. O’Connor had been found ‘unresponsive’ after police were called to her flat in Herne Hill. Her life ended a little over a year following the passing of her son, Shane Lunny, who died of suicide at the age of 17.
O’Connor was devastated by Shane’s loss. “Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul. We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him,” the late singer posted about her beloved son in her last Tweet.
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Now, a year after O’Connor’s death, her death report, which revealed her cause of death, was obtained. The cherished singer and activist passed away due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma combined with a low-grade lower respiratory tract infection.
This report comes six months after the London Inner South Coroner’s Court confirmed her cause of death to be “natural causes.”
The singer gained worldwide fame with her rendition of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad,” her family said in a statement to The Irish Times. “Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
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O’Connor’s death prompted a wave of tributes, with Ireland’s taoiseach at the time, Leo Varadkar, stating: “Her music was loved around the world, and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare.”
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis was among the public figures who honored O’Connor on the year of her passing.
“I once heard Sìnead sing acappella in an empty chapel in Ireland. It was under construction at the private home of our host. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard in my life. We then went together to see Eminem at a festival. I loved her. Her music. Her life. She was a victim of child abuse and a huge change agent for unfair and unjust draconian laws that she helped change in Ireland,” Curtis wrote on Instagram. “She was a warrior. She was a rebel. She ripped up a photograph that was on her mother’s wall because of the hypocrisy of the abusive life she was raised in under the banner of the church. This is so sad. Watch the NOTHING COMPARES documentary. Brilliant. Heartbreaking. Rest well. Rest in power. Rest in peace.”
Sinéad O’Connor in the 90s. Credit / Michel Linssen / Redferns / Getty.
A week before her death, O’Connor shared with her fans that she had recently returned to London after a 23-year absence, expressing that she was “very happy to be home.”
O’Connor, who converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat was buried as a Muslim in a Catholic cemetery last summer.
May she rest in peace.
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