Aryna Sabalenka Mourns Konstantin Koltsov's Passing ... Confirms Split Before Death
Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka is breaking her silence on Konstantin Koltsov's passing ... calling it "an unthinkable tragedy" -- while confirming the two had split prior to his death.
Sabalenka -- who dated the former NHL player from 2021 until recently -- penned a heartfelt message on her Instagram page Wednesday evening ... two days after Koltsov had died in Miami.
"Konstantin's death is an unthinkable tragedy," she wrote, "and while we were no longer together, my heart is broken."
"Please respect my privacy and his family's privacy during this difficult time."
It's unclear when Sabalenka and Koltsov officially called things off ... but she had just posted a collage of photos and videos of them together for his birthday last April.
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Sabalenka is still expected to compete in this weekend's Miami Open in the wake of the tragedy, although she reportedly will not speak to media members throughout the event. She's slated to play her first match at the tournament on Friday.
As we reported, Koltsov -- an ex-Pittsburgh Penguins first-round pick -- was found dead at around 12:39 AM on Monday at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Cops suspect he died by suicide ... saying in a statement that no foul play was apparent.
An investigation, however, remains ongoing.
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'Christmas With the Kranks' Star M. Emmet Walsh Dead at 88
M. Emmet Walsh -- who was memorably in "Christmas With the Kranks" and "Blade Runner," among several other films -- has died ... TMZ has confirmed.
The actor's manager, Sandy Joseph, tells us Walsh passed away at a hospital in Vermont Tuesday as a result of cardiac arrest. No word on what exactly landed him in the hospital, or what sort of ailment he might've been battling.
Walsh was a veteran in Hollywood, and one of the most prolific character actors in the biz -- having racked up a whopping 233 acting credits to his name, with roles dating back to the '60s, playing Jason Randall on an episode of "The Doctors."
Since then, he'd starred in countless well-known films and TV shows spanning decades.
In addition to his work on 'CWTK' -- where he played Tim Allen's cranky neighbor and archenemy, Walt Scheel -- Walsh has acted in flicks like "Ordinary People," "The Jerk," "Fletch," "Blood Simple," "A Time to Kill," "Romeo + Juliet," "Wild Wild West," and many, many more.
His TV work is equally impressive ... Walsh had worked on TV series like "Starsky and Hutch," "Baretta," "The Rockford Files," "The Sandy Duncan Show," "East of Eden," "Little House on the Prairie," "The Twilight Zone," "Unsub," "The Flash," "Home Improvement," "The X-Files," "NYPD Blue," "Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot," "Damages," "Adventure Time" and others.
Walsh is survived by his nieces and nephews. He was 88.
RIP
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KALEY CUOCO ANUNCIA LA MUERTE DE SU PERRO...
Kaley Cuoco está de luto por una pérdida en su familia..., ya que anunció la muerte de Blue, su querido perro.
La actriz compartió la triste noticia el miércoles, diciendo que estaba muy triste por la pérdida. Explicó que la pérdida de Blue fue aún más triste porque era el tercer perro que ha tenido que sacrificar el último año.
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Recordemos que Kaley anunció el fallecimiento de King el mes pasado, menos de un año después de que su cachorro rescatado -Dump Truck- muriera el pasado mes de mayo.
Mientras Kaley está claramente desconsolada por Blue, dice que también está particularmente triste por su pareja, Tom Pelphrey, que es el dueño original del perro.
Según Kaley, les tomó algún tiempo a Blue y a ella estar completamente cómodos el uno con el otro, naturalmente, él aún extrañaba a Tom.
Sin embargo, "Después de algún tiempo, Blue finalmente se dio cuenta de que éramos una familia y que estábamos todos juntos. Algo cambió. Era increíble. Protector conmigo y con el resto de nuestros cachorros, siempre en guardia. Me sentía tan segura sola en casa con él y cuando alguien venía a la puerta le ponía la correa a Blue y hacía que se sentara a mi lado".
Kaley continuó añadiendo que Blue era increíblemente paciente y gentil con su pequeña hija Matilda, que nació el año pasado.
No es ningún secreto que Kaley es una amante de los animales, ya que ha rescatado a varios perros a lo largo de los años, y también posee algunos caballos.
Blue era claramente un favorito de la familia, Kaley y Tom una vez usaron suéteres de Navidad con la cara del cachorro un año.
Buen chico, Blue. Muy buen chico.
Kaley Cuoco Announces Her Dog's Death ... You're My Boy, Blue!!!
Kaley Cuoco is mourning a loss in her family ... as she announced the death of her beloved dog, Blue.
The actress shared the sad news Wednesday, saying she was in tears over the loss. As Kaley explained, Blue's loss was even more upsetting because he was the third dog she's had to put down in the last year.
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Remember, Kaley announced the passing of King last month -- less than a year after her rescue pup Dump Truck died last May.
While Kaley's clearly heartbroken over Blue, she says she's also particularly sad for her partner, Tom Pelphrey ... who's the dog's original owner.
According to Kaley, it took some time for Blue and her to grow comfortable with one another -- naturally, he favored Tom over her.
However, "After some time Blue finally realized we were a family and we were all sticking together. Something changed. He was amazing. Protective of me and the rest of our pup crew, always on guard. I felt so safe home alone with him and when anyone came to the door I would put Blue on the leash and have him sit right next to me."
Kaley went on to add that Blue was incredibly patient and gentle with their young daughter Matilda, who was born last year.
It's no secret Kaley is an animal lover, having rescued several dogs over the years, and she also owns a few horses.
But, Blue was clearly a family favorite, with Kaley and Tom wearing the pup on Christmas sweaters one year.
Good boy, Blue. Very good boy.
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Ex-NHLer Chris Simon Died By Suicide ... Family Believes He Suffered From CTE
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Ex-NHL player Chris Simon's family is revealing the tragic details surrounding his sudden passing ... confirming the 52-year-old took his own life, and they believe it was the result of CTE.
The former enforcer's loved ones released a statement via his former agent Paul Theofanous on Wednesday ... saying they saw Simon show strong signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a brain disease caused from concussions and traumatic head injuries.
"The family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand, that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death," the statement read.
"We are grieving with the loss of our son, brother, father, partner, teammate and friend," the family continued. "The entire Wawa community is sharing in our grief. We will not be releasing any further details at this time and ask for privacy during this very difficult time. We appreciate everyone who shares in our tragic loss."
As we previously reported, the hockey community was devastated by the news ... and an outpour of tributes came out in honor of the 15-year NHL vet.
The NHL Alumni Association addressed the loss ... saying, "Chris was never afraid to stand up for his teammates, and played a key role in the dressing room. He was a beloved friend, father, brother, and son."
Chris won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 ... and played for several other teams, including the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
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Ex-Capitals' Chris Simon NHL Enforcer Dead At 52 Years Old ... Stanley Cup Champ
Longtime NHL player Chris Simon -- known as one of the most ferocious and scary athletes on the ice -- has died at 52.
Simon played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League, including stops with the Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders where he was a feared enforcer, racking up over 100 fights and nearly 2k penalty minutes throughout his decade and a half career.
The NHL Alumni Association broke the news of Simon's death on Tuesday, saying ... "Chris was never afraid to stand up for his teammates, and played a key role in the dressing room. He was a beloved friend, father, brother, and son."
Simon's pro hockey career started in 1990 when the Philadelphia Flyers selected the Canadian native with the 25th overall pick in the NHL Draft.
CS won a Stanley Cup title with the Avalanche in 1996.
Chris also played in the Ontario Hockey League and eventually joined the Kontinental Hockey League before retiring in 2013.
Hearing early reports that former NHL player Chris Simon has passed away at the age of 52 😔
— Missin Curfew (@MissinCurfew) March 19, 2024 @MissinCurfew
One of the toughest players ever to play the game 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/dKO8leLeyu
Simon was most known for being a dog on the ice ... and having the backs of his teammates. In fact, he was suspended eight times during his NHL career for a total of 65 games.
Unfortunately, Simon's death comes just hours after news of Konstantin Koltsov's passing ... a suspected suicide.
He was 52.
RIP
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COLA BOYY CANTANTE Y ACTIVISTA FALLECE A LOS 34 AÑOS La familia entrega nuevos detalles
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Cola Boyy -el cantante pop y compositor que colaboró con artistas de la talla de The Avalanches y MGMT a pesar de sus problemas de columna- falleció el domingo, y su familia lamenta su pérdida.
El padre del músico -Joseph Urango Jr.- habló con TMZ sobre la desgarradora cadena de acontecimientos que condujeron al fallecimiento de su hijo, también conocido como Matthew Urango. Dice que fue el hermano gemelo de Matthew fue quien tras ir a verlo a su habitación, descubrió que no respiraba.
Joseph dice que llamaron a los paramédicos, pero fue demasiado tarde. Lamentablemente Cola Boyy fue declarado muerto en la escena.
Nos dicen Cola estaba en oxígeno, mientras que en casa, y todavía estaba conectado a ella cuando su hermano lo encontró.
Su familia cree que su fallecimiento estuvo relacionado con sus problemas de salud. Por cierto, Cola Boyy nació con espina bífida, escoliosis y cifosis, pero nunca dejó que su salud lo detuviera... se refería a sí mismo con orgullo como el "discóbolo discapacitado innovador".
El forense está investigando para determinar la causa de la muerte.
Joseph hizo hincapié en la magnitud de la pérdida de su hijo, añadiendo que tenía un profundo amor por sus fans, compañeros de banda, y especialmente a su familia.
La discográfica de Cola Boyy -Record Makers- fue la primera en anunciar su fallecimiento, describiéndolo en su homenaje como "todo un alma, un hombre sin edad, un espíritu infantil y con la musicalidad de una vieja leyenda".
Tuvo una presencia escénica innegable desde el principio, cuando empezó a publicar música en 2018. Además, acababa de terminar de trabajar en su próximo álbum y se preparaba para compartirlo con el mundo este verano.
Lo más importante es que Cola Boyy fue un pionero de la defensa de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad. Una vez le dijo a TMRW Magazine que la sociedad quería que las personas con discapacidad fueran tímidas y dóciles, lo que a veces le pesaba, pero nunca le impidió alcanzar sus sueños.
Tenía 34 años.
RIP.
COLA BOYY SINGER, DISABILITY ACTIVIST DEAD AT 34 ... Family Offers New Details
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Cola Boyy, the pop singer and songwriter who collaborated with the likes of The Avalanches and MGMT despite his spinal issues, passed away Sunday ... and his family is reeling from the loss.
The musician's father, Joseph Urango Jr., is now speaking to TMZ about the heartbreaking chain of events leading up to the passing of his son, a.k.a, Matthew Urango. He says it was Matthew's twin brother who made the devastating discovery -- he'd gone to check on Cola in bed and found he wasn't breathing.
Joseph says paramedics were called, but it was, tragically, too late and Cola Boyy was pronounced dead at the scene.
We're told CB was on oxygen while at home, and he was still hooked up to it when his brother found him.
His family believes his passing was related to his health issues. IYDK, Cola Boyy was born with spina bifida, scoliosis, and kyphosis, but he never let his health hold him back ... proudly referring to himself as the "disabled disco innovator."
The coroner is now investigating to determine the cause of death.
Joseph emphasized the magnitude of losing his son ... adding he had a deep love for his fans, bandmates, and especially his family.
Cola Boyy's label, Record Makers, was first to announce his passing, describing him in their tribute as "quite a soul, a man with no age, a childlike spirit with the musicality of an old legend."
He had an undeniable stage presence right from the start when he began releasing music in 2018. He had also just wrapped up work on his next album and was gearing up to share it with the world this summer.
Most importantly, Cola Boyy was a trailblazer for disability-rights advocacy ... telling TMRW Magazine society wanted disabled people to be timid and docile, which at times weighed him down but never stopped him from achieving his dreams.
He was 34.
RIP.
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Hermana de Kris Jenner Karen Houghton muere a los 65... Kris rinde homenaje
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12:14 PM PT -- El Departamento del Sheriff del Condado de San Diego le dice a TMZ que la llamada pidiendo atención médica llegó alrededor de la 1:30 PM PT del lunes, y que cuando los oficiales llegaron, los bomberos ya estaban proporcionando primeros auxilios para salvar a Karen Houghton, quien lamentablemente falleció.
No está claro qué incidente médico habría precipitado la llamada.
La hermana de Kris Jenner, Karen Houghton, ha muerto, según ha averiguado TMZ.
Fuentes policiales nos dicen que Karen fue reportada muerta por los funcionarios del Condado de San Diego el lunes en San Marcos, California. Las circunstancias exactas de su muerte no están claras, pero nos dicen que los funcionarios del condado están atribuyendo su muerte a causas naturales por ahora.
Karen era la única hermana de Kris y era tres años menor que ella. Ambas comparten a sus padres MJ y Robert Houghton y crecieron juntas en San Diego, donde vivieron mayormente con MJ después de su divorcio del padre de las niñas.
Fuentes con conocimiento directo le dicen a TMZ que Kris está muy angustiada por la muerte de su hermana y también preocupada por su madre y su sobrina. Esta es la primera vez que MJ pierde a un hijo, así que obviamente es devastador. Nos dicen que la familia en general se está uniendo unos con otros.
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Kris también se refirió a la muerte de Karen en las redes sociales, con un dulce homenaje sobre su historia y su relación, en el que la recuerda con mucho cariño.
A pesar de la pública vida de las Kardashians, Karen no ha jugado un papel importante, ya que las hermanas han tenido una relación un tanto complicada a lo largo de los años.
Karen hizo públicos sus problemas en 2014, alegando en una entrevista que Kris había cambiado desde que alcanzó el estatus de celebridad de la lista A. También dio su opinión sobre el divorcio de Kris de la deportista olímpica Caitlyn Jenner, en donde aparentemente se puso del lado de su entonces cuñada.
Luego, en 2016, Karen hizo noticia por someterse a un estiramiento facial que duró cinco horas para parecerse más a la matriarca Kardashian-Jenner. Al final, dijo que quedó satisfecha con los resultados en ese momento.
La tregua familiar pareció confirmarse en 2019, cuando Karen y Kris posaron para una foto con su mamá MJ y sus respectivas hijas Natalie Zettel y Kylie Jenner en Navidad.
Sin embargo, Karen no ha sido vista con la familia en los últimos años y se había mantenido fuera de los focos. Trabajó como enfermera a medio tiempo y escritora antes de su muerte.
A Karen le sobreviven su hija -a la que dio la bienvenida con su ex marido Mark Zettel-, su madre, su hermana y varias sobrinas y un sobrino. Tenía 65 años.
Que en paz descanse.
Publicado originalmente -- 10:17 AM PT
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Kris Jenner's Sister Karen Houghton Dead at 65 ... Kris Pays Tribute
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12:14 PM PT -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Dept. tells TMZ that a call came in for medical aid around 1:30 PM PT Monday -- and that when deputies arrived, fire officials were already providing lifesaving measures for Karen Houghton ... who sadly passed away.
Unclear what medical incident precipitated the call.
Kris Jenner's sister, Karen Houghton, has died ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell us Karen was reported as deceased to San Diego County officials Monday in San Marcos, CA. The exact circumstances of her passing are unclear, but we're told county officials are attributing her death to natural causes for now.
Karen was Kris' only sister -- sharing parents MJ and Robert Houghton -- and was born three years after the famed momager. Karen and Kris grew up in San Diego together, living predominantly with MJ after her divorce from the girls' father.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Kris is very upset over the passing of her sibling -- and is also concerned about Karen's mother and niece. This is MJ's first loss of a child, so obviously it's devastating. We're told the family at large is rallying around each other.
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Kris addressed Karen's death on social media as well, with a sweet tribute that touched on their history and relationship ... remembering Karen fondly.
Despite the Kardashians' very public life, Karen has not played a major role in their reality TV fame ... as the sisters have had a somewhat complicated relationship over the years.
Karen went public with their issues back in 2014, alleging in an interview that Kris had changed since skyrocketing to A-list status. She also infamously weighed in on Kris' high-profile divorce from Olympian Caitlyn Jenner ... seemingly siding with her ex-in-law.
Then, in 2016, Karen made headlines for undergoing a five-hour facelift in order to look more like the Kardashian-Jenner matriarch -- ultimately pleased with the results, at the time.
A family truce seemed to be confirmed in 2019 -- when Karen and Kris posed for a photo with their mom MJ and their respective daughters, Natalie Zettel and Kylie Jenner, at Christmastime.
However, Karen hasn't been spotted with the family in recent years, having kept a low profile out of the limelight. She worked as a part-time nurse and an author before her death.
Karen is survived by her daughter -- who she welcomed with ex-husband Mark Zettel -- mother, sister and several nieces and a nephew. She was 65.
RIP
Originally Published -- 10:17 AM PT
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Ex-NHLer Konstantin Koltsov Dead At 42 ... Cops Suspect Suicide
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10:42 AM PT -- The Miami-Dade Police Department tells TMZ Sports ... Konstantin Koltsov was found dead in an apparent suicide at around 12:39 AM on Monday at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort.
An investigation into the death is ongoing, but cops said no foul play is currently suspected.
Ex-NHL player Konstantin Koltsov -- the boyfriend of tennis star Aryna Sabalenka -- has died.
The hockey player's former club in Russia, Salavat Yulaev, announced the heartbreaking news Tuesday ... though further details surrounding his death were not made immediately available.
"He was a strong and cheerful person," Salavat Yulaev officials said, "he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans. Konstantin Evgenievich forever wrote himself into the history of our club."
"May he rest in peace."
Koltsov got his start in the NHL after the Pittsburgh Penguins selected him with the 18th overall pick in the 1999 draft. He eventually logged time on the ice for the team in the 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2005-06 seasons.
After becoming a free agent in 2006, he jetted to play professionally in Russia, signing on with Salavat Yulaev. Following his playing days, he later returned to the team as an assistant coach.
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In 2021, Koltsov began dating Sabalenka -- the No. 2-ranked women's tennis player in the country -- and the couple appeared inseparable.
Throughout their years of dating, 25-year-old Sabalenka posted him on her Instagram page often ... most recently sending him birthday wishes in April with a sweet collage of pics and videos.
Sabalenka was just seen competing at Indian Wells last week ... and had been slated to play in this weekend's Miami Open.
Koltsov was just 42 years old.
RIP.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
Originally Published -- 6:18 AM PT
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'Sister Wives' Star Garrison Brown Sibling Says ... Social Media Hurt His Self-Esteem
Garrison Brown was negatively affected by social media before his death -- and it impacted his own sense of self-worth ... this according to one of his siblings.
The "Sister Wives" star's actual sister, Madison Brown Brush, hopped online to post an emotional video reflecting on her brother's untimely passing -- and she spoke a lot about his mental health struggles, while also acknowledging pointing to mental health convos at large.
Maddie explains her brother was battling issues internally -- and even says he felt he wasn't doing enough with his life ... using social media as a comparison point.
She also says something pretty poignant ... namely, social media isn't real.
Maddie goes on to explain how she and the rest of the family have been dealing with Garrison's suicide -- describing how difficult it's been finding a new sense of normal.
She urged her followers to remember that social media is just a snapshot into someone's life -- it doesn't show everything. Remember, Garrison's loved ones say he seemed perfectly happy online ... having just adopted a new cat days before he died by suicide.
Maddie goes on to say that she's going to continue putting a spotlight on mental health ... and sends a message to people who might be battling demons -- telling them that if they're not feeling fulfilled with how they're spending their time, they gotta change that ASAP.
We broke the story ... Garrison was found deceased in his Flagstaff, Arizona home earlier in March. Flagstaff PD told us that no foul play is suspected, as Garrison appeared to have suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was only 25.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
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Jalen Hurts Pays For Funeral of H.S. FB Player Killed In Shooting
Jalen Hurts is lending a big hand to the family of a high school football player who was shot and killed in Texas earlier this month ... paying for the teen's funeral expenses.
The footballer -- 18-year-old Jarvon Coles -- died on March 9 ... after authorities say at least one shooter fired gunshots in the direction of a Houston house party he had been attending.
Cops say Coles was struck by the gunfire -- and despite life-saving efforts, the North Shore H.S. linebacker was pronounced deceased a short time later at a nearby hospital.
Hurts, who attended a rival high school of North Shore, was so moved by the tragedy after learning of the news ... he decided to pay for Coles' memorial service, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The funeral was held over the weekend at The Light of the World Christian Fellowship Church in Humble, Texas.
"He was like a light in the tunnel," Coles' grandfather, Braxton, told KHOU. "Everybody loved him. He had absolutely no enemies and it’s just beyond my comprehension that something like this would happen."
Coles, who wore No. 10, was a team captain in 2023. He helped lead North Shore to a 15-1 record this past season.
He had a 4.1 GPA and received several college offers ... but was planning to go to Lamar University.
RIP.
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MUERTE EN GLOBO AEROSTÁTICO UN HOMBRE CAE A 1.500 PIES DE ALTURA
Un vuelo en globo de aire caliente se convirtió en una tragedia esta semana después de que un pasajero cayó 1.500 pies... y parece que los policías hicieron todo lo posible para cubrir las secuelas.
Un pasajero cayó sin previo aviso de un globo aerostático comercial el lunes -el cual despegó de Melbourne- a menos de 30 minutos de su viaje. El cuerpo al parecer aterrizó en una zona residencial con el globo de aire caliente realizando un aterrizaje seguro muchas millas más lejos.
Según testigos locales, muchos residentes del suburbio no se dieron cuenta de lo que había ocurrido hasta que se escucharon sirenas. De hecho, una fuerte explosión se escuchó antes de que llegaran los equipos de emergencia.
El incidente provocó la caída de varios cables de alta tensión y hubo una gran presencia policial para bloquear la calle local del tráfico de la mañana.
Aunque la tragedia no está siendo tratada como sospechosa, los policías están hablando con los otros ocupantes del globo para tratar de deducir qué causó exactamente la inesperada caída.
La Industria Nacional de Globos Aerostáticos Comerciales y la Federación Australiana de Globos se han pronunciado sobre la tragedia, asegurando que las cestas de los globos aerostáticos están diseñadas para evitar que los pasajeros se caigan, por lo que no está claro lo que puede haber causado esto.
Dicen que el operador va a organizar apoyo psicológico y asesoramiento para los testigos afectados.
Esta es la segunda tragedia de globo aerostático este año. Recordemos que cuatro personas murieron en Arizona en enero luego de que un globo aerostático cayera durante una salida de paracaidismo. Un informe preliminar de la Junta Nacional de Seguridad en el Transporte dijo más tarde que la envoltura ya estaba desinflada y el quemador todavía encendido antes de que el globo aerostático chocara contra el suelo.
Los globos de aire caliente definitivamente pueden ser peligrosos.
Hot-Air Balloon Death Man Falls 1,500 Feet Into Neighborhood
A hot-air balloon flight turned tragic this week after a passenger fell 1,500 feet to his death from the basket ... and it looks like cops went out of their way to cover up the aftermath.
A male passenger fell without warning from a commercial hot-air balloon Monday -- which took off from Melbourne -- less than 30 minutes into his ride. The body reportedly landed in a residential area with the hot-air balloon making a safe landing many miles away.
According to local eyewitnesses ... many residents in the suburb didn't realize what had occurred until sirens were heard. In fact, a loud bang was heard before emergency responders arrived.
The incident caused several powerlines to go down and a large police presence to block off the local street from morning traffic.
While the tragedy is not being treated as suspicious, cops are speaking with the other occupants in the balloon to try and deduce what exactly caused the unexpected fall.
The National Commercial Hot-Air Ballooning Industry and the Australian Ballooning Federation have spoken out about the tragedy, assuring people that hot-air balloon baskets are designed to prevent passengers from falling out ... so it's unclear what may have caused this.
They say the operator will be arranging for psychological support and counseling for the witnesses affected.
This marks the second hot-air balloon tragedy this year. Remember, four people were killed in Arizona in January after a hot-air balloon went down during a skydiving outing. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board later said the envelope was already deflated and the burner still on before the hot air balloon collided with the ground.
Just goes to show ... hot-air ballooning can be dangerous.
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Alec Baldwin Reportedly Offered 'Rust' Plea Deal ... Lenient & Equal to Halls
Alec Baldwin could've walked away from the "Rust" shooting with no more than a slap on the wrist ... at least, if a new report is to be believed.
According to Variety, new court documents released Friday claim Baldwin was offered a lenient plea deal. However, according to them, the deal was taken off the table before AB could make up his mind.
The actor was reportedly offered a plea deal that was "identical to the petty misdemeanor deal accepted by Dave Halls."
Halls -- who served as first assistant director at the time of the shooting that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins -- received six months of unsupervised probation, a $500, 24 hours of community service and a mandatory firearm safety class.
Variety reports Baldwin was offered this deal October 5 and given until October 27 to decide ... but prosecutors allegedly took the deal away on October 17 and informed Baldwin's team they were going forward with a grand jury. Unclear what changed in that short window.
As we reported ... Baldwin and his attorney Alex Spiro filed to get the case dismissed Thursday claiming Santa Fe County D.A.'s office rigged the grand jury against Alec, pointing to biased witnesses and their alleged omission of relevant evidence that undermined the case against Baldwin.
His filing claims the D.A. didn't present the entirety of the testing the FBI did on his firearm ... which he claims would prove it could've been fired without him pulling the trigger.
Baldwin's case is set to go to trial in July, and he could serve up to 18 months in prison if found guilty. He's signaled he's going to fight the charges -- and, obviously is doing what he can to get them thrown out before he has to show up in court and defend himself.