Latest news with #TommyHayes
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Alarming scene at popular Aussie tourist spot sparks warning: 'Sick to the stomach'
Pictures taken of an adult and child fishing near the edge of an Australian river known to be home to hungry saltwater crocodiles have sparked a debate online. The anonymous duo were snapped at the infamous Cahills Crossing in Kakadu this week, just metres from signs warning tourists that a fatality occurred nearby. The images were shared on a social media page popular with 4WD enthusiasts, where some said the pair looked to be at a 'reasonable distance' from the water's edge. 'Doesn't look that bad,' one person said. However others were more cautious, with one saying the image made him feel 'sick to the stomach' with worry. 'What is wrong with people?' another said. Yahoo spoke to three of Australia's top experts in the predator's behaviour to better understand the dangers involved with navigating crocodile country. Professional crocodile wrangler Tommy Hayes said while it's hard to tell how close the people in the photograph are to the water's edge, it's good the image sparked debate and that people are aware of the extreme danger the reptiles pose. 'I'm glad people are paying attention, and not shrugging it off,' he said. Matt Cornish, the co-founder of Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC), warned that the biggest danger to humans is 'complacency'. 'Cahills Crossing is considered to be a high-risk crocodile location where people need to be extremely vigilant,' he told Yahoo. 'We have had crocodile fatalities there over the last couple of decades." Because the stretch of river where the photograph was taken is also a popular fishing area, there are increased numbers of interactions between crocodiles and humans. Anyone visiting the area needs to ensure their fish are kept away from the water's edge. Tourists 'absolutely amazed' after witnessing incredible crocodile act Shock over 'insane' act at dangerous Aussie spot despite ongoing threat Tourists watch 'another victim' along famous Aussie road after 4WD warning Mick Bender, a licensed reptile handler and educator at Wildlife Unleashed, explained the recommendation is that people keep five metres back from the water's edge. 'That number is based off the strike range of the largest recorded salt water crocodile which was seven metres. Their strike range is half of their body length — that's tip of their nose to the base of their tail — and they can do that in the blink of an eye,' he told Yahoo News. 'So you're looking at a three and a half metre strike range right there. We obviously don't know how big crocs are, so you give yourself that little bit extra.' Crocodiles are so fast-moving that humans are unable to respond fast enough to move out of the way. Children are at more of a risk because smaller crocodiles will attack them. Mick warns that travellers also need to be mindful that crocodiles can launch themselves up in the air, towards anyone standing on a bank. This behaviour is often on display during boat trips, when tour guides tempt crocodiles high out of the water using meat attached to a stick. 'In the wild, crocodiles will use that to grab birds or bats flying over the river, that's how fast they are,' he said. 'People don't realise that there's no warning from a crocodile. It's not like you're going to see it coming. They're an ambush attack predator. They rely on being completely hidden and unseen.' Tommy believes that influencers who work with crocodiles have an important role to play in setting a good example for tourists. 'It's hard when you're battling d**kheads who say don't go near the water and then film themselves jumping in. You've got to lead by example,' he said. 'People see these Aussie larrikins doing it, and they go, 'he did it, so I will too'.' Tommy has a three-year-old son, who he's educated about the importance of staying away from the water. And he hopes the general public are now getting the message too. 'He's more croc-wise than I am. When we go fishing we're a minimum five metres back,' he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Agriland
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Agriland
Telling the story of the potato through music, song, and dance
Renowned Irish musician and producer Tommy Hayes' latest project, 'The Garden Where The Praties Grow' is a cinematic story of the potato and its lasting impact on Irish culture told through traditional Irish music, song, and dance. The premiere of the film will take place on July 1 hosted by the Blas Summer School at the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick, launched by Professor Helen Phelan. Admission is by invitation and free to students and faculty. There will also be a screening in Glór, Ennis, Co. Clare on July 15. Admission is €8:00. Potatoes in Ireland The poignant Irish story of the potato is explored in this compelling documentary, which intertwines the cultural significance and history of 'praties' in Ireland. Through traditional Irish music, viewers journey through the struggles and resilience of a nation profoundly shaped by the tragic event of the potato famine. They discover how the potato, once a staple of daily life, became a symbol of both hardship and hope, resonating deeply within the Irish identity. Well known as one of the greatest bodhran players of all time, Tommy Hayes has been at the forefront of traditional Irish music for over 30 years. In a career that has exemplified diversity, he has performed and recorded with most of the great names in traditional music and beyond. Tommy has been a member of a number of ground-breaking groups during his career, including Stockton's Wing, Puck Fair with Brian Dunning and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, Altan, Liam O Flynn and the Pipers Call Band, and the Eileen Ivers Band. He was the original percussionist for 'Riverdance' and has performed on more than 400 albums. In the world of film, Tommy has played on numerous film soundtracks, among them 'Titanic', 'The Devil's Own', 'Rob Roy', 'In the Name of the Father', and 'The Field'. He is also a music therapist. Under Tommy's guidance, 'The Garden Where the Praties Grow' features music, song, and dance that is deeply rooted in Irish folklore and tradition, preserving their legacy through an intimate and immersive recording process. Joining Tommy in the stellar line-up band are some of Ireland's finest musicians, including: Karan Casey, singer and pipes/flute; Mick O'Brien, harp and concertina; Michelle Mulcahy, singer and flute player; Colm O'Donnell and Carl Corcoran on keys/vocals; and Fergal Scahill, fiddle; Siobhan Butler, dance; and Pat Quinn on guitar and vocals. Interwoven throughout these performances are interviews with organic potato growers and experts in biodiversity and sustainability, offering a broader perspective on the cultural and historical impact of the potato on the Irish psyche. Tommy Hayes and Anthony Hughes on location Filmed and directed by Anthony Hughes, a cinematographer with a background in fine arts, photography, and sculpture, the documentary set out to be visually rich. Filmed over three days in the original building of the founders of the Irish Seed Savers, Co. Clare, Anthony's keen eye for composition and storytelling shapes the film's striking visual aesthetic, and captures the depth and emotion of the story. Combined with Anthony's artistic approach to filmmaking is Tommy's understanding of the cultural significance of the music.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
Disbelief as people play, swim in river just metres from crocodile: 'Absolute stupidity'
Beachgoers in the Northern Territory have been blasted as 'stupid' and 'idiotic' for their actions in the water just metres away from a curious crocodile. Children were spotted along the shoreline at Buffalo Creek, while fishermen waded 20m into the shallows to cast their nets. And while the area is well-signposted about the dangers of crocodiles, one expert told Yahoo News that it's not rocket science when it comes to the dangers of the Territory's waterways. 'Everywhere here is very well signed and also, it's the bloody Territory, it's not a mystery as to what lives in 99 per cent of the waterways,' croc expert Tommy Hayes said, describing the scenes as "absolute stupidity and complacency'. Local Darwin man Sam Warner was fishing in Shoal Bay when he spotted the croc on his return to the boat ramp. 'We initially drove past it but then circled back to take a look. The croc was not scared by the boat at all and stayed on the surface when usually crocs will disappear if you get too close,' he said. While the crocodile lingered on the surface on one side of the channel, on the other side of the bank were children playing at the water's edge and the fishermen in waist-deep water. 'Very dangerous behaviour in croc territory,' Sam said. He believes it's an accident waiting to happen. 'It's a known fact that crocs can be in any body of water in Darwin but particularly the rivers. People just don't seem to care and it's a shame because it will result in someone getting attacked one day and they will hunt the croc and blame it for doing its natural thing in its natural habitat instead of blaming the idiot that was doing something they shouldn't be doing in croc infested waters,' he said. Sam and his friends on the boat tried to alert the people on the bank but they were too far away to yell and the water was too shallow for the boat to approach the shore. 'We told people when we beached the boat next to the boat ramp. They seemed more interested in spotting the croc then getting away from the waters edge,' he said. The Northern Territory Government says people should never enter the water unless there are designated safe swimming signs. "It should be assumed that any water body in the saltwater crocodile's natural range in the NT is unsafe to swim, unless signposted otherwise," they state on their website. "Most fatal crocodile attacks in the NT in the past 20 years have occurred when people have entered the water outside of designated swimming areas." Last year there were seven crocodile attacks in Australia, with four of those in the Northern Territory. The region's only fatal attack happened on July 2, when a 12-year-old girl was taken while swimming at Mango Creek near the remote town of Palumpa. Two other fatalities occurred in Queensland last year – in Torres Strait waters in April and near Cooktown in August. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Driver realises incredible reason behind 'highway' of tracks on outback road: 'They're everywhere'
Why did the crocodile cross the road? It's a question that had a Northern Territory crocodile expert pondering the answer after discovering a complex network of tracks and footprints covering an outback road. Tommy Hayes dubbed the incredible scene a 'crocodile highway' after realising just how numerous and intricate the markings were. Hayes had taken his little boy to see some fish and crocodiles at a billabong not far from his home when he noticed some unusual markings in the dirt road and jumped out of the car to investigate. 'I kept finding track after track after track, and all different crocodiles, back and forth, different ways. Beautiful big claw marks in the sand. Some of them were quite fresh,' Hayes said. Right next to the road is a large billabong, while on the other side is a barbed wire fence and a collection of trees. Hayes said the crocodiles would likely be moving between the main billabong and another waterhole beyond the trees. Video of the discovery shows a collection of footprints from crocodiles, dingoes and buffaloes crossing the road. Patterns in the sand show where the croc's tail swished from side to side. Huge front and back footprints, dwarfing Hayes' own, are believed to be from a dominant male around 4.5m in length. "They're everywhere. It's a bloody crocodile highway," he says in a video on his Instagram. 'To see all those tracks, it's really special. I think it's awesome. Being able to see the indentations from their bellies and their tails and things, that's super cool seeing that stuff. Little signatures, little fingerprints from the animals," he said. While filming, he said the square pattern of a crocodile's belly could be mistaken for tyre tracks in dried mud, leaving a lot of these markings to go unnoticed by an untrained eye. The Northern Territory's wet season typically runs from November to April, and brings high humidity and monsoonal rains. The extra water makes it easier for the reptiles to move from creek to creek, but recently Hayes has noticed the area has been uncharacteristically dry — which could cause the 'crocodile highway' to go quiet. 'Usually the end of the wet is signified by symbolic things like the dragonflies coming back. The spear grass shoots up really high… the sky is much clearer at night... and all that is happening," he said. Family's heartbreaking crocodile discovery prompts warning to Aussies: 'Be forever vigilant' Driver captures predator's wild act on Aussie beach: 'Never seen this' Sinister discovery in Aussie waterway sparks $36,000 fine: 'Contact police' Hayes returned to the road the following day and found more prints from the large male, as well as smaller ones from other crocs believed to be 1.5m to 2m in length. While he deals with crocodiles on a daily basis and is used to identifying tracks, Hayes said he's never seen a crossing as busy as this one. 'I've not seen that magnitude before, but I'm only just starting to explore more remote areas. The Territory is different every day, it's very, very cool. We're very lucky to live where we live." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
