Latest news with #tradesman
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Watch: Aussie tradie lucky to survive as ute hit by lightning while driving on rural road
Michael Sier is thanking his lucky stars that he's still alive today. The Aussie tradesman found himself stuck in the middle of a lightning storm as he drove home from a job on Sunday afternoon. Speaking to Yahoo News about potentially life-altering moment, he recalled how he'd just remarked to himself at how bad the weather conditions were on the rural road when he felt a thunderous bang inside his ute. "It just whacked the roof of the car, and I thought all four tires blew up, or an elephant landed on me," he said. Instead, the 57-year-old had just been struck by a bolt of lightning. Thankfully, Michael felt no electric shock, but he did start to smell smoke. His car horn started blaring, and all of the car's lights were now flashing. He dashed out of the ute, and the doors automatically locked as he stood outside in the elements. With all of his tools inside, he quickly smashed a window and frantically grabbed the equipment as smoke filled the car. "I then saw flames coming from the dash, and it was then that I started to panic a bit," he said. "It was just unbelievable." Within minutes, his ute was engulfed in flames. Michael watched on with his tools by his side, phoning the fire and rescue services in nearby Cooma, in New South Wales, for assistance. Standing on the rural road, Michael captured a video from his phone as his ute sat in flames nearby, sending thick, black smoke into the air. "Here's me old ute, struck by lightning", he can be heard saying in the footage. "She's about buggered." The NSW Rural Fire Service told Yahoo News eight firefighters and four firetrucks attended the scene, with the cause of the fire confirmed to be a lightning strike. "It was definitely lightning," Michel said. "Can't say I had any bombs on me at the time," he joked. 😲 Major weather event sees Aussie town overrun by 'rarely observed' phenomenon 🍻 Town longing for weekend sunshine after pub's campground forced to close ⚠️ Drivers warned of hidden killer on winter roads after horror crash Michael bought a lottery ticket the following morning, and is hoping to continue his lucky streak — since the odds of being struck by lightning are 1 in 12,000, according to Australia Wide First Aid. "My wallet burned to cinder, that was still in the ute," he explained. "I never have cash in my wallet as well... there was at least a couple of hundred [dollars] in there." But overall, he is beyond relieved to have lived to tell the tale, confessing to Yahoo that the magnitude of the incident still hasn't sunk in yet. "Guess I've got to buy another bloody ute now," he joked. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- News.com.au
Perth tradie charged with stealing and fraud after he allegedly took deposits from victims then never showed up for work
A tradesman has been accused of stealing almost $80,000 from customers after he allegedly took large deposits then failed to show up to do the work. Western Australia's consumer watchdog, Consumer Protection, said they were investigating Allan Jason Dean Howard, 30, after they received multiple complaints over the past two years about the Perth tradesman who operated under the name JD Howard and Allan's Plastering. Consumer Protection alleges Mr Howard took deposits from victims ranging from $1456 to $21,000 then failed to complete any work. Authorities allege Mr Howard responded to ads on trade-seeking platforms and social media looking for a tradesman to complete plastering jobs, rendering, roof plumbing and garage renovations. Consumer Protection allege the tradesman requested deposits as high as 50 per cent, despite the maximum deposit allowed for home building works to be no more than 6.5 per cent of the price. Consumer Protection commissioner Trish Blake said in light of the recent influx of complaints, they allege Mr Howard's business practices posed an ongoing danger to consumers who may engage his services. 'To prevent further financial loss, we strongly advise consumers to avoid dealing with Mr Howard and consider seeking alternative service providers,' she said. Mr Howard from Byford in Perth's southeast appeared in the Armadale Magistrates Court on Monday to face nine separate charges of stealing and fraud. Mr Howard is also the subject of a police investigation after several people came forward with allegations they had been targeted by a tradesman on social media. Financial Crime Squad detectives allege a small number of unscrupulous operators responded to ads and quoted on the job securing thousands of dollars in deposits then never carried out the work. Detective Senior Constable Goodgame warned people to check credentials such as ABNs, insurance, identification and have a formal contract drawn up and signed. 'We are urging Western Australians to remember to conduct reference checks on tradies who answer your advertisements and never be pressured into handing over substantial deposits,' 'And remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.'
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Kitchen fitter sues customer for libel after being branded 'worst I have ever seen' and an 'absolute joke' in online review
A kitchen fitter is suing a customer for libel after they posted a scathing online review branding him the 'worst I have ever seen'. Joiner Benjamin Johnson has resorted to the High Court after Stephen Helm said he was an 'absolute joke' and told others to 'avoid' him. On a website for tradesman reviews, Mr Helm claimed Mr Johnson 'damaged everything' and said he was 'the worst fitter I have ever seen'. Mr Johnson, based in Preston, claims customers cancelled scheduled jobs after seeing the post – costing him £19,000. In early 2022 Mr Johnson's firm, Johnson's Joinery, was hired by Mr Helm to work on his kitchen. That April, the pair argued about the 'standard' of Mr Johnson's fitting, which resulted in him stopping, a preliminary hearing was told. Mr Helm and Mr Johnson then agreed a settlement. The homeowner uploaded a review of Johnson's Joinery the following month to a website allowing users to discuss nearby businesses. The post, left online for 17 months, read: 'The worse [sic] fitter I have ever seen, ruined everything he touched, didn't do a full day. Damaged everything and can't draw a straight line... Lazy, dirty and dangerous health concerns regarding his work... Ben Johnson [and father the plumber] are to be avoided at all costs. 'He refunded our deposit and admitted liability by doing that however wouldn't pay the extras to rectify and remove everything he did and doesn't care about the impact to our home. 'Avoid, avoid, avoid... Absolute joke, embarrassing and when questioned for consumer rights claim said his feelings were hurt as we were questioning his character. Should not be in business so avoid.' Mr Helm is arguing he was sharing the 'truth and honest opinion'. He is also seeking damages for breach of contract. Richard Spearman KC, who dealt with the preliminary hearing, said: 'Looking at the review in the round, it seems to me that it plainly contains some statements of opinion and some statements of fact.' Mr Johnson said: 'I'm sick and tired of customers who think they can do what they want and think they can get away with it. 'I've lost two jobs that came up to about £19,000 because of this. 'I asked him [Mr Helm] to take it down and he said no, I had no choice but to take him to court to take it down.' The case continues.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I'm a Brit living in the US and my tradesman charged me MORE after I asked him a polite question
A British woman living in the U.S. revealed she was left baffled after asking her American tradesman a quintessentially English question, only for the gesture to spark confusion - and possibly even a hike in the bill. Amber, 29, from Lincolnshire Wolds, emigrated to Florida with her husband Josh and their son Rory in 2024 to pursue the 'American Dream,' and has since documented the ups and downs of their new life on social media. But in a recent TikTok video, shared to her account @_amberinamerica, Amber recounted how a visit from a local tradesman took a strange turn after she greeted him and, in typical British fashion, offered him a cup of tea. In the clip, she explained she had tried to be polite in extending a traditional gesture of hospitality by asking: 'Would you like a cuppa, mate?' The mother joked: 'It's basically something you learn at school in the UK. If you go to someone's house and they don't offer you a cuppa - the work ain't getting done for the quoted price.' However, Amber revealed the tradesman looked at her as if she had 'two heads,' before he politely declined her offer. She was later informed by her landlord that the work on her home was 'not getting done for the quoted price,' which left her wondering if her offer of tea had somehow offended him. Turning to her followers for answers, Amber posed the question: 'My American friends: do you offer tradesmen a drink - is that part of the culture here like it is in the UK? And if so, what do you offer?' The post drew hundreds of responses, with many viewers offering clarity on the 'cultural confusion.' One person wrote: 'My husband is a tradesmen. He will accept sealed water bottles and possibly sodas. He's not keen on excepting drinks out of strange cups and glasses. He says no thank you also.' Another British expat chimed: 'I'm living in Florida too. I always say fancy a cuppa? … then stall, then oh I mean tea… Or coffee… then I stumble my way to water or fizzy drink. Jeez it's complex.' Many explained that while hospitality is appreciated, in the U.S., it's more common to offer a cold bottled water or a can of soda. One person said: 'Generally we would offer a cold drink. Water, maybe lemonade or soda. A cup of tea seems like an invitation to sit and chitchat for hours lol.' Another wrote: 'It's not expected, but usually I offer a drink. Especially if they have been working a while and working outside. Usually a cold bottle of water, Gatorade, or pop lol I think he was just confused.' A third added: 'Tradesman here, a cold bottle of water or a can of Coke unless it is in the A. M. then it's coffee. I don't know anyone who drinks tea unless they have a sore throat.' One viewer speculated that the phrase 'cuppa' might have even thrown the tradesman off, adding: 'A cuppa he probably thought that was something more suggestive than it was. Hilarious!' Meanwhile, an American woman has revealed the one everyday British word that's so offensive in the United States, she claims she wouldn't even dare say it aloud. Amber Kacherian, a popular TikToker with nearly a million followers, has been visiting the UK and regularly posts about her culture shock experiences, from slang to baffling food labels. But one of her most recent videos has sent shockwaves through both sides of the Atlantic after she revealed three seemingly innocent English words that take on wildly different, and in some cases, inappropriate, meanings in the US. Amber starts the video with a warning: 'British people - do not say these words in America unless you want people to look at you very strangely.'
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Tradie survives horrific accident - but his workers' comp claim was denied for a ridiculous reason that every Aussie needs to know about
A tradie who fell through a skylight while working has been left struggling to support his family after his worker's compensation claim was rejected over a shocking technicality. Anthony Bell, 33, was just eight minutes into a patio installation at a home in Two Rocks, north of Perth, on February 3 when he fell 3.5 metres through a skylight that had been painted over and was not visible. He sustained bleeding on the brain and 19 broken bones and was rushed to hospital in critical condition. Things got even worse when his worker's compensation claim was denied because, as a contractor, Mr Bell was not legally considered an 'employee.' Since then, the young family has drained their life savings to challenge the decision in court, while also borrowing money to cover their mortgage and everyday expenses. All this is happening while the 33-year-old father awaits another surgery he hopes will allow him to return to work one day. Mr Bell was the only worker on the job when he fell into the suburban home in Two Rocks. His partner Klara Kitchen, 27, was adamant he could have died had the homeowner and his daughter not offered assistance after hearing the fall. '[We are] super lucky that the client was there. Otherwise it could have been a different story,' she Daily Mail Australia. 'He could have definitely died.' At first, the homeowner feared Mr Bell was dead when he found the tradesman unconscious and lying in a pool of blood. Miraculously, he regained consciousness and began apologising for causing damage to the home, before the homeowner told him to stay still and called an ambulance. Despite being concussed and critically injured, Mr Bell managed to give the homeowner Ms Kitchen's phone number. At the time, she was at home preparing breakfast for their daughter. 'I didn't actually know how bad it was until I saw him in the hospital, because obviously they didn't want to tell me that over the phone,' Ms Kitchen said. 'They just kind of said he'd been in an accident. He'd fallen off the roof,' she recalled. It wasn't until she arrived at Joondalup Hospital that the reality sank in. 'He was covered in blood because he'd been bleeding out of his right ear, so his whole neck was covered in blood,' she said. 'It was very traumatic to see him like that, for sure.' It has been a gruelling few months for the 33-year-old father, who was recently forced to take a bone graft from his hip for a shoulder surgery Doctors soon confirmed Mr Bell had suffered internal bleeding in his brain and made the decision to transfer him to Royal Perth Hospital for specialist care. 'That's when it I think it hit for both of us that it was worse than what we thought it was,' the young mum said. Eight sleepless nights passed before Ms Kitchen was able to persuade the hospital staff to discharge Mr Bell on the condition she would attend to him closely. Mr Bell then spent 12 weeks at home waiting for shoulder surgery. By the time doctors operated, his condition had worsened - his shoulder bone had deteriorated so much they had to take a bone graft from his hip and insert several plates. 'He couldn't really move much at all. And obviously it's really hard when you have such a young daughter that doesn't understand and wants to be picked up by dad and everything,' Ms Kitchen said. 'Still, now, he can't pick her up because of the weight limits he has.' The couple fears Mr Bell may never be able to make a full recovery given the physical nature of his work. Suffering from ADHD and dyslexia, Mr Bell does not believe he could find a suitable office job. The young family faces an uncertain future, with mortgage debt, childrearing expenses and prior legal expenses mounting well-beyond their means. Mr Bell had returned to patio installation last November after working fly-in-fly-out mining jobs, hoping to be closer to his family. Now, he knows that career is gone for good. Ms Kitchen's said her parents had 'drained their savings' to help the young family stay afloat along with donations from Mr Bell's grandparents and uncle. Recently, Mr Bell was forced to sell his car and the couple cancelled their daughter's first birthday celebration to meet their bills. 'We have had to miss out on a few things... the ordinary stuff that people would do, like going out on date nights, we obviously don't do any of that stuff anymore. 'It's pretty much just home and work, and that's it really.' On Tuesday, they launched a GoFundMe page which has since raised just over $4,000 towards a target of $11,000 - a move they were reluctant to make given neither likes to ask for favours. 'We were blown away with how generous people are and how willing they are to help others that are in need, because when we posted it, we didn't expect a lot at all,' Ms Kitchen said. 'Most people didn't realize how bad it really was and how much we were struggling because we just don't show it on the outside. We just want to stay positive and just live our lives.' To donate, a link to Mr Bell's fundraiser can be found here.
