THOUSANDS of people fled central Brisbane yesterday as the panicked city braced for its worst flooding in 120 years, after terrifying flash floods left 10 dead and 78 missing.

The crew of a coal-carrying ship that ran aground on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and is leaking oil will be questioned today about why their vessel was in a restricted area, an official said.

A BRITISH diver thought he and his American girlfriend would be eaten alive by sharks as they spent a long and traumatic night floating over Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

A woman who was killed when a stingray jumped out of the water in the Florida Keys and hit her face died of skull fractures and brain injuries, not from the animal’s poisonous barb, a medical examiner said today.

The widow of TV “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin is to launch non-lethal research of whales in Antarctic waters next year, in a bid to shame Japan’s scientific whale kill.

Police suspended their search today for the crew of a ghost-ship yacht found drifting off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, saying there was little chance of finding the three men alive.

Three men who disappeared from a “Mary Celeste” catamaran found drifting off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef may have fallen overboard in rough seas nearly a week ago, police said today.

Up to 10 stingrays have been found dead and mutilated on Australia’s eastern coast since “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin was killed by one of the animals last week, an official said today, prompting concerns of revenge attacks on the normally docile fish.

Television critic and author Clive James has launched a scathing attack on the thirst for fame that is fuelling the reality television phenomenon.

A man in custody following a recent murder Sydney is also being investigated over the disappearance of English backpacker Peter Falconio.