WA news LIVE: Hero dad identified after Bremer Bay drowning; Sam Kerr faces court​on February 3, 2025 at 11:34 pm

The man who drowned at Bremer Bay while attempting to save two children from a rip last month has been identified as a father of three and former member of the Royal Australian Navy.

Ricky Harris had entered the water at Native Dog Beach with a group of four people to save two young children – including his own son – from a rip when he found himself in trouble on January 14.

Harris was taken to shore, where he was given emergency first aid as police and paramedics rushed to the scene.

He was taken by ambulance to Bremer Bay Nursing Post, but could not be revived.

A GoFundMe page set up at the end of January described Harris as “a loving son, brother, brother-in-law, son-in-law, and uncle” who dedicated 12 years of his life to the navy, before joining mining contractor Linkforce.

The fundraiser, organised by David Hodgson on behalf of Harris’ wife, Aurelie, aimed to raise money for funeral costs, day-to-day expenses and to provide a foundation for the Harris family.

“Ricky was more than a hero in his final moments—he was a loving father and husband, a dedicated colleague, a loyal friend, and someone who always put others before himself,” the post read.

As of Monday night, almost $60,000 had been raised of the $100,000 goal.

Harris’ death came within an hour of another drowning tragedy in Perth’s east, after 17-year-old Tyler Jury died while swimming at Lake Leschenaultia.

WA has had a tragic start to the year in this regard, with 40-year-old Olya Tikhanova also drowning after being swept off rocks near Esperance, and Dr Mohammad Shahidul Hasan Swapan and his wife Sabrina Ahmed drowning while trying to save their daughter at Conspicuous Cliff beach near Walpole. Another man died last week after being pulled from the water in the Mandurah estuary.

Here’s what’s making headlines today:

Getting warmer today, a top of 36 degrees.

Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, February 4.

Making news today is a sneak peek at an upcoming culinary event to be showcased as part of the Perth Festival which – can you believe it’s here already? – opens on Friday.

A Kimberley bullock running through pindan country is chased down, killed and butchered, in a time-worn tradition that puts meat on the plates of many Aboriginal families in Western Australia’s north.

Chad Creighton has been doing it since he was a small child growing up in Broome.

Now, he’s teamed up with Emilia Galatis for “nose to tail” culinary event Killa: Pindan to Plate, which documents a bullock hunt in Karajarri country near Bidyadanga with a team of experienced Aboriginal cattlemen.

Victoria Laurie has the full story. You can read it here.

And we have an update on the trial involving Sam Kerr in London. Read it here.