7NEWS Spotlight

Olympian and world champion snowboarder Alex “Chumpy” Pullin tragically lost his life in 2020 while spearfishing in a free diving accident near the Gold Coast.As the snowboarding community grieved the loss of the popular 32-year-old, Chumpy’s long-term partner, Ellidy Vlug, was left devastated. The couple had just bought their dream home on the Gold Coast and were trying for a baby.After Chumpy’s death, Laura and Ellidy’s brother Dave came to Ellidy in her darkest moment to suggest posthumous sperm retrieval from Chumpy. 37 hours after Chumpy died, and with the consent of his family, a doctor successfully removed viable sperm.7NEWS Spotlight reporter Denham Hitchcock spoke with Ellidy, their family and the couple’s friends, including legendary surfer Mick Fanning, over several months, creating a documentary that delivers a heart-warming and fascinating look at love, loss and miracles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New developments in the global mystery surrounding UFOs with host Michael Usher and investigative journalist Ross Coulthart. An Australian witness to the infamous Westall incident in Melbourne finally breaks their silence about a cover-up. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEczN_8Q380See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro and criminal anthropologist Dr Xanthe Mallett join Michael Usher to delve into the minds of some of the world's worst psychopaths, narcissists and sociopaths to unravel the real reasons behind their chilling crimes. Cases include Dalia Dippolito, Jerrod Murray, Fiona Barbieri and Ivan Milat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This major 7NEWS investigation examines the critical errors and cover-ups in the deepening Ruby Princess coronavirus crisis, to date responsible for seven deaths and 10 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Australia.Featuring interviews with key players at the centre of the developing scandal and passengers aboard the fateful cruise, 7NEWS reveals damning new information in documents obtained from the highest echelons of government detailing the truth of what the boarding passengers of the Ruby Princess unwittingly walked into, and those who knew about it.It was a cruise that should have been cancelled. When 2,700 holidaymakers boarded the Ruby Princess on March 8 for a round-tour of New Zealand, what they didn’t know was they were walking on to a floating petri dish that, hours before they’d stepped aboard, sick passengers from the previous tour had disembarked.By the time the ship returned to Sydney in the early hours on March 19, the COVID-19 virus had spread rapidly through the ship. Yet all passengers were granted permission to come ashore and use any means of travel to return to their homes both in Australia and in many cases, overseas – no warnings of the dangers they faced, the peril on board, and the danger they now posed to the wider community.7NEWS investigative reporter Denham Hitchcock presents this explosive investigation into how the Ruby Princess became a breeding ground for the largest cluster of COVID-19 in the country, now spread to every state and territory – and other parts of the world.This special originally aired April 5, 2020.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five-time Walkley Award-winning investigative journalist Ross Coulthart – who has been investigating the phenomena for the past two years – has led the 7NEWS Spotlight team across the US, amassing never-before-seen compelling evidence and speaking to the key players behind an event that will change the course of history. Featuring interviews with the highest echelons of military defence and intelligence officials, leading researchers, scientists and witnesses in America and Australia, this mind-blowing documentary years in the making seeks to answer the most fundamental question there is: are we alone? Watch this investigation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtpxiNvGCp4See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant has thrown Australia’s two biggest cities back into lockdown, prompted State borders to slam shut again, and raised even more questions about the glacial pace of the nation’s vaccine rollout.This 7NEWS Spotlight special examines how the Delta variant found its way here, why so much of Australia has been plunged back into crisis, and the terrible toll it is taking on the health of many Australians, our communities and our economy.Told through the eyes of the people on the frontline – the real Australians who are fighting COVID-19 and fighting to survive it – this special report includes startling revelations about the failure of the vaccine rollout and first-hand accounts of battling the virus including from NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall. 7NEWS Spotlight: Delta Crisis Exposed is essential listening for all Australians, as we confront one of the biggest public health scares in our nation’s history. Watch the episode on 7plus or YouTube.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Matthew Ames fell ill in June 2013, he thought he had just come down with the flu. And four doctors agreed, sending him home to rest. When the pain became unbearable, he took himself to hospital. Matthew had contracted a streptococcal infection that ravaged his body, leading to the amputation of both arms and both legs. Rather than dwell on what he'd lost, Matthew got on with rehabilitation and adjusting to his new normal, with his wife and four kids by his side. Mike Willesee met this incredible family in 2013.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia was scarred forever by the horrors at Port Arthur in 1996. 35 people died when Bryant ran amok with his arsenal of weapons at the busy tourist destination of Port Arthur in Tasmania. The appalling crime wounded many more, scarred the nation, shocked the world and changed us forever. For the first time, his lawyer, his psychiatrist and his girlfriend break their silence to reveal new insights into the criminal mind of Australia’s worst mass murderer. But even more revealing is the video of the police interrogation of Bryant. Until this episode aired, it had never been shown outside court. Mike Willesee led this special investigation for Sunday Night. This episode originally aired in 2016.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Madeleine McCann was just three years old when she vanished from her bed while on holiday in Portugal. There have been multiple sightings and her parents accused of foul play, but there's still no definitive answer as to what happened. Rahni Sadler sits down with Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann, investigator Gonçalo Amaral, who was removed from the case, and other key players in the case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this royal special event, Melissa Doyle sits down with those who knew Diana, Princess of Wales best: her butler Paul Burrell, her bodyguard Ken Wharfe, her best friend Rosa Monckton and journalist Richard Kay. They open up about the struggles behind the smile and the heartache inside that generous heart. Plus Diana's never-before-seen letters in which she predicted her death.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.