Story Archive

Peer Pressure

The day after a man disappeared in a suspected crocodile attack near Innisfail, Qld., Australia, a group of people at a youth hostel in Innisfail “dared” Lee de Paauw, 18, to follow up on his bragging that he could swim across the river. It was 2:30 a.m., but he dove in. “Pretty much as soon as he jumped in, there was splashing and screaming,” said Sophie Paterson, a British backpacker who was staying at the hostel. “There was blood everywhere and he just wouldn’t stop screaming.” Somehow, de Paauw managed to get out of the water by himself, and was treated by medics for “serious wounds” to his arm. “It all happened very fast,” said Paterson, who admitted she was one of the group who egged de Paauw on. (RC/AP) ...Obliviots: at the mercy of the rest of society since the Stone Age.