News in 5: Mesh campaigner dies; 'Redheads have 'superpowers'; Sydney swimmers get hypothermia.

1. Mum-of-two passes away four years after she was given a pelvic mesh implant.

Mum-of-two Christina Brajcic was rushed to hospital in late October with sepsis, after an infection from the pelvic mesh she'd had inserted years before led to organ and heart failure. A month later, and she's passed away.

"How did I go from having an infection to heart failure? At 42? Dang mesh," the outspoken pelvic mesh campaigner said in a Facebook live video while from her hospital bed only weeks ago.

"I don't want this to happen to anybody. This is insane," she said.

"To... almost be on your death bed at 42 because of mesh, it's not right. I'm terrified at what we all go through and I never want another woman or man dealing with mesh to go through this."

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Christina experienced severe pain immediately after having the mesh midurethral sling implanted in 2013 following the birth of her second son. Her surgeon dismissed her incredible pain and complications as side-effects of the mesh "settling in" to her body.

Christina finally found a surgeon to remove the mesh, but spent the next four years of her life in a wheelchair and on a constant prescription of strong antibiotics, painkillers and anti-nausea medications.

Last week, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) deemed transvaginal mesh for the sole purpose of pelvic prolapse and single incision mini-slings "too risky", removing them the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

The TGA's review found the risks associated with the devices - most commonly used by surgeons to treat urinary incontinence - far outweighed the benefits. Hundreds of Australian women have complained that the implants have left them with chronic pain and ongoing infection, with many unable to have sex.

Other medical complications can include bleeding, abscess, vaginal scarring and tightening. Earlier this year, 700 women filed a class action against vaginal mesh manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.

The TGA's ban takes effect from January 4, but in the wake of Christina's death, Australian pelvic mesh campaigner Caz Chisholm says the ban should be extended to all pelvic mesh devices as soon as possible.

"Chrissy was sick for many years. She fought hard, She was 42 years old and leaves behind two very young sons and a husband," she wrote to TGA debut secretary John Skerritt last week, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

"It was a Johnson & Johnson stress incontinence midurethral sling that destroyed her life and finally took it forever.

"Women who are permanently injured by these devices do not consider them to be the gold standard. How can they be when the risks can be so catastrophic?"

2. Man accidentally runs over his wife of more than 50 years on the driveway of their SA home.

Graham Kennewell, 91, and his wife Freda had bought a new home in the small town of Williamstown, South Australia just six weeks ago.

They only spent their first night there together last week.

But now, Graham faces life without his wife of nearly 50 years by his side, after a tragic accident in the home's driveway.

According to 7 News, Graham was reversing a car up the driveway, when he accidentally hit and killed his wife.

"Somehow or other he's got disoriented and not knowing where he was and unfortunately, she was somewhere behind the car," the couple's son-in-law Michael Lange told 7 News.

Neighbours heard the crash and rushed to help, administering CPR to Freda while waiting for the ambulance. Sadly, the 83-year-old could not be saved and died at the scene.

"Graham unfortunately he's just devastated by the whole thing... he's lost the love of his life," Michael said.

Police are continuing to investigate the accident.

3. Redheads rejoice! According to science, you may have 'genetic superpowers'.

According to a new book, redheads may have 'genetic superpowers' thanks to the gene mutation that gives their hair its trademark hue.

The book - The Big Redhead Book, written by author Erin La Rosa (a ginger herself) - is filled with fun facts about what makes redheads just so special.

For one, they make up just two per cent of the population. They also have a greater ability to create their own vitamin D. That means a redhead produces more vitamin D - which can prevent rickets, diabetes and arthritis - in a shorter amount of time than people with say, blonde or brown hair.

The genetic mutation also means that women with red hair are able to tolerate up to 25 per cent more pain that others. Of course, that also means they require more general aesthetic during surgery - a study from the University of Louisville found that it takes around 20 per cent more anaesthesia to sedate a redhead than it does others.

The book also claims that redheads can feel temperatures more severely than anyone else, are more popular in TV commercials and are also seen as "funnier" than the rest of the population.

Guess that explains why clowns always seem to have bright red hair, right?

4. 25 swimmers treated for hypothermia after annual swimming event at Sydney's Bondi beach.

It's an event meant to kick off the start of the summer beach season. But on Sunday, the annual Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim turned into a medical emergency when 25 competitors had to be treated for hypothermia.

According to 9 News, the water temperature at one of Australia's most famous beaches was just 15 degrees - seven degrees below the December average - when the event kicked off at 9.30am.

Some swimmers had to be pulled from the water during the race and were attend by paramedics, who wrapped them in towels and thermal blankets.

Other competitors didn't feel the effects of the unusually cold water until they passed the finish line on Bronte beach.

One competitor, Maddison Murray, told 7 News she couldn't walk once she hit the sand at the finish line.

"I didn't have recollection of where I was or who I was or what I just did," she said.

"It was horrible."

Twenty-five swimmers were treated by paramedics during the race, with three transported to hospital for further care.

5. Apparently, eating cheese might be good for your health after all.

Good news: scientist have officially declared that a daily dose of cheese may actually be good for your health, and could even reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

According to The Herald Sun, researchers in China found that eating a 40g portion of cheese daily can reduce the chances of developing heart disease by 14 per cent.

The same portion can also lower the risk of a stroke by 10 per cent.

The study, conducted by experts at Soochow University in Suzhou, China, pulled together the results of 15 other previous studies on the link between cheese and heart health.

Their analysis found that those eating a 40g serving of cheese - the size of a small matchbox each day - had the greatest reduction in risk to their health.

"Cheese contains saturated fatty acids but also has potentially beneficial nutrients," the report read.

"It's unclear how long-term consumption affects the development of cardiovascular disease.

"This study suggests an inverse association between cheese and health."

The current Nutrition Australia guidelines state adults should eat a minimum of 2.5 serves of dairy a day - and luckily, 40g of life-saving cheese accounts for one serve.

6. Family wakes from coma two weeks after eating 'toxic' meat from wild boar.

Three members of a family living in New Zealand who were left in a vegetative state after eating wild boar have woken from their comas.

Shibu Kochummen, 35, his 32-year-old wife Subi Babu and Mr Kochummen's 62-year-old mother were left unconscious after eating the meat of a wild boar Kochummen had caught on a hunting trip.

It's believed all three consumed the potentially fatal botulism toxin, and became ill just 30 minutes after finishing their meal, with Kochummen passing out while on the phone to paramedics.

All three had been on life-support machines in hospital since November 10, and doctors worried they would be paralysed for life. But the New Zealand Herald reports all three family members have defied the odds and are now awake.

Friends said Babu, a nurse, immediately asked after her two children - aged seven and one - upon opening her eyes.

"It was difficult to understand because her tongue was slurring so much, but she got the message across," friend  Joji Varghese told the New Zealand Herald.

"I'm just so happy. I'm really just trying to get all my thoughts into place: I'm happy-confused."

They are facing a lengthy period of rehabilitation to get their bodies functioning normally again.