EXCLUSIVE
Ryan Geoffrey Cole allegedly went on a shooting rampage on Wednesday – his 31st birthday
A tradesman who allegedly gunned down a mother then shot a good Samaritan who rushed to her aid in Central Queensland had his life saved as a teenager after being bitten by one of the world’s most deadly snakes.
Ryan Geoffrey Cole, 31, allegedly shot his neighbour Natalie Jane Frahm, 34, in the head and chest as she pulled up in her car outside her house on Robb Place, South Mackay, on Wednesday afternoon.
James Trevor McGill, 66, who was in the street visiting his elderly mother, raced over to help Ms Frahm and was allegedly also shot in the chest. Ms Frahm died at the scene while Mr McGill was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Cole, who celebrated his 31st birthday on the day of the alleged murder, made headlines in 2008 after he was bitten on the foot by a coastal Taipan – the third most venomous snake in the world.
Then aged 15, Cole was jumping into the Burnett River in his hometown of Mundubberra, about 390km northwest of Brisbane, when the snake struck him twice on the foot.
Natalie Frahm, 34, (pictured) has been identified as the alleged victim of the attack
Police are pictured processing the scene on Robb Place, in South Mackay, on Wednesday after the alleged double shooting
He started convulsing and bleeding from the mouth, but was saved by his brother Jakob, 16, and mates Scott Smith, Josh Allen, Lee Carsons and Torren Wood, who dragged him from the waterhole, bandaged his foot with a t-shirt, and called triple-0.
Cole was rushed to hospital and pumped with nearly a litre of anti-venom to save his life.
Incredibly, it was the second time Cole had been bitten by a snake.
‘I think I’m going to have to be a bit careful when I go into the bush in future,’ Cole told media at the time.
Cole’s older brother and friends were bestowed with bravery award in 2011 for their rescue efforts.
Tragically, Jakob Cole died the following year, in July 2012, aged 20.
Cole (left) made headlines in 2008 after being bitten – and surviving – the third most venomous land snake in the world
Daily Australia understands the South Mackay property where Cole was living is owned by his mother, however, it is unclear whether she was also residing at the premises.
Ms Frahm, a young mother, moved to Mackay several years ago from her hometown, of Mount Isa, located 1,230 km west in outback Queensland.
Her family are well known within the small town, where they run local businesses.
In 2015, Ms Framh made local headlines after winning a regional prize – the EMO Trans Northern Outback Business Awards – for her beauty spa, Bellovista Spa & Skin Clinic.
The tragedy has rocked the quiet coastal suburb, which thrusted into a massive emergency lockdown amid the alleged shootings.
Police will allege Cole opened fire on Ms Frahm about 4.30pm while she sat in her car with two teenage girls – her daughter and her daughter’s friend – before fleeing the scene in a Mitsubishi Triton.
The teenagers – aged 11 and 12 – fled to a nearby residence to seek help, before Mr McGill, who was in the area visiting his elderly mother, was allegedly shot.
Police were called and an exclusion zone was put in place at 5.20pm as officers searched the area for the alleged gunman.
Cole was arrested about 7.45pm outside a service station on the Bruce Highway near Hilton Street, about 2km away.
The incident forced police to plunge the surrounding area into a lockdown as they searched for the alleged gunman (pictured, exclusion zone)
It is understood Cole and Ms Frahm did not know each other, but resided on the same street.
A neighbour said she was shocked by the chain of events, saying she frequently saw Cole in the street.
‘He seemed nice,’ she said.
‘He has been living there for a while. He seemed like a good style of a man. He would always drive past and smile. I’d see him working on his boat or with his carpenter’s trolley.
‘[What allegedly happened] is all very sad.’
Cole appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday morning via watch-house video link, charged with murder and attempted murder.
He was remanded in custody to appear back before the court at a later date.
