Pommy cricket star spotted in Brisbane after near-death incident

English all-rounder Ben Stokes was spotted chugging down some late-night ale in a popular Brisbane drinking hole after a recent frightening incident almost saw him choke to death.

Ben Stokes catches during an England Ashes Squad nets session at The Gabba this week.

English all-rounder Ben Stokes is apparently well recovered from a frightening incident that saw the 30-year-old almost choke to death on a tablet.

The star was spotted chugging down some late-nights ale at popular Howard Smith Wharves’ drinking hole Mr Percivals this week as he prepares for the Ashes Test next Wednesday.

A City Beat spy tells us Stokes was in good spirits after his near fatal encounter, which occurred before his arrival in Brisbane.

“It got stuck in my windpipe causing me to choke horribly before the glands in my face went into overdrive to flush it out,” Stokes told the UK Daily Mirror.

“Until it actually came out, I thought this might be the end. We’ve all had those moments when something gets stuck in the throat, and usually someone can help you out.”

Stokes was quietly enjoying a few beers with his entourage but what really surprised our spy was the lack of sledging of the Pommy cricket star by the locals.

“What are we coming to if we can’t have a bit of a go at the old enemy?” he lamented. Hopefully, with the rain clearing both the Poms and the Aussies will be able to get some practice in before the first ball is due to be bowled Wednesday morning.

Gabba general manager Mark Zundans says corporate boxes at the iconic ground have been booked solid for the test with about 3000 business types expected to enjoy the cricket in first class comfort. Zundans says the various catering packages on offer include everything from “pies and sausage rolls” to “lobster and caviar.”

Ben Stokes catches during an England Ashes Squad nets session at The Gabba this week.

MORE PAIN

The collapse of building giant Privium is unlikely to be the last major failure in the struggling construction sector.

Revive Financial head of business restructuring and insolvency Jarvis Archer says construction companies have been over-represented in insolvency numbers in the past year and it is not likely to get any better. “There is speculation that a number of other major construction companies are in financial difficulty,” says Archer.

He says that overall insolvency appointments to mid-November are significantly up on 2020, but are still 45 per cent below pre-Covid numbers.

Construction represented 28 per cent of insolvencies up to mid-November similar to 2020. However construction insolvencies from July 2021 to November 2021 were 22 per cent of total insolvencies, up from 17 per cent for the same period last year.

Privium creditors are waiting for a report due later this month from administrators FTI Consulting on the $80m collapse of the company.

Administrators have taken over Privium Homes.

SPIN DOCTORS GONGS

Local public relations firm BBS Communications Group picked up four gongs at the Public Relations Industry Association (PRIA) awards this week.

BBS won two gold trophies and two silver for various campaigns including their work for St Vincent’s Health Services, Brisbane Girls Grammar School and AVID Property Group. BBS account manager Gina Calder won a silver trophy for emerging leader of the year.

The PRIA Golden Target Awards are Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious public relations and communications industry awards, recognising strategic and creative thinking and  high-achieving people.

YOUNG GUNS

There is a new kid on the legal block with young lawyers Philip Coates and Elizabeth Davey hanging out their shingle in Turbot St.

Coates and Davey met while studying at the Queensland University of Technology, and eventually joined forces to start Coates Davey Solicitors.

The firm covers criminal law, traffic and drink driving offences, domestic violence, statutory prosecutions and corporate crime, commercial litigation, employment law; and building and construction law. Coates heads up the commercial side of the law firm, while Davey is heading the criminal side.