A man who broke both his legs after drunkenly breaking into Aldershot Lido took his own life in part due to fears he could be permanently disabled, an inquest has heard. Barry Douglas, 44, was found dead at his home in Aldershot on February 17th, 2022. An inquest into his death, led by coroner Christopher Wilkinson, on Wednesday (September 14th 2022) concluded Mr Douglas had taken his own life. In August 2021, Mr Douglas and his friend Claire Vickers broke into Aldershot Lido at 2 am following a day of drinking with the 44-year-old reportedly having also taken cocaine.
The pair went down a waterslide and crashed into a barrier at the bottom. Mr Douglas broke both legs meaning he was no longer able to continue his job as a forklift driver, and was forced to move into supported housing as he was wheelchair-bound during his recovery. The inquest heard that following the accident in August 2021, Mr Douglas suffered low mood due to not being able to work, for which he was prescribed antidepressants, as well as financial worries due to relying on disability benefits, and concerns that he could be left wheelchair bound. In a statement, Mr Douglas’s mother Ruth said: “The accident didn’t help his frame of mind but he didn’t say he was depressed to me.
Aldershot Lido (Image: Grahame Larter)
“He complained about cold in his flat, so I asked him to come home to Scotland, but being independent he refused. He was worried about money, going from a full-time wage to benefits was a big drop. He was desperate to get back to work but he was told it could take two years to be fit again, and there was a concern that he could be left disabled.”
Mr Douglas was dependent on alcohol, sometimes drinking 500ml to 1 litre of vodka per day, and was engaging with a substance abuse support service called Inclusion in the months before his death. He was also an occasional user of cocaine and heroin.
'We Broke Our Legs Breaking Into A Waterpark & Were Trapped For Three Hours' | This Morning
He shared with Inclusion that he was reducing his alcohol intake and was also attending peer support sessions. He was due to attend a session on February 15, two days before his death, but he did not attend.
'We Broke Our Legs Breaking Into A Waterpark & Were Trapped For Three Hours' | This Morning
Giving evidence at the inquest, Clare Hatherley, harm reduction coordinator at Inclusion Hampshire, said: “After the accident in 2021 he referred himself to us. I feel there were some gaps in our practice which may not have directly contributed to Barry’s death, but there were processes in place that weren’t followed, unfortunately. I feel with the complexity of his issues he should have been triaged to a different pathway, and due to his opiate use he should have been offered all detox options.”
Ms Hatherley explained Inclusion’s procedures had been updated and the staff member and team involved with supporting Mr Douglas have been given additional training. On February 17 one of Mr Douglas’s friends contacted staff at the supported housing because they were concerned they had not heard from him in a few days.
Staff carried out a welfare check in Mr Douglas’s flat and found him dead. It is believed he had died up to a day before his body was found.
A post-mortem examination found his medical cause of death was 1A hanging, and a toxicology report analysing his blood samples found Mr Douglas had alcohol 4.3 times the drink drive limit in his system. The coroner Mr Wilkinson said: “My conclusion is not only did Mr Douglas undertake the effort to take his life, he had the intent to do so even under the influence of alcohol. “Therefore on the balance of probabilities I reach a conclusion of suicide. Mr Douglas took his own life impulsively while under the influence of alcohol.”
Article 2
Four dead after two helicopters collide in mid-air near Sea World theme park in Australia
The mid-air collision happened just outside the theme park on the Gold Coast in Queensland when the park would have been busy with families enjoying the summer school holidays.
The mid-air collision, just outside Sea World on the Gold Coast, happened at around 2pm local time when the park would have been busy with families enjoying the summer school holidays.
Initial information suggested one of the helicopters had been taking off and the other had been landing when they collided, Queensland Police Acting Inspector Gary Worrell said.
Four people on the other helicopter were instantly killed after it nosedived heavily into a sandbar on the Gold Coast close to the take off point. Sadly pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, British newlyweds Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros all lost there lives.
The crumpled remains of the Seaworld helicopter piloted by Ash Jenkinson rests on a sand bank.
British Newlyweds Ron and Dianne Hughes were also victims of the tragic accident.
Pilot Ash Jenkinson died..
Simon Tadros confirmed his wife, Vanessa, was one of four people who were killed when two helicopters crashed near Sea World on the Gold Coast.
“Vanessa was a truly remarkable woman … she was one of the most humble, kindest, sweetest and generous human beings I have ever known,” Fajloun said.
“Her energy was infectious and her smile contagious. Everyone she met, she touched.
“We pray, hope and believe that God will spare young Nicholas to live and carry on his mum’s legacy.”
The husband of Vanessa Tadros, who was killed in a helicopter crash on the Australian Gold Coast on Monday 2nd January 2023 has asked for people to pray for their 10-year-old child as he is “fighting for his life”. In a Facebook post Simon Tadros told customers of Vanessa’s event planning business that his wife and their son, Nicholas, were among the victims of the crash. “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have to inform everyone of the passing of my beautiful wife and mother to my son, Vanessa,” he said. “Vanessa was one of the victims in the Sea World helicopter crash that happened on the Gold Coast a couple of days ago. While my son is fighting for life in the ICU [at a] Gold Coast hospital.” Tadros asked for prayers for his son in a separate comment on Facebook. “I do ask that if everyone can please say a prayer for Nicky, so he can wake up and make a good recovery,” he said. “He is in an induced coma on a life support machine to help him breath[e]. He is in a very serious and critical state. I’m asking for all your prayers to bring my little man back to me.” Vanessa Tadros, 36, was with Nicholas when two Sea World helicopters crashed into one another on Monday afternoon.
A friend of the family, Rochelle Fajloun, has launched a fundraiser to assist with funeral and medical costs. As of noon Wednesday, it had raised almost $10,000.
Fajloun said Tadros had witnessed the “accident unfold and is totally shattered”.
‘Pray for my little man’: Dad’s plea after chopper crash killed wife, injured son.
On Tuesday 3rd Jan 2023, Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was 'still early days' in the investigation when asked by reporters if charges were likely. Commissioner Carroll asked the public to be 'patient' with the investigation that is being lead by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 'They are quite comprehensive investigations. We will prepare a report for the Coroner and assist the ATSB.' 'We have got a lot of work to do; ATSB have got a lot of work to do. These are meticulous investigations that need to be done exceptionally well.' The collision occurred just 20 seconds after the lower aircraft took off, the two Eurocopter EC130s collided around 60 metres off the ground. As the first chopper gained altitude, it smashed into the second helicopter, which appeared to be descending. The churning rotors of the first helicopter ripped into the cabin of the second one, shattering its glass cockpit just centimetres from the pilot and passengers inside. Eyewitnesses said they saw a terrifying cloud of broken glass and debris explode as the two aircraft ploughed into each other in mid-air. The devastating force of the collision ripped the rotor unit and gearbox from the lower chopper, immediately sending it hopelessly tumbling out of control. It spun upside down and plummeted to the ground below, smashing into a sandbar, killing the pilot, Mr and Mrs Hughes and Ms Tadros on impact. Incredibly though, the pilot of the second aircraft managed to maintain control of his chopper despite the extensive damage to its front fuselage. A Sea World visitor told 7 News they'd seen one of the aircraft 'in a tailspin with the cockpit windows falling away after impact'.
The pilot of the second aircraft managed to maintain control of his chopper despite the extensive damage to its front fuselage. All passengers and the pilot landed safely.. The second helicopter's cockpit was severely damaged, but pilot Michael James, 52, managed to land on the sandbar, saving the lives of his five passengers. They are two New Zealand couples - Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg and Marle and Edward Swart - in their 40s who were travelling together, along with an unnamed Australian woman. A second video shows Mr James, after remarkably landing his own helicopter moments earlier, rushing over to the other chopper and helping those trapped inside by handing a knife to bystanders to cut them free from their seatbelts.
Also on that helicopter were Winnie de Silva, 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon. The community support worker, originally from Kenya, spoke for the first time about the tragedy which has left her son in a coma. She said she had dreamed of taking her little boy on a helicopter but just 20 seconds after take-off she heard a 'loud bang' and felt 'shaking' as the main rotor blades smashed through the cockpit of the second helicopter. 'I could see the pilot pressing all these buttons, stressed out – he didn't know what to do. I don't remember much [after that] but everyone was trembling and worried,' Ms de Silva said. Gripped with terror as the Eurocopter EC130 started to nosedive towards the ground, she squeezed her son's hand as tightly as she could. 'The only thing I could see was death in my eyes. I didn't want to see death in my eyes so I closed them and held my son's hand beside me,' she said.
Vanessa Tadros, 36, and her ten-year-old son Nicholas hold up their Sea World helicopter pass on Monday
Winnie de Silva rests in bed at the Gold Coast University Hospital. Ms de Silva has two broken legs, a broken right shoulder, a broken collarbone and a damaged left knee after the crash
Just seconds later the helicopter burst into flames as it crashed into a sandbar. She remembers opening her eyes while trapped in the wreckage. 'My feet and right arm were stuck. I remember screaming and yelling out for help… I wasn't able to get out,' Ms de Silva said. Shortly after, a police officer came to her aid asking for her name and date of birth but she couldn't remember. She suffered two broken legs, severe damage to her left knee, a badly broken right shoulder and shattered her collarbone in the impact. Doctors expect her to remain at the Gold Coast University Hospital for several weeks and now faces months of operations, rehabilitation and recovery.
Marle and Edward Swart, pictured, from Auckland had minor injuries from the glass but were otherwise fine.
Leon de Silva - Sea World chopper crash victim Leon de Silva, 9, wakes from coma and is now in a stable condition in hospital
Ash Jenkinson, the helicopter pilot who died in the crash, was originally from Birmingham but lived in the Gold Coast area.
A friend said the pilot was a 'silent hero and gentle giant' who 'would have done everything to bring the helicopter down safely'.
'He was a top guy with so much experience. He's flown in all sorts of terrain and environments, we're completely shocked,' Ritchie Gregg said.
TRENDING
Auckland couple Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg were involved in the helicopter collision. Credit: Riaan Steenberg/ Facebook
The company did not confirm if it operated one or both helicopters involved in the crash, saying it would not comment further because of the investigation. A witness named John told Melbourne radio station 3AW that patrons at Sea World heard the crash, and staff moved swiftly to close off areas closest to the crash. "There was a massive, massive bang," he said. "It was just huge. "I'm not sure if it was the propellers or whatever hitting against each other. But there was this poor lady and her son near the helipad in tears." Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the accident was an "unthinkable tragedy". "My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident," she said. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said an investigation into the cause of the crash was under way.
Sea World chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson one of those killed in horror Gold Coast chopper crash
Sea World chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson one of those killed in horror Gold Coast chopper crash.
Article 3
Evgenia Emerald talked about her pregnancy (Photo:emerald.evgeniya/Instagram)
The famous Ukrainian sniper, the officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Evgenia Emerald, with the call sign “Joan of Arc” married her beloved military man. The couple got married right on the front line in the Kharkiv region. The official ceremony was conducted by a military General.
Groom and military soldier Yevgeny Stipanyuk carries a lecturn to the secret ceremony..
The bride was in a white dress, and the groom was in military uniform. For the bouquet, the bride had ears of wheat.
“Today I officially became the wife of a military man. It happened on the front line and the general of the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted the ceremony. I could not imagine more ideal wedding! This is a special day – there are a lot of holidays. I want to congratulate all the defenders. Glory to the Heroes! I also congratulate my beloved, because today it’s his birthday. Now he will definitely never forget the date of his wedding,” Emerald shared.
Eugene and Eugenia met after the start of a full-scale invasion. In August, Emerald announced that she and her lover got engaged.
It is known that before the start of the war, Evgenia Emerald was engaged in the jewelry business. With the start of the invasion, she joined the defense, and then the special forces regiment “Safari”.
The exchange of rings..
“Today I officially became the wife of a military man. It happened on the front line and the general of the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted the ceremony,” Emerald said.
“This is a special day — there are a lot of holidays. I want to congratulate all the defenders. Glory to the Heroes! I also congratulate my beloved, because today it’s his birthday. Now he will definitely never forget the date of his wedding.”
Emerald is overwhelmed as she signs the marriage registry.
I now pronounce you man and wife, The happy couple pose for another photograph.
Sniper Dubbed 'Ukrainian Joan Of Arc' Shares What Saved Her Life
Before the war, Emerald worked in the jewelry business, but when Russia launched its invasion of her home, she joined the defense, and eventually became part of the Safari special forces regiment.
The wedding was held just days after Russia coordinated an airstrike targeting nearly every major city in Ukraine. The massive attack killed civilians and destroyed infrastructure, with an asserted attempt to wipe out the vital Crimean bridge.
Explosions rang out across Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, early Monday as Iranian-made “kamikaze”-style drones struck.
Sniper Dubbed 'Ukrainian Joan Of Arc' Shares What Saved Her Life.
“When the full-scale invasion began, I gave my word to the Ukrainian people that I would be in this war until we drive the enemy out. And I didn’t keep my word... Forgive me, friends. I didn’t dare to say it for so long...”
Emerald added that she had been forced to leave the war zone due to her pregnancy.
“It so happened that a new soul was born from the love of two soldiers in this war,” the officer said.
“A future male or female defender of Ukraine. And this was the only reason why I left the front line in mid-September and moved to the rear. Many people say that this child saved my life... PS: I didn’t tell either my husband or commanders for the first two months, and I was at war, defending the land, until I was tormented by morning sickness.”
This will be her second child. She has a daughter from a previous relationship, which ended with the beginning of the war.
Article 4
Famous A lister Jeremy Renner.
Jeremy Renner was "completely crushed" by a snow plough in an accident outside his Nevada ranch on New Year's Day, a 911 call log has revealed.
The log, obtained by TMZ, states Renner could be heard moaning in the background of the phone call, and that he was experiencing heavy bleeding from his head and other unknown injuries. The 28 weeks and the Town actor was attempting to get another vehicle out of the snow using a 6,500kg 'PistenBully' plough when the accident struck. The log also details the accident itself, stating Renner was "completely crushed" by the snow plough and was having "extreme difficulty" breathing. The log states the right side of Renner's chest collapsed and his upper torso was crushed. Renner was taken to hospital in a helicopter and was admitted to intensive care in a critical condition.
Officials have stressed they do not believe the 51-year-old was impaired at the time, and that it was a "tragic accident". Sheriff Darin Balaam previously said after successfully towing the vehicle, Renner got out of the snow plough to speak to a family member. "At this point, it started to roll. In an effort to stop it, he attempted to get back into the driver's seat... and he is run over by the PistenBully."
Jeremy Renner from his hospital bed..
Jeremy Renner continues to recover in a hospital intensive care unit Thursday but was treated to a bedside "spa day" with the help from his sister and mother.
The "Hawkeye" actor posted video on social media Thursday 5th Jan 2023 morning while his mother and sister visited the 51-year-old in hospital.
A "not no great" ICU DAY, turned to amazing spa day with my sis and mama❤️. Thank you sooooo much," Renner tweeted along with the video
Jeremy Renner shares video from hospital ICU after snowploughing accident
Jeremy Renner shares video from hospital ICU after snowploughing accident.
Renner's spokesperson confirmed the Hawkeye star "suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries" and is in intensive care in a "critical but stable condition" after surgery. The statement adds: "Jeremy's family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses looking after him, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff, Reno City Mayor Hillary Schieve and the Carano and Murdock families. "They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans." The accident happened near the Mount Rose Highway, in Washoe County in Nevada.
The video shows a severely swollen and bruised Renner in bed with a shampoo shower cap on while his sister massages his head. "Yeah," Renner says as his sister gently shampoos his head. "You so sexy," she jokingly says to Renner as he moans in agreement. "That's the first shower in definitely a week," Renner said. "So gross!" On Tuesday 3rd Jan 2023, Renner shared a photo of him from hospital bed. "Thank you all for your kind words. I'm too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all," he wrote.
Renner was born in Modesto, California, to mother Valerie Cearley (née Tague) and father Lee Renner, who managed McHenry Bowl, a Modesto bowling alley, in the 1980s. His parents married as teenagers and divorced when he was ten. He is the oldest of seven siblings, the youngest of whom was born in 2011, which made him a new big brother at 40 years old. His mother has Irish ancestry. Renner is also of German descent. Renner graduated from Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto in 1989. He attended Modesto Junior College, where he studied computer science and criminology, before he took a drama class as an elective and decided to pursue acting.
Article 5
Smith became just the second player to hit a nine-darter in the World Championship final CREDIT: AFP/Adrian Dennis.
Michael Smith fired a stunning nine-dart finish on his way to winning the World Championship for the first time in a brilliant victory over Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace. The 32-year-old, a two-time runner-up including a painful defeat to Peter Wright 12 months ago, hit darting perfection in the second set and continued to produce some mesmeric scoring as he won one of the greatest finals 7-4. In one of the sport's greatest legs, he became just the second player (after Adrian Lewis) to hit a nine-darter in the World Championship final. Both players were on course for a nine-dart finish before Van Gerwen, who was chasing his fourth world title, missed his throw at double 12. Smith threw second and made no mistake, following up seven successive treble 20s with a treble 19 before nailing the double 12.
Smith and MVG go head-to-head in a gripping climax at Ally Pally (Photo by Ed Mulholland/PDC)
THE BEST LEG OF ALL TIME 🤯 MICHAEL SMITH HITS A NINE-DARTER IN A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
THE GREATEST LEG OF ALL TIME 🤯 MICHAEL SMITH HITS A NINE-DARTER IN A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
In taking his maiden title at the third attempt he also became world No 1 and gained revenge for the 2019 final defeat to Van Gerwen. That was the last time the Dutchman won the showpiece and it needed brilliance from Smith to deny him this time around as 'Bully Boy' rattled off four successive sets to secure his path to glory. In a match of the highest quality, Smith finished with a 100.87 average and an incredible 22 180s, while Van Gerwen posted a 99.58 average with 15 maximums. "The way I felt when I won will never be topped, no matter what I do in this sport in the future," said an emotional Smith. "Michael let me off a lot and, for once, I finally took my chance. "In practice today I kept going 180-180-miss and I wanted to give the crowd what they deserved, a nine-darter. "When I won the Grand Slam I said I would eventually become World Champion and world No 1.
"I want to do what Michael [van Gerwen] has done, I want to dominate the sport but he's still around! "It's now 1-1 between us in World Championship finals, but I don't think it will be the last." Competing in his sixth World Championship final, Van Gerwen suffered a third defeat in the sport's showpiece event. The Dutchman, who posted his first sub-100 average of the tournament, remains third on the Order of Merit. "Michael [Smith] played a phenomenal game, he deserves this win," Van Gerwen reflected. "Of course, I had my chances - I missed too many doubles and when you don't hit them you get punished. "I didn't play too well in the last few sets but I can only blame myself for that, you have to take it on the chin. When you lose games it's hard but it's part of the job. I will be back."
Article 6
It’s not known exactly where Thor is at this exact moment, and it has not been reported that the animal has been fitted with any kind of tracker. As the walrus left Scarborough earlier in the week, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said its medics “scrambled with radios to track which direction he went.”
It appears as if Thor is heading back north towards the Arctic circle, his natural habitat. The Atlantic walrus lives in the seasonally ice-covered northern waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia, and so Thor could be heading towards Scandinavia.
If that is the case, it’s unlikely that the animal will be hugging the UK coastline for much longer, and he will probably make a dash across the North Sea in the near future.
Thor the walrus greets the people of Scarborough
Thor the walrus greets the people of Scarborough.
Thor became the first walrus to ever be recorded in Yorkshire when he turned up in Scarborough on 31st December 2022 and had travelled there by making a mammoth swim up from the Hampshire coast, where he had previously been observed in December. As part of a multi-agency effort to prevent the enormous juvenile male from becoming distressed and hurting itself, Scarborough Council made the decision to cancel its New Year's Eve fireworks display.
It is thought that Thor is the same walrus spotted on the Hampshire coast three weeks ago. Wildlife experts have suggested that Thor had needed to rest before moving on to continue his journey north. Chris Cook, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) charity, said: “It is extremely rare that an Arctic walrus should come ashore on the Yorkshire coast.Resident Richard Coulson, 51, told the PA news agency the area had been “teeming with cars and people” since Thor arrived at the harbour. The new years firework display was cancelled, While council leader Steve Siddons had expressed disappointment, he added that “the welfare of the walrus has to take precedence”.
Thor The Walrus Heads To Blyth After Scarborough Yorkshire Coast Wildlife
Thor The Walrus Heads To Blyth After Scarborough Yorkshire Coast Wildlife.