Brit

SEB COE believes Keely Hodgkinson can be Britain’s greatest-ever athlete.

Hodgkinson is now in Japan for the World Athletics Championships — a year after she won Olympic 800 metres gold.

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Twice she has missed out on the world title over two laps.

But 23-year-old Hodgkinson remains determined to add the crown to her Olympic and European successes.

Given that the Leigh athlete also wants to break the 42-year-old world record in her event, then the sky really is the limit for the next decade.

Asked if she could become the greatest track-and-field star Britain has ever produced, World Athletics chief Lord Coe said: “Yeah, she absolutely could.

“I have no doubt about that. Absolutely, for sure. She could end up at the top of the heap internationally if she goes on.

“Touch wood, she’s got many athletics seasons ahead of her. And she’s also got good coaches in Jenny Meadows and Trevor Painter.

“Those guys know what they’re doing. It’s a really good example of British coaching at its best.

“I have spoken to her enough times to know that, mentally, she’s mahogany hard. She really is.

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“She wants to end her athletics career at the top of the heap — and there’s no reason why she shouldn’t.”

Hodgkinson opened her season on August 16 having not competed for 376 days following two hamstring injuries.

And her time of 1min 54.74sec in Poland  — the best in the world so far this year — was described by Coe as “unbelievable”.

In her next appearance, four days later in the driving rain of Lausanne, Switzerland, she posted a winning mark of 1:55.69.

British middle-distance legend Coe, 68, a double 1500m Olympic champion himself, admitted: “You just have to marvel at how she has come back.

“To be out injured and then basically you first set foot on the track and you’re running 1:54… 

“We’ve been saying for a long time, she is the real deal. What was clever was doing two races back to back.

“She was clearly testing out a thesis: did she have enough in the tank to go back-to-back? That is what she’s going to be asked to do in Tokyo.

“The answer was a resounding ‘Yes’. She’s in good nick.”

The nine-day World  Championships begin on Saturday and are being staged in the same national stadium which hosted the Covid-hit Olympics four years ago.

However, Coe insists there are contingency plans in place in case the event is impacted by typhoons in the Far East.

Severe weather saw three matches cancelled during the Rugby World Cup in Japan six years ago.

The British boss added: “Let’s hope there isn’t one!

“We do have full meteorological prediction and predictive teams out there at the moment.”

A BRIT dad who allegedly tried to drown his daughter-in-law on holiday has reportedly been freed from jail.

Mark Gibbon, 62, has been released on a £19,200 bail but he must wear an electronic tag and surrender his UK passport until his trial takes place.

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Gibbon and Jasmine Wyld, 33, got into a heated drunken row when on holiday together in Florida last month.

The grandad from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was initially accused of attempted murder after repeatedly holding Ms Wyld’s head underwater in a hotel pool, according to police.

It was later revealed the pair had been in a relationship for some time before the incident.

At a court hearing last week, the second degree attempted murder charge Gibbon was facing was downgraded to a charge of battery by strangulation.

And after almost a month behind bars, the Brit was allowed to leave his Florida jail cell after making bail.

Court records obtained by the Daily Mail show Gibbon met the terms of the £18,500) bail over the battery by strangulation charge.

He also had to pay £700 bail on a second charge of simple battery.

Last night a police spokesman confirmed: “Mr Gibbon has been in Polk County Jail since his arrest on August 3 because he was considered a flight risk. 

“He was granted bail but has to wear an ankle monitor, surrender his passport and stay within a restricted area.”

Gibbon is due back in court later this month with his trial expected to take place early next year. 

He faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted on the battery by strangulation charge.

Investigators are continuing to look into the allegations first made by Ms Wyld in August.

She claimed that Gibbon, who also runs hairdressing business Sage Hairdressing, pushed her underwater after telling her she was not the main beneficiary of his will.

He reportedly admitted to pushing her but denied trying to kill her.

He claimed they had both been drinking when she slapped him as the situation escalated.

Ms Wyld initially told prosecutors she “could not breathe” and feared “she would drown”, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s office.

Her nine-year-old daughter is said to have been forced to leap into the hotel pool to try to “save” her.

Police reports added that Gibbon’s alleged attack left the mum with scratches and bruising.

Police were also making inquiries into whether the case should be treated as domestic violence.

Neighbours in Beaconsfield described Ms Wyld as the Brit granddad’s “girlfriend” – and said she was often seen at his £800,000 semi-detached home.

Family insiders also claimed Gibbon’s son Alex allegedly found Ms Wyld in his father’s bed around four years ago.

This is said to be around the time Alex and Ms Wyld called off their engagement in 2021.

One source told the Daily Mail: “Alex went up the stairs and found Jasmine in his father’s bed.

“They had a massive row. It’s torn the family apart… there’s been so much bad blood between Alex and his dad.”

The feud deepened when Alex was jailed for driving an £80,000 Porsche Cayenne into his father during a public row.

He was released seven months ago and the pair no longer speak.

A man who relocated to Benidorm from the UK has shared three ‘dangerous situations’ he has found himself in since the move, and issued some advice to those planning to visit

A man who has “lived in Benidorm for at least seven or eight years” has shared three hair-raising moments that made him question his decision to move, and whether he should hotfoot it back to the UK.

Harry, known as @harrytokky on TikTok, regularly posts about his life in Benidorm – and recently shared the “most dangerous slash scariest situations” he’s found himself in while living in the Spanish party hotspot. However, he did admit that these things could definitely happen in other places and he said he wasn’t trying to put anybody off visiting Benidorm, as he loves his life there.

Almost being hit by a bus

“Yes, you heard, ran over,” Harry elaborated. He went on: “It was one of these back roads here in Benidorm where people drive at mental speeds, and to be honest, they were so close to hitting me.

“I literally had to run out of the way of the road, it was awful,” he said.

Unexpected police search

Harry recounted how he’d been stopped by police, and they “literally said random search” to him. He alleged they were looking for “the naughty stuff,” which Harry insisted he “didn’t have.”

“They did a full-on search on the side of the road here in Benidorm. I honestly thought they were going to handcuff me, chuck me in the back of a car and throw away the key,” Harry claimed.

Nearly being robbed

“This is definitely number one by far,” Harry divulged, explaining: “I was walking down one of the back alleys […] from the beach to the main road and a guy came up to me, shook my hand, twisted my arm around my back and all of this”.

He described the incident as an attempt to “rob” him of his possessions, labelling it as the “worst experience,” that would leave anyone rattled.

However, he clarified that his intention wasn’t to “scare anyone off Benidorm,” but rather to arm people with the awareness that such incidents can occur, enabling them to take precautions.

“Stuff like this does happen everywhere in the world,” Harry emphasised. “But because I live here, it’s happened to me, and I wanted to speak about it.”

Responding to a comment suggesting he’d led a “crazy life” in Benidorm, Harry added: “I know right, super crazy”.

Despite the incident, Harry highlighted some of the benefits of living in Benidorm – including the cheap McDonald’s.

As he sat outside, he announced: “And just like that, the food has arrived. Now you will not believe how cheap this was. We’ve got two meals here. Guess how much this costs? €11 (£9.53)”.

Harry went on to detail the contents of the meal, which included two portions of fries, two burgers, two drinks, and a side of chicken nuggets.

He enthused: “I mean, €11? What do you think guys? I think that’s an absolute bargain, let’s be honest. €11? In the UK, that’d probably be at least £20.”

A large Big Mac meal in the UK typically costs around £7.69, depending on location, while six chicken nuggets are priced at approximately £3.49.

A FLIGHT heading to a popular holiday spot made an emergency landing after a Brit tourist allegedly punched a fellow passenger.

It happened on a flight from Manchester heading towards the Turkish city of Antalya.

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But the plane had to make an emergency landing in Thessaloniki, Greece on Monday following the reported incident.

A 35-year-old Brit is alleged to have hit a 41-year-old Turkish passenger on board, according to the Manchester Evening News.

It is unknown how the incident started, but the captain made the emergency stop at 11pm local time.

The Brit was arrested after landing, according to the Greek outlet Ekathimerini.

Meanwhile, the alleged victim was examined by a doctor before continuing on to Antalya, the Mirror has reported.

According to reports, the Brit was due to face a prosecutor on Tuesday.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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LOCK, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star Jason Flemyng has been banned from driving after being caught speeding — at 24mph.

The 58-year-old was pinged in a 20mph zone in his Kia Sorento.

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It was the fourth time Flemyng had been caught speeding in the past year.

He already had 12 points on his licence but had not been banned because of a justice system administrative error.

The actor admitted speeding near his home in Clapham, South West London, on December 5.

He was banned for six months and fined £775.

He told Lavender Hill JPs: “I don’t want to waste the court’s time. I accept what has happened.”

Asked whether he wanted to claim exceptional hardship, the actor, wearing a black suit, said: “Well, my work and what I do for a living, and my charity work, all depend on me driving.

“Maybe I should have thought about that before I drove 24mph in a 20mph zone.”

Flemyng played Tom in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and has appeared in Snatch and From Hell with Johnny Depp.

In 2009, the actor joined the cast of the ITV science fiction cult drama series Primeval during its third series, as maverick ex-policeman Danny Quinn and he reprised the role in 2011.

He has been married to actress and producer Elly Fairman since 2007, best known for Blitz, and has also starred in BBC drama series Casualty.

MOSCOW has weighed in on the case of a missing British three-year-old amid fears the child has been “kidnapped” by his Russian mother.

A pundit on the country’s state media said the kid is “Russian” and demanded the Kremlin “protect the mother’s right” to be with her child.

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Oliver Pugh has been the subject of a frantic police search since he went missing in Marbella, on the Costa del Sol.

He has a British father and a Russian mother, who are now separated.

The family lived in Spain, where are court order had barred the child from being removed from the country.

Spanish cops fear Oliver was taken to Russia – where he would be out of reach of the father. 

Russian authorities have not officially commented on whether the child is in the country.

But state media propagandist Vladimir Kornilov said today on Telegram: “It is suspected that she took her son to Russia. 

“This, of course, is not yet a fact. 

“But if this is indeed the case, it seems to me that we must do everything possible to protect the mother’s right to be with her Russian child.

“Well, if London can call him British, why can’t I call him Russian by the same logic?”

He added: “How [do] you determine that the boy is British if his mother might think otherwise?”

Oliver is described as being 2ft 7in tall, with blond hair and distinctive grey eyes. 

Spain‘s National Police are urging anyone with information to contact them. 

A spokesperson said: “We are treating this as a parental abduction. 

“We believe the mother has left Spain and has taken the boy to her homeland, which is Russia.”

Neither the mother or the father has been named.

The Foreign Office is “supporting the family of a British child who has been reported missing in Spain”.

Diplomats have been in contact with the Spanish authorities. 

It is unclear whether the child has joint Russian citizenship, or whether an international arrest warrant has been issued for the mother. 

Russia always refuses to extradite its own citizens.

Spain’s Ministry of Interior published a picture of Oliver shortly after his disappearance.

He is last believed to have been seen in Marbella on July 4.

EMMA RADUCANU suffered one of her heaviest defeats at the Grand Slams as she was blown away by clean-hitting Elena Rybakina.

The former US Open champion was crushed 6-1 6-2 in the third round by the 2022 Wimbledon conqueror.

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The pair may have shared the doubles court together and have a decent relationship in the locker room but it was one-way traffic for the Eastern European.

Fashion mogul Anna Wintour watched on from Raducanu’s box as the 22-year-old, wearing her lucky colour of red, was easily beaten before most New Yorkers had grabbed their lunches.

It is her misfortune that she has been dumped out of the four Slams this year by multiple champions Iga Swiatek (Australia and French Open) and Aryna Sabalenka (Wimbledon).

The first clash against the Pole represents the heaviest major loss on her CV – a 6-1 6-0 walloping in Melbourne in January.

Up to 34 in the world, her task ahead of the 2026 Australian Open is to be one of the top 32 seeds so she avoids a big name in the opening rounds.

Raducanu’s serving had been impressive this week but then she did have to play two qualifiers from Asia, Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen, who were both eliminated in under 62 minutes.

This was a significant step-up in class, though Rybakina does not have a great record at the US Open, having never made the quarter-finals before.

Raducanu, 23, was broken for the first time in the tournament as Rybakina managed to read the return and was hitting the ball cleanly and with authority, crushing every ball from the baseline.

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The Moscow-born Kazakhstani, 26, was giving Raducanu no time to breathe on a much cooler morning at Flushing Meadows, far removed from some of the more stifling, humid days the players have had to experience in tournaments past.

Rybakina was firmly in charge when she broke for the second time in game six of the first set.

The Brit had no answer and after 27 minutes, despite coach Francisco Roig’s constant talk and instructions from the sidelines, she was a set behind.

Even when she thought she could make an inroad into the Rybakina serve, her opponent produced a powerful first serve in response.

Having cruised through her opening two appearances, this was an example of the real Grand Slam challenge, with Rybakina hitting 11 winners, six off the forehand.

Things got any worse at the start of set two as Raducanu crumbled from 40-love up and was  broken by the No9 seed.

Roig, formerly in the Rafa Nadal camp, shouted out “the ball is very heavy” and that is true but it does not help when it comes back at you at such pace and precision.

On the Louis Armstrong Stadium, named after the famous New Orleans-born trumpeter and jazz musician, Raducanu did not have all the time in the world.

In fact her time in the event was all over when 62 minutes on the match clock — her quickest Grand Slam exit.

Tennis stars following in parents’ footsteps

TALK about pressure…

These rising stars are all making their way in tennis.

But they have got something in common – they’ve got a famous parent who also made their name in the sport.

So who are the players hoping to follow in the footsteps of their tennis mums and dads?

With Oasis fever sweeping the UK, there are plenty of other musical brands Brits dream of seeing make a comeback

Queen has been voted the top dream musical comeback by Brits, following the storming success of Oasis’ reformation.

As Oasis mania sweeps the nation, a survey asked music fans to name the artists and bands they’d most love to see return to the stage, with Queen securing the top spot with 29% of the vote.

Music legends from various eras including The Beatles (28%), Fleetwood Mac (19%), Spice Girls (13%), Girls Aloud (10%) and Aretha Franklin (9%) also feature on the list of stars we’re itching to see live again.

Elvis (23%), Whitney Houston (20%) and R. E.M (13%) also made the cut, reports the Daily Star.

A whopping 70% of respondents are thrilled about Oasis’ return to the live music scene, with nearly half (47%) confessing they’d go to great lengths to see their favourite bands if they were to make a comeback.

It’s hardly surprising that a massive nine out of ten (90%) agree that experiencing live music is one of life’s greatest joys, with three quarters (73%) loving the atmosphere and two thirds (66%) savouring the experience.

Over half (59%) say there’s nothing quite like enjoying live music with their partner, while 53% love letting loose with their mates.

The 90s (45%) was crowned the best decade for music, followed by the 80s (40%), 2000s (30%) and 70s (20%), according to the 2,000 Brits polled by Marella Cruises, TUI’s UK ocean cruise line.

A whopping 92% of Brits use music to get them in the holiday mood, with 90s tunes (49%), classic holiday anthems (36%), 00s hits (23%) and lounge music (21%) all contributing to that holiday feeling.

Yet, despite our love for music, nearly half (48%) of us believe that listening to it on speakers or phones doesn’t compare to experiencing it live, which is why Brits are planning to attend an average of three live gigs and festivals this year.

A significant 64% are keen to attend more gigs this year than last, to make the most of who’s performing live (44%) and who’s making a comeback (43%).

Other factors that make live music unforgettable include creating lasting memories (52%), dancing the night away (40%), spending time with mates (37%), belting out the lyrics (37%) and feeling the rhythm in your bones (37%).

To cater to the nation’s craving for 90s music and their dream gig, Marella Cruises has launched its ‘Electric Sunsets 90s vs 00s’ themed cruise – a three-day adult-only event, which is reviving the 90s and 00s with headline acts like Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls and B*Witched.

Chris Hackney, Managing Director at Marella Cruises, commented: “The latest research highlights a growing trend among Brits embracing musical comebacks-especially from the 90s, which remains the nation’s most beloved music decade. That’s why we’re over the moon to announce the return of our Electric Sunsets themed cruise for its fifth year. This unique voyage offers a chance to sail the Mediterranean while enjoying unforgettable entertainment with a nostalgic twist, featuring acts like Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls, B*Witched, and Booty Luv. Passengers, whether new to cruising or seasoned cruisers, can relive iconic hits while enjoying a one-of-a-kind cruise holiday experience.”

FABIAN EDWARDS sensationally replicated brother Leon’s famous head kick knockout – almost three years to the day.

Leon won the UFC welterweight title against Kamaru Usman in the dying embers on August 20, 2022.

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A left high kick KO’d Usman with just seconds to go – crowning Leon champion in one of the greatest come-from-behind victories in UFC history.

Fast forward three years and his younger brother Fabian challenged American Dalton Rosta in the Professional Fighters League middleweight final.

In round three – in what proved to be a remarkable dejavu moment – Edwards connected with the exact same left kick to the head.

Edwards – joined by his brother Leon in the cage – collapsed in celebration as he was crowned the 2025 PFL winner.

He also collected the $500,000 cash prize – having won the three-stage tournament with prior wins over Impa Kasanganay and Josh Silveira.

Flanked by ex-UFC champ brother Leon in the cage, Edwards, 32, said: “That is team head shot dead. That is crazy. God’s got a funny way of working.

“I’m so grateful. Last October, I lost a championship fight to Johnny (Eblen) less than 12 months on I’m PFL champ. It’s crazy.”

Rosta, 29, had built up a lead in the opening two rounds after a succession of takedowns.

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But the American tired heading into the third – allowing Edwards to land the trademark kick they had practised.

He said: “I said to my brother, he likes to paw, so I said to him I’m gonna try that shot.

“I do that shot good in the gym and look, it worked beautifully.”

Edwards’ mum Denise has a Caribbean restaurant called Sweet’s Kitchen in Birmingham town centre – where the family moved to from Jamaica.

And the newly-crowned champ plans to celebrate with a feast when he returns back on home soil.

A 59-YEAR-old Brit woman was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at a popular holiday spot.

The shocking incident is alleged to have taken place earlier this month, but only came to light today.

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The Brit is said to have approached the teenager on a Costa del Sol beach.

She allegedly spoke to her in English to “gain her trust” before groping her.

The youngster, who is an Italian national, rushed to a nearby shop to seek help where a relative was working.

They subsequently called the police to report the incident.

Cops held the Brit, who allegedly has a history of sexual offences, in the same area.

The shocking incident happened at La Cala de Mijas near Fuengirola earlier in the month.

While the arrest was made by local police, Civil Guard officers are the ones who took her to court.

It is unclear today whether the Brit was a holidaymaker or an expat in Spain.

In addition, it’s also unknown if she has been remanded in custody pending an ongoing investigation or released on bail.

Local councillor Juan Carlos Cuevas described her alleged behaviour as “repugnant and intolerable”.

He added that, even though she has not yet been charged with any crime, it “deserves the strongest condemnation”.

The councillor further said the co-operation of locals and the rapid intervention of local police helped secure the arrest.

 “This case shows that when we work together, we manage to halt very serious situations,” he said.

Earlier this month, a Brit assassin who Spanish police say was on the run was arrested in Costa del Sol.

Pistols, ammunition and a silencer were found in his smashed-up Nissan Qashqai.

The suspected hitman had a run-in with two women at a petrol station – after which he crashed his car.

He reportedly began harassing two Dutch women after trying to get them to buy him cocaine.

The suspect tried to flee as cops arrived at the scene.

Sources told local paper Diario Sur that he ran out of the car “with visible injuries” before quickly being caught by police.

TWO Brits have died after a family flipped their car in a horror highway crash in Turkey.

The family were visiting their hometown of Aksaray in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey when the tragedy unfolded.

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Two members of the family died in the horror smash and three others were rushed to hospital.

The car was travelling on the Aksaray-Ankara highway when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

The motor smashed into the central median before rolling over.

Four members of the same family, the driver, his wife and their two children were rushed to hospital.

An elderly man, also in the car at the time of the horror smash, lost his life.

The drivers wife tragically passed away in hospital some time later despite the best efforts of doctors.

Police, gendarmerie and medical crews raced to the scene after receiving reports of the smash.

The four injured individuals were raced to Aksaray Training and Research Hospital in ambulances.

Doctors battled to save the lives of the young children and their parents.

Turkish authorities said an investigation into the accident is ongoing.

The family were reportedly from England and were in Turkey to visit family.

Turkish authorities said the driver lost control of the vehicle before the tragedy.

Local media claimed the family were on their way to visit the drivers father in law.

The Sun has contacted the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office for comment.

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If you’re heading out to Benidorm soon, then you may want to heed the advice of a Brit abroad in the Spanish city, as he warned you may want to just get a transfer and not a hire car

A Brit abroad shared if you’re going to Benidorm in August, you should try to avoid renting a car. Harry, who posts on TikTok as @harrytokky, revealed the “warning” for anyone who may be considering driving around the city, because parking is such an issue.

Harry explained that “right now in Benidorm it’s absolutely rammed” because kids are on their school holidays and their parents have taken them away – plus the weather is glorious. But this does mean that parking has become a nightmare, and Harry’s pal said it’s better to get about on “little scooters” as an alternative.

“So, if you’re coming out to Benidorm, especially for the month of August, then I don’t recommend renting a car,” Harry shared.

Harry described the parking as “unreal,” saying it took him “one hour to get a space,” likening it to a “nightmare” situation.

It’s high tourist season, with peak occupancy in the city, and there are also limited spaces.

The city is rammed full of Spanish and international visitors during this time, leading to increased demand for parking spots. While free parking areas exist, they can be difficult to find and access due to the crowds.

Harry’s pal also revealed a “lot of entertainers are late for their shows” because they simply cannot find anywhere to park.

He also claimed they’re having to “park half an hour out of town,” which is causing chaos.

They also shared the prices of renting cars is “ridiculous,” so Harry said his “important message” is that “it’s just not worth it,” and you should “get a transfer”.

In the comments, someone wrote: “What Harry hasn’t told you, a lot of Spanish head to the coast in August, so it affects parking. It’s ‘tourist’ parking, but it’s Spanish people who have driven to the resorts.”

Harry replied: “Lots of Spanish, 100% lots of Europeans too, either way, there’s definitely no parking in Benidorm at the moment. Took me an hour to get parked.”

Another penned: “Free at the bus station or on that car park just before you come into town, or only €16 a day for one of the car parks. Rented a drop top for pride.”

Thankfully, not everything in Benidorm is expensive, however, as Harry shared in a previous video that McDonald’s meals are seriously cheap.

Sitting outside, he said: “And just like that, the food has arrived. Now you will not believe how cheap this was. We’ve got two meals here. Guess how much this costs? €11 (£9.53).”

Harry continued, explaining there are two fries, two burgers, two drinks, and some chicken nuggets on the side as well.

He gushed: “I mean, €11? What do you think, guys? I think that’s an absolute bargain, let’s be honest. €11? In the UK, that’d probably be at least £20.”

In the UK, a large Big Mac meal costs around £7.69, depending on location. Meanwhile, six chicken nuggets cost around £3.49, depending on location.

So Harry is right, it is significantly cheaper in Benidorm. The whole meal would cost roughly £18.87.

LERONE MURPHY demanded a title shot from Dana White following his sensational first-round spinning elbow KO of Aaron Pico.

The Manchester ‘Miracle’ locked horns with the former Bellator standout early this morning in the co-main event of UFC 319 in Chicago.

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Murphy put his eight-fight win streak on the line in his clash with the former uber-prospect, which he had just THREE WEEKS to prepare for.

The Manchester Top Team standout was hoping a dominant victory over the American would earn him the next crack at featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

And he staked his claim to be champion Alexander Volkanovski’s next outing with viral KO of Californian clubber Pico, which saw him move to 9-0 in MMA‘s top promotion.

“I’m next in line,” he roared in his post-fight interview wth Joe Rogan. “Let’s go, Volkanovski!”

Pico immediately took the centre of the octagon and put Murphy on the back foot before going to work with vicious body shots against the cage.

Murphy remained composed and landed a nasty short elbow in tight before briefly being taken down.

He looked to establish distance with a long teep and strikes from distance but was taken down again just before the two-minute mark.

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But he managed to return to his feet again and landed a beautiful knee to the body, which echoed throughout the arena just before the midway point of the round.

Pico continued to pressure and look for clinches across the fence.

And Murphy beautifully timed his entry with a sensational spinning elbow KO to punch his ticket to a title shot.

Pico was out cold before he even hit the canvas and Muprhy landed an academic hammerfist, which he pulled back on.

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Brit mum Samantha Cooper was enjoying a two-week sunshine break with her family in Cyprus when she became fed up with the daily scramble to find a spot by the pool

A British holidaymaker has been caught on camera shamelessly stealing towels from sunbed hoggers who were reserving loungers in the early morning hours. Sunbed wars annoyed one holidaying Manchester mum so much that she took matters into her own hand – and her daughter said ‘they deserved it’.

Mum Samantha Cooper was enjoying a two-week sunshine break with her family in Cyprus when she became fed up with the daily scramble to find a spot by the pool. Despite the hotel’s strict rule banning towels being put down before 9am, the mum says every morning was a struggle to bag a lounger – and it wasn’t long before she discovered why.

From their hotel balcony, 40-year-old Samantha spotted the culprits sneaking down at 1:30 am to claim sunbeds they wouldn’t use until well into the following afternoon – and by day five, the Manchester mum had seen enough. She strode to the pool and stripped the towels, freeing the beds up for swimmers and sunbathers who would actually use them.

“To be fair, they deserved it,” her 25-year-old daughter Ellie Ikin said.

Ellie said: “They were never down there until at least 3pm. Every morning was a struggle.

“The hotel said they had rules of no one putting towels down until 9am, but no one listened.

“My mum noticed they were putting towels down at 1.30am from her balcony.

“We were annoyed because the people who were doing it didn’t sit around the pool until later in the afternoon.

“I was happy she pulled them off so other people actually got a chance to get a bed when they wanted to sit around the pool in the morning.”

Ellie, who was holidaying in Cyprus with her mum, said she was happy the move gave other holidaymakers a chance to grab a bed for a morning swim or some sunbathing. And while there was no drama – the towel owners going back to their old ways the very next day – the bold move made it easier to find a spot by the pool for a while.

She added: “It’s selfish. I completely understand the need of getting a bed early, but 1.30am putting towels out when you have no intentions of being there in the morning is ridiculous.”

It comes as sunbed wars play out in several other holiday spots across Europe, with another British family caught up in the antics declaring ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’.

And tourists in Spain have also been seen caught up in sunbed craziness way before the crack of dawn, even using torches to secure their sun-lounging spots beside the pool.

Shoppers were left stunned when the holidaymaker decided to mount the life-sized model bovine outside a popular Ale-Hop store in Playa Fañabé, Costa Adeje, causing consternation among locals

Anglo-Iberian relations have taken another dent after a British man rode a well-known cow in Tenerife.

Shoppers were left stunned when the holidaymaker decided to mount the life-sized model bovine outside a popular Ale-Hop store in Playa Fañabé, Costa Adeje.

With the help of one of his two friends, the man was spotted climbing onto the plastic cow’s back before bellowing, “Yeehaw!” Within seconds, alarmed employees of a nearby shop ran over to remove the man from the cow. They then had to ensure that the tourists didn’t steal the cow. It comes after ‘the King of Benidorm’ warned that Brits make the same mistake when the visit the city.

The shop employees calmed the man, who had declared himself a “real cowboy”, according to Canarian Weekly. He gave up on his attempts to remove the cow after giving it one big tug on its horns.

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The incident has caused ire among locals, who have been left unimpressed by the daytime antics.

“It’s called disrespect, but well, that’s already normalized, like so many things,” one wrote beneath a post online including the video. Another wrote: “That’s the kind of tourism they send to the Canary Islands. It’s like this everywhere, and then the British press is surprised by the protests that take place.”

The incident is not the first cow-related shock to cause alarm on the Canary island. Back in 2019, tourists visiting Tenerife were left baffled by the sight of dead cows floating in the sea and being washed up onto the beaches.

The animals were spotted in areas popular for Brits over a seven-day period. One cow was washed up on the tourist beach of Playa de La Jaquita near the coastal resort of El Médano. Council workers were called to dispose of the carcass.

The cow corpses came from freighters loaded with live cattle, which travelled from South America. Such boats are forbidden from mooring at some ports in Europe, including Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. If and when cows die during the crossing, they are tossed overboard.

When it comes to alcohol-related incidents that have caused strife between Spaniards and Brits, there are plenty. Late-night brawls that have spilled onto the streets of Playa de las Américas have been a regular occurrence, as have visitors leaping into hotel pools fully clothed.

A group of holidaymakers were fined for climbing onto a parked police car for photos back in 2023, around the same time that a stag party blocked traffic by staging an impromptu conga line over a busy roundabout in Costa Adeje.

THE remains of a Brit researcher who died in Antarctica have been discovered nearly six decades after a tragic accident.

Dennis “Tink” Bell, at the time 25, fell into a crevasse during an Antarctic mission – leaving his devastated family unable to repatriate his body.

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Dennis’s body was never recovered until January 29 – when a team of Polish researchers from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station stumbled upon bones later confirmed to be his.

His brother, David Bell, told the BBC: “I had long given up on finding my brother. It is just remarkable, astonishing. I can’t get over it.”

Born in 1934, Dennis worked with the RAF and trained as a meteorologist before joining the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey – later renamed the British Antarctic Survey.

In 1958, he began a two-year posting at the UK base in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica.

His main role was to send up weather balloons and radio the data back to the UK every three hours – work that meant firing up a generator in brutal sub-zero conditions.

The base sat on King George Island – around 75 miles off the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Archivist Ieuan Hopkins from the British Antarctic Survey unearthed detailed reports describing work on the “ridiculously isolated” island.

One report described Dennis as “cheerful and industrious, with a mischievous sense of humour and fondness for practical jokes”.

He was said to have loved the husky dogs that pulled sledges around the island and was known as the hut’s best cook – often managing the food store through the long winter when no supplies could get in.

The fatal accident happened just weeks after his 25th birthday, while Dennis was surveying King George Island to help map the terrain.

On July 26 1959 – deep in the Antarctic winter – Dennis and his colleague and pal Jeff Stokes had climbed and surveyed a glacier.

Dennis was encouraging the weary dogs but wasn’t wearing his skis when he suddenly vanished into a crevasse, according to British Antarctic Survey accounts.

Jeff shouted down to him and Dennis was able to call back, grabbing hold of a rope lowered in a rescue attempt.

The dogs pulled at the rope, hauling Dennis – who had attached it to his belt – up towards the edge of the hole.

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But tragically, the belt broke and Dennis fell back into the crevasse.

When Jeff called out again, Dennis didn’t reply.

David Bell recalled how, in July 1959, a telegram boy knocked on the door of the Bells’ family home in Harrow, London to deliver the devastating news of Dennis’ death.

He said two men from Dennis’s base later visited the family and brought a sheepskin as a gesture of sympathy.

“But there was no conclusion. There was no service; there was no anything. Just Dennis gone,” David says.

David described feeling overwhelmed by the news and expressed his gratitude to the Polish researchers who found his remains.

“I’m just sad my parents never got to see this day,” he said.

David, who lives in Australia, plans to visit England with his sister Valerie so they can lay their beloved brother to rest.

“It’s wonderful; I’m going to meet my brother. You might say we shouldn’t be thrilled, but we are,” David said.

“He’s been found – he’s come home now.”

Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of the British Antarctic Survey, paid tribute to Dennis: “Dennis was one of the many brave personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions.

“Even though he was lost in 1959, his memory lived on among colleagues and in the legacy of polar research.”

Since 1944, 29 people have died working in the British Antarctic Territory on scientific missions, according to the British Antarctic Monument Trust.

Among them were Alan Sharman and Russell Thompson, who also died in 1959.

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A pair of British golfers have been booted out of a Donald Trump Invitational event.

England‘s Sam Bairstow and Scotland‘s Calum Hill were among the DP World Tour pros in action for the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland this week.

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However, disaster struck as the duo endured a nightmare time on the green.

Bairstow, who had been among the bookies’ favourites to win a maiden DP World Tour title event, saw his game go off course with a major error at the end of his opening round.

The 26-year-old had noted down a five on the par-4 14th hole, when he had actually shot a seven after missing a fairway with his tee shot and forced to hit a provisional.

And having not found his original tee shot, the Englishman played a tap-in thinking he had made a bogey, a mistake neither of his playing partners had picked up either, when he actually made a triple bogey

He had headed into the scorers’ tent believing he was one-over with a score of 73, but it was later revealed to him that he was actually three-over 75.

Bairstow then dropped another stinker with a double-bogey at the par-5 closing hole.

And less than 24 hours later, Hill was also ejected from the Championship after failing to hole out at the eighth – his penultimate shot of the day.

The two-time DP World Tour winner endured a frustrating afternoon in tough conditions as he finished round one on four-over courtesy of a torrid back nine holes on Thursday.

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A bogey on par-5 on Friday gave way in the second round to a birdie on the par-4 15th – only for that to be immediately cancelled with a dropped shot attempt on the following par-3.

At six-over he then suffered another birdie-bogey before adding another bogey on the fourth.

His tournament then ended on hole 17 as Hill missed a par putt from inside nine feet – with the cut-off line being three-over. – before he decided to call it a day.

The duo won’t collect anything from their efforts on Scotland’s north-east coast either.

However, Hill is not likely to fall any lower than his current 26th rank in the Race to Dubai, while Bairstow is set to fall four places from 54 to 58.

A BRITISH grandad accused of trying to drown his daughter-in-law pleaded with cops that he is not in a relationship with her, The Sun can reveal.

Family sources claim Mark Gibbon, 62, has secretly been dating Jasmine Wyld – the mother of his grandchildren – for years.

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He was arrested last week and charged with attempted murder after allegedly forcing her head underwater at a Florida resort pool during a row over his will.

But despite reports of a love affair, both Gibbon and Wyld, 33, denied to cops they were a couple.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office told The Sun the pair had been quizzed on the status of their relationship.

A detective asked Gibbon and mum-of-two Wyld “about their relationship to determine if the incident would be classified as domestic violence”.

They both denied being in a romantic relationship, however.

It comes after a family source told the Daily Mail how the pair had grown close after Gibbon split from his partner and Wyld split from his son Alex.

The insider claimed: “Mark and Jasmine have been seeing each other for a few years, but they’ve never admitted it.

“[The couple] do an awful lot together and they go away on holiday with the children a couple of times every year.”

Gibbon is divorced from his wife and lives alone at a £800,000 semi-detached home in Beaconsfield he purchased in 2023.

Wyld – a hairdresser – separated from Gibbon’s son Alex, 34, back in 2021.

They share two young children together.

Just two years after they separated, Alex, 34, was jailed for trying to run over his dad in a £80,000 Porsche Cayenne in Beaconsfield, Bucks.

As well as assaulting his father, Alex also pleaded guilty to harassing ex-wife Wyld.

Alex was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court to 25 months in jail, a 36-month disqualification from driving, a five-year restraining order, plus a surcharge.

The dad was released from jail around six months ago and went to move in with his mum, who had divorced Gibbon some years earlier.

Alex and his father also became embroiled in a public row in 2023 after Alex left his dad’s business for an unknown reason.

The family source confirmed that Alex and Gibbon no longer speak.

They added: “He feels an awful betrayal at how his dad has struck up a relationship with the mother of his two children.”

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Gibbon – a lighting technician, who runs his own firm called MRG Lighting – is now being held in Polk County Jail and is due in court next week over the attempted murder charge levelled against him.

He and Wyld were on holiday at the Solterra Resort in Devenport, near Disney World, Florida with Wyld’s two children – Gibbon’s grandkids.

The reported couple started arguing over the “stipulations of his wilL” while by the pool, according to US police.

Gibbon then pushed Wyld’s head “under the water and held her down multiple times”, the arrest affidavit claims.

The mum told cops she “could not breathe and believed that she was going to drown”.

Police say Wyld was forced to “fight Mark in order to get away from him and from under the water but he kept pushing her back under”.

Her nine-year-old daughter then leapt to her mother’s defence but was pushed away by Gibbon, it is claimed.

Wyld is reported to have called out to two women in the distance and screamed at them to call 911.

Gibbon now faces one count of attempted murder and two counts of battery.

When questioned, Gibbon allegedly admitted to pushing Jasmine underwater, but insisted he hadn’t been trying to drown her.

The grandad is due in court on Monday.

Whilst all-inclusive holidays are a popular option for many, there are certain risks travellers need to be aware of before jetting off, and one expert has shared some top tips

A travel expert has issued a stark warning that while all-inclusive getaways might appear tempting, they can pose certain dangers.

Before flying out to your resort, it’s crucial to understand potential threats, particularly when it comes to food and drinks.

Grant Winter, a compliance officer at travel insurance company Good To Go, warns that food in certain destinations may harbour illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A.

More frequently, though, holidaymakers could be struck down by a. nasty bout of sickness and diarrhoea from food or beverages contaminated with bacteria the body is not used to.

To help guarantee tourists can enjoy their getaway without being stuck in their rooms, Winter has the following dos and don’ts…

Water

He highlights the significance of water safety, recommending travellers choose bottled water as the most dependable option when overseas, even if internet sources suggest local tap water is safe.

He insists: “Ensure the lid of the bottle is well sealed before you drink it. If you can’t get access to bottled water for whatever reason, only drink tap water that has been boiled, use chlorine tablets or iodine to sterilise the water.

“Always be sure to avoid prolonged exposure to iodine though – this method isn’t best when doing it more than once or twice.”

Buffet dangers

Grant cautions against eating cooked food that’s been left out for too long. He recommends hitting the all-inclusive buffet early to avoid food that’s been exposed to the elements for a prolonged period.

He further advises: “It’s also better to avoid food that has flies buzzing around it, and only eat raw fruit and vegetables that you have peeled yourself to reduce the risk of contamination.”

Steer clear of ice

While water should be approached with caution, ice presents another problem, as Grant explains. “Don’t forget about the risk of ice cubes in your drinks. In many cases, these are probably made from untreated tap water (however, some large resorts do use bottled water, so it’s always worth checking), which can cause you to get sick.”

Be aware of food poisoning risks

Grant emphasises that you “should always check to see if the food is piping hot throughout before eating, but when abroad you should be extra vigilant of this.

“For example, eating tropical fish that haven’t been cooked properly can lead to ciguatera fish poisoning, and unpasteurised dairy such as ice cream from a street vendor, could harbour salmonella, E.coli, listeria, or campylobacter, leading to food poisoning.”

Don’t forget personal hygiene

The expert emphasised that, although it may seem self-evident, this should be your “number one priority abroad to help avoid food poisoning and contamination. Always wash your hands after the toilet and before eating or preparing food, and make sure you take an alcohol-based hand gel to use when you’re out and about before eating any food.”

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A BRIT tourist has tragically died after undergoing a £1,500 hair transplant operation in Turkey.

Martyn Latchman, 38, flew to Istanbul to have a five-hour operation on Monday at Dr. Cinik’s clinic in the city’s Besiktas district.

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But shortly after the surgery, he became seriously unwell and was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, according to Turkish outlet OdaTV.

He is said to have suffered complications while undergoing the hair transplant procedure.

His body was later taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy before being repatriated to the UK.

Police have launched a probe, treating the case as a possible “reckless homicide”.

Staff at the clinic — including the surgeon who performed the hair transplant, the anaesthesiologist and nurses — have already been quizzed by officers, it is understood.

An FCDO spokesperson told The Sun: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Tributes are now pouring in from friends and family for Mr Latchman, whose body has since been flown home.

Yashley Latchman posted a picture of keen athlete Mr Latchman on Facebook with the pair working out in a gym.

The caption read: “Rest in peace my brother. You will forever be my source of inspiration and motivation.

“Thanks for everything. We will miss you loads.”

Other family members turned their profiles black in a sign of mourning for Mr Latchman, who was originally from Bridgend but lived in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

According to Dr Cinik Clinic’s website, it has treated “more than 50,000 patients” since setting up almost 20 years ago.

The website says the clinic has “cutting-edge technology” and is a “centre of excellence in this specialised field”.

It adds: “Every patient gets personalised care in English, plus access to cutting-edge techniques.

“The combination of surgical experience and patient support has made him the go-to specialist for people worldwide.”

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The tragedy comes amid a boom in “medical tourism” to Turkey, which now accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the global hair transplant market thanks to its cheaper, high-quality procedures.

Turkish Healthcare Travel Council says more than one million people travel to the country each year for hair restoration treatments.

According to Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic, numbers are expected to climb to 1.1 million in 2025, the Daily Mail reports.

It follows the shocking death of 58-year-old British mum Anne Towlson, who passed away last year after a botched cosmetic surgery trip to Istanbul.

Mrs Towlson, from Leicestershire, had flown to Turkey in April 2024 for a pre-planned tummy tuck and liposuction at Green Park Hospital in Pendik.

When she arrived, doctors persuaded her to also undergo an arm tuck in a “last-minute decision”, her inquest heard.

But she quickly developed alarming complications.

BOTCHED OP

Meanwhile, a British man was left scarred and with bald patches after a botched hair transplant in Istanbul.

Luke Horsfield, then 26, paid £1,250 for the surgery at the Clinic Centre — around half the cost of a UK procedure — but said the results were disastrous.

“I did everything they told me to do as aftercare once I had the operation. But after four months, I saw literally no growth,” the IT technician from Bradford said.

“I was left with scars and bald patches.”

Luke claimed the surgeons barely spoke English and had removed too many follicles from the back of his head, leaving him worse off than before.

Despite the clinic’s promise of “transplant after care”, he said he struggled to get hold of anyone once the operation was over.

After months of disappointment, the clinic eventually offered him a £400 refund — barely a third of what he had paid — and a second procedure at half price.

Luke later had the damage repaired at a Yorkshire clinic.

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