Match of the Day’s Alan Shearer breaks down Jean-Philippe Mateta’s movement and what makes him so difficult to defend against following the striker’s hat-trick against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The normally surf-themed bar at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa has transformed into Pete’s Spookeasy for the month of October with Halloween-themed decor, food and drinks. Order mains such as Pasta from the Black Lagoon, with squid ink spaghetti, sautéed shrimp, lobster cream sauce, roasted tomato, asparagus and micro parsley, plus starters including “Bugs” in Stinky Cheese with whipped goat cheese, dates, marzipan “grubs,” figs, hot honey, micro thyme and crackers. Seasonal cocktails include Hex on the Beach, with rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut and nutmeg, and BooBerry Margarita, with tequila, fresh blackberries, lemon and lime juice, agave and a black salt rim.
Bianca Perry complained her family were ‘left abandoned’ after their journey home as they were struck with stomach issues after ‘eating meat casserole’ on plane
The Perry family became suddenly violently ill during their travels(Image: Jam Press/Bianca Perry)
Bianca Perry, 45, her husband David, also 45, and their three children Lauren, 15, Belle, 11, and William, eight, had spent six blissful weeks in Brazil before disaster struck on their return flight.
The horror began mid-flight when young William suddenly fell violently ill after eating the in-flight meal, and it wasn’t long before Belle, David and Bianca were similarly affected.
Only eldest child Lauren, who had avoided the meat casserole served, managed to escape the gut-wrenching illness.
The family began suddenly comiting while at the airport gate(Image: Jam Press/Bianca Perry)
Upon landing at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport in the early hours of 2 September, the family were seen vomiting uncontrollably at the gate as shocked fellow passengers looked on.
However, instead of rushing to help them, they claim airline staff treated them like a “problem”, allegedly refusing Bianca’s desperate pleas for assistance and a wheelchair for her husband, who was still recovering from painful dental surgery.
“The whole dinner was on the floor in front of everyone,” said Bianca, who hosts her own cooking show, speaking to NeedToKnow. “When we got off the plane, my daughter was sick in front of everyone.
“It was like a scene from The Exorcist. The airline staff weren’t looking at us like, ‘Are they okay? Can we do something?'”.
“They were looking at us like we were a problem.”
The family claims that TAP Air Portugal staff advised them against boarding their connecting flight due to their illness.
They were suggested to take the next flight, but the family claims they were not informed that this wouldn’t be until 7pm the following day on 3 September. This left them scrambling to find and pay for their own £330-a-night hotel and transport without any assistance.
Bianca stated: “We were scared to be sick on the plane; we weren’t sure if we had a bug and didn’t want to share it around the flight.
“When we accepted the offer of the new flight, we didn’t think it would be at 7pm the next day. They were so rude on another level.
“They just had no empathy – and thank Goodness I can speak Portuguese.”
At the hotel, the nightmare only got worse.
The family claimed they got little assistance while vomiting violently(Image: Jam Press/Bianca Perry)
Bianca had to help David – still in agony with stitches in his mouth – through the lobby as he was sick repeatedly. Both Belle and William were still poorly too, leaving the family desperately washing vomit-covered clothes in the bathroom sink and trying to rest between bouts of illness.
And when they finally got back to the airport the following day, the ordeal wasn’t finished. Back in the UK, Bianca’s suitcase containing vital menopause medication had reportedly vanished whilst another turned up damaged.
When it was later discovered, she was informed she would either have to retrieve it herself or fork out a £45 delivery charge. Left with no alternative, David made the trek to collect the suitcase, knowing the medication was desperately required.
Bianca revealed: “There was no assistance whatsoever from them. We had to hand-wash vomit-covered clothes in the hotel.
“We were vomiting in the lobby. It was a nightmare.”
The family firmly believe their sickness stemmed from the airline meal – alleging they observed other passengers also falling ill following the flight.
Bianca continued: “Our experience with TAP Air Portugal was truly distressing on many levels. Despite being in a vulnerable and difficult situation, we were left to deal with everything ourselves.
“The lack of empathy and assistance was shocking – we were treated with disregard, not even as people, let alone as customers. No one deserves to be treated this way, especially not by a company of this size and visibility.
“It’s not just disappointing – it feels inhumane.”
Today on The Stream: Weddings used to be about the couple; now they’re about the content.
Social media’s influence and society’s pressure for the “perfect” wedding often push couples into debt before they even say “I do”. We’re breaking down whether a budget-friendly wedding is still truly possible – and examining the heavy financial burden that comes with a lavish celebration.
Presenter: Stefanie Dekker
Guests: Claudia Sokolova – Wedding planner and content creator Kiara Brokenbrough – Content creator Sumera Batool – Associate professor at Lahore College for Women University
While Northern Ireland’s skipper on the night, and their most capped player of all-time, Steven Davis remembers a performance where “not very much of it was good”, the odds of an unlikely upset had lengthened further when Martin Paterson fired the visitors into a 14th-minute lead.
Aurelien Joachim cancelled out that goal before half-time however and Stefano Bensi put the side, who had previously won only four World Cup qualifiers, into a shock lead.
Gareth McAuley appeared to salvage a face-saving draw with a late header, but Mathias Janisch struck three minutes from time to leave O’Neill reflecting on an “unacceptable” performance.
The manager went on to call his side’s game management “pathetic”, while local newspapers were even less kind, labelling the result against the part-timers ranked 140th in the world as the worst in the country’s history.
And yet, nine of O’Neill’s starting eleven that night, along with five members of his bench, were a part of the 23-man squad when Northern Ireland headed to Euro 2016 less than three years later.
“Sometimes when you hit rock bottom, there’s only one place to go and that’s to come back from it,” said McAuley when asked about the dramatic turnaround.
Even if hindsight shows how rash a decision it would have been, there were questions over O’Neill’s future after the result.
McAuley, whose goal against Ukraine in Lyon later gave Northern Ireland their first ever win at a European Championships, says such doubts never permeated into the senior playing group.
“It’s one of them things, there was probably a real transitional stage. There was the old guard and then there was new players coming in and Michael was coming in,” said the former West Bromwich Albion centre-back.
“It’s difficult really for an international manager when you think of how many actual training sessions you get, building relationships with players, getting your points across. These things do take time.
“But Michael had a way that he wanted to do things, and we could see that, we were behind it. It just got there, it just clicked. There were so many factors around it, but the belief that we had in what we were being asked to do was what really galvanised us to move that forward.”
JAPAN has released a terrifying AI-generated video showing residents what could happen if Mount Fuji erupted.
The footage, created by Tokyo’s Metropolitan government, warned locals that their city could one day be buried under ash as it urged them to remain vigilant.
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The AI-generated video shows billows of black smoke filling the air
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The mushrooming cloud covers the city
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AI-generated people appear to shield from the ash with umbrellas
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Mount Fuji towers over the largest city in the worldCredit: Alamy
If Mount Fuji erupts, the ash is estimated to start pouring down on Tokyo within one to two hours, building a layer up to 10cm thick over the city.
Volcanic ash is formed during explosive eruptions when dissolved gases expand in magma and escape into the atmosphere.
The AI clip shows a huge grey cloud engulfing the sky as it mushrooms over the capital’s high-rise buildings.
Thick black ash spreads over the city covering cars, houses and roads.
A voiceover over the clip says: “The moment may arrive without any warning.
“Volcanic ash is made up of fine, jagged particles. Its unique qualities pose many hazards to health and society.”
Covered in smog, Tokyo appears at a standstill with planes and trains grounded as thick soot blankets train tracks and runways.
Video shows locals holding umbrellas and wearing masks, while cars sit parked in heaps of the volcanic cinders.
In a bid to educate Tokyo’s locals on how to prepare for the colossal event, the clip shows a family opening up a store cupboard full of provisions.
It comes as the government’s cabinet office released a separate video on Tuesday in which it urged residents to “visualize specific scenarios” so they could be better prepared.
Fear ‘Ring of Fire’ volcanoes could erupt en masse after quake caused first eruption in 600 years
And in March, the government issued recommendations suggesting residents keep a two-week supply of essentials in their home.
Officials have stepped up their warnings to locals amid ongoing fears the country is due an environmental disaster.
Estimates suggest eruption damages would cost over $16 billion as areas are plunged into darkness and houses collapse under the ash.
The video has sparked fear among locals who say the prospect of an eruption is “terrifying”.
One resident said: “The thought of volcanic ash causing transportation chaos in the Tokyo metropolitan area is terrifying.”
Some experts have criticised the video for stirring up irrational worry and potentially deterring tourists from visiting.
Japan is no stranger to volcanic eruptions though, as seen in 2022 when plumes of ash spewed into the air after mount Sakurajima burst into life.
And about ten per cent of the world’s active volcanoes can be found in Japan as it lies inside the ‘Ring of Fire’ – one of the most active seismic zones in the world.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the largest volcano in the region, exploded at three miles with a stream of scalding lava.
This was followed by four other volcanoes in the region – the Krasheninnikov, Shiveluch, Bezymianny and the smaller, Karymsk – which each spewed colossal columns of ash.
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Officials warn Mount Fuji could erupt at any minuteCredit: AP
A travel influencer has revealed how she was “bombarded with sudden marriage proposals” during a nightmare solo trip to a tourist hotspot and warns others how to handle unwanted attention
Karolina Wachowicz in Morocco.(Image: Jam Press/Karolina Wachowicz)
It should have been the holiday of a lifetime but a trip to Marrakesh in Morocco turned into an experience that was challenging and exhausting for one young woman.
Influencer Karolina Wachowicz, 35, who is originally from Poland, said she felt like a “neon sign” as she walked the streets of Morocco as a “blonde single woman” and couldn’t even cross the road or sit alone without having to fend off unwanted attention from men.
The travel lover said she was motivated to visit Morocco by fellow travel influencer Katarzyna Lawrynowic, who regularly posts content about her time in Marrakesh. But she is warning other travellers to wear appropriate clothing and develop a thick skin in order to survive.
Karolina warned other travellers to wear appropriate clothing (Image: Jam Press/Karolina Wachowicz)
“As a blonde, single European woman, you are not seen as just another traveller, you become the spectacle,” Karolina, who originally comes from Krakow in Poland, told What’s The Jam. “Every glance, every comment, every offer of help is loaded with meaning you never asked for.
“Here, it’s not about seeing Morocco as a tourist, it is a daily lesson in holding your boundaries, keeping your nerve, and realising you have to rewrite the rules for every block, market, or bus stop.
“In Marrakesh, the onslaught is sharp and constant. Men make comments out loud, sometimes in French, sometimes in Arabic, as you walk by. At first, you think the compliments are harmless, maybe even flattering, but they don’t let up, and you realise their persistence is never just about curiosity.”
And she said refusing politely is rarely respected because men often push for your name, your plans and your relationship status. Sometimes, a casual ‘I have a boyfriend’ is the only answer that truly stops them. Yet the moment you let your guard down, or even just smile out of nervousness, it can be read as a signal to try harder.
“In cafes and markets, you quickly learn to focus your gaze, answer monosyllabically and keep walking. Men bombarded me with questions and compliments, even sudden proposals!”
Women are advised to cover their shoulders and legs in Morocco(Image: Jam Press/Karolina Wachowicz)
Karolina said the attention became even more intense when she left the city and travelled to small towns and rural villages. The 35-year-old said, “The attention is sometimes suffocating. Simple acts, like sitting in a café or shopping for groceries, become events.
“I couldn’t cross the street without at least one person asking for a photo or money.
“Marriage proposals were, of course, also common. Here, any visible skin or uncovered hair is read as a statement, no matter how modestly you think you are dressed. Suddenly, you realise that even a light summer dress and exposed shoulders can make you the focal point for requests, proposals, or relentless questions.”
But despite the challenges, Karolina said it’s possible to enjoy time in Morocco “if you understand just how different the social codes are”.
She added: “Morocco can challenge and exhaust you, but it will also teach you resilience, flexibility, and the importance of cross-cultural kindness, if you’re willing to look beneath the sometimes exasperating surface. The key to survival is a blend of thick skin, improvisation, humour, patience, and cultural sensitivity.”
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK and has become a hotspot for tourists in recent years – but locals say the town is now unbearable.
Locals are struggling in the town that’s incredibly popular with tourists(Image: getty)
Whitby, the charming seaside town on the North Yorkshire coast, has become one of the UK’s top tourist hotspots in recent years.
With its breathtaking views and links to literary greats like Bram Stoker’s Dracula, it’s no surprise that tourists are drawn to its quaint cobbled streets.
However, this boom in tourism is putting the very essence of the community at risk. A study by HeyDiscount placed Whitby among the UK’s most congested tourist locations.
In a town with a mere 12,500 inhabitants, there are now over 1,800 holiday rentals, a staggering figure that underscores the profound effect tourism has had on housing availability and affordability, reports the Express.
“You can’t walk down the street without bumping into someone with a camera or a bag of fish and chips,” says Alan Cuthbert, a lifelong Whitby resident and fisherman. “For us locals, it’s a nightmare. Traffic’s worse, parking’s a joke, and the peace we used to have is long gone.”
The influx of tourists and second-home buyers has pushed property prices to such an extent that many locals can no longer afford to live in their own town.
Locals say the ‘peace has long gone’(Image: getty)
According to Rightmove data, the average property price in Whitby now stands at £266,917, significantly above the regional average. This surge has left many residents in a precarious situation.
Mr Cuthbert observed: “Houses that used to be for families like mine are now being snatched up as holiday lets or second homes. Prices have gone through the roof. I’ve got friends who’ve had to move out of Whitby altogether because they can’t afford to live here anymore.”
The effect of second homes isn’t merely about housing; it’s about community.
Former Mayor Linda Wild told MailOnline: “Where I live, 90 percent of the neighbouring houses are holiday lets or second homes. Every Friday night, I can hear the rattle of suitcase wheels on the pavement.”
This has transformed Whitby into a town where most properties remain vacant for large portions of the year, threatening its character as a tight-knit community.
Despite these difficulties, tourism undoubtedly delivers advantages to local enterprises.
Sarah Bennett, a café proprietor in the town centre, admits that tourism has proved vital for her venture. She said: “My café gets more visitors, which helps keep the business going year-round, not just in the summer.”
Nevertheless, she also acknowledges the drawbacks, especially the burden on local services. She added: “Tourism has definitely put pressure on local amenities. It can be harder to get a doctor’s appointment or find a spot in local schools. The challenge is making sure that the benefits of this investment reach everyone, not just the tourists.”
Seaside town of Whitby(Image: getty)
This split in viewpoints underscores a wider problem in Whitby and comparable tourist destinations. Whilst some locals profit from the tourist boom, others are left dealing with the fallout.
Neil Swannick, a Labour councillor for Whitby Streonshalh ward, sums up this split, saying last year: “there are certainly people that have done well out of tourism in Whitby, but that benefit hasn’t been evenly spread across the residents of the town.”
Tackling the mounting crisis, Whitby locals voted in 2022 to ensure all new-build properties in the town become full-time primary residences, a strategy designed to halt the surge of second homes.
Whilst this ballot was mainly symbolic, it highlights the rising frustration amongst residents.
There’s also a wider campaign for more eco-friendly tourism approaches and affordable housing schemes to guarantee the town stays habitable for its inhabitants. North Yorkshire Council chose to double the council tax for second home proprietors in the area.
Discussing the need to find a balance, Ms Bennett said: “We should welcome tourists, but not at the expense of those who live here. Finding that balance is key to Whitby’s future.”
MILLWALL were given a rude awakening ahead of their Championship clash with Sheffield United as their hotel was evacuated in the middle of the night.
The Lions’ squad piled onto the streets of Sheffield at 3:55am on Saturday morning when the siren started blaring out.
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Millwall players had to evacuate their hotel in the early hours of the morningCredit: Sun Exclusive
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A fire alarm went off just before 4amCredit: Sun Exclusive
It is not clear what set the alarm off, though players were left huddled outside both entrances to the Radisson Blu hotel for approximately 20 minutes while fire crew investigated the cause of the alarm.
A few players appeared bleary-eyed and fed up, while one player was overheard describing the situation as a ‘farce’.
Another FaceTimed his partner to show her his discontent at being sat on the pavement in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Millwall had made the 144-mile from south London by coach on Friday ahead of their trip to Bramall Lane.
The Lions started the season with a victory over Norwich City before being hammered by Middlesbrough 3-0 last time out.
Between those results, they did progress in the League Cup by beating Newport County 1-0 at Rodney Parade.
His team have started the campaign with three successive defeats – including a 4-1 thrashing at home to Bristol City.
Selles said: “We know when you work and you play for Sheffield United, you know that you need to win every match.
EFL club launch new badge like ‘lion with lollipop and first aid box’
“Then if not, and especially if it’s consecutive, then you’re going to be under massive pressure.”
Meanwhile, Millwall captain Jake Cooper is eyeing up promotion to the Premier League.
The defender has been at The Den since his move from Reading in 2017.
He said: “It would be a dream to be a Premier League player with Millwall and everything at the club is geared to get there.
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Ruben Selles is already under pressure at the BladesCredit: Alamy
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Jake Cooper wants to reach the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
“There’s more expectation on us now because we finished well last season and the recruitment we’ve done.
“So you can see why people are getting excited.
“It’s important to have lads like Massimo (Luongo) and Alfie (Doughty), who have experience of securing promotion to the Premier League and understand what a winning culture feels like.
“Our new lads have integrated well.
“Alfie knew a few of the guys already while Massimo is very experienced and has been around the Championship for a long time.”
“Roblox” faced a wave of new lawsuits this week that allege the popular gaming platform hasn’t done enough to safeguard kids from pedophiles and sexual content.
One of the latest complaints, filed in a federal court in the Northern District of California, claims that a predator posed as a child on the platform and sexually exploited a 10-year-old in Michigan. The man, who isn’t named in the lawsuit, allegedly convinced the victim to send sexually explicit images of herself after sharing some of himself.
The 10-year-old, who is anonymous in the lawsuit, met the predator last year on “Roblox” and suffered from mental health issues including anxiety, according to the complaint filed Thursday.
“What Roblox represents as a safe, appropriate space for children is, in fact, a digital and real-life nightmare for kids,” the lawsuit, filed by Dolman Law Group, stated.
Kids and teens create, explore and socialize in virtual spaces on “Roblox,” but the gaming platform has continued to grapple with child safety concerns over as its user numbers and revenue grow. On average, 111.8 million users visit the platform daily.
The San Mateo-based company’s share price closed down more than 6% at $117.34 on Friday.
“The assertion that Roblox would intentionally put our users at risk of exploitation is categorically untrue,” Roblox spokesperson Kadia Koroma said in a statement. “While no system is perfect, Roblox has implemented rigorous safeguards—such as restrictions on sharing personal information, links, and user-to-user image sharing—to help protect our community. Unfortunately, bad actors will try to circumvent our systems to try to direct users off the platform, where safety standards and moderation practices may differ.”
In early August, the company said it’s using artificial intelligence to help detect “child endangerment communications” earlier and alert law enforcement.
The lawsuit is among a flurry of new complaints this year that accuse the gaming platform of prioritizing its profits over the safety of its users.
On Thursday, Louisiana Atty. Gen. Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit against Roblox over child safety concerns.
“Roblox” is also under political pressure. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, has been urging people on social media to sign a petition asking the company to do more to protect children on the platform.
Since July, Dolman Law Group has filed five lawsuits against “Roblox” in courts in California, Georgia and Texas. Matthew Dolman, a Florida lawyer who is a managing partner at the law firm, said a sixth lawsuit is being filed on Friday.
The lawsuits point to several steps “Roblox” could have taken to make the platform safer, such as verifying ages through facial recognition, clearly warning parents about sexual predators and putting a higher age rating for its app.
“This is just the wild west,” Dolman said in an interview. “It’s like a hunting ground for predators.”
The company, he said, misrepresents how safe the platform is to both its users and shareholders.
“Roblox” profits from transaction fees when predators offer children Robux, a digital currency used on the gaming platform, in exchange for sexually explicit photos, according to the federal lawsuit filed on Thursday.
Predators will also tell children they won’t release these photos if they hand over Robux, the lawsuit alleges.
The complaint cites a Hindenburg Research report published last year that stated there were inappropriate games on “Roblox” that researchers were able to access by registering as a child.
Some of those experiences were modeled after criminal conduct by child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“Roblox” rebutted claims made in the report and said it invested heavily in its trust and safety efforts, noting that it has rules against child exploitation on its platform.
The risk of sextortion, especially among young people, is a growing problem, child advocates say. Roughly 1 in 5 teenagers experienced sextortion, according to a report from Thorn, a child safety nonprofit.
Sextortionists have used a variety of platforms, including social media and gaming platforms such as “Roblox,” “Minecraft” and “Fortnite,” to threaten victims.
Karolina says it is possible to enjoy the country if you know the rules (Jam Press)
A woman says a holiday turned into a nightmare when she visited a popular tourist destination as a ‘single blonde woman’. Karolina Wachowicz said she felt like she was wearing a “neon sign” as she walked the streets on her visit to Morocco.
Karolina said: “As a blonde, single European woman, you are not seen as just another traveller, you become the spectacle. Every glance, every comment, every offer of help is loaded with meaning you never asked for.
“Here, it’s not about seeing Morocco as a tourist, it is a daily lesson in holding your boundaries, keeping your nerve, and realising you have to rewrite the rules for every block, market, or bus stop.
Karolina Wachowicz in Morocco (Jam Press)
“In Marrakesh, the onslaught is sharp and constant. Men make comments out loud, sometimes in French, sometimes in Arabic, as you walk by. At first, you think the compliments are harmless, maybe even flattering, but they don’t let up, and you realise their persistence is never just about curiosity.
“Refusing politely is rarely respected; instead, men often push for your name, your plans, your relationship status. Sometimes, a casual ‘I have a boyfriend’ is the only answer that truly stops them.
“Yet the moment you let your guard down, or even just smile out of nervousness, it can be read as a signal to try harder. In cafes and markets, you quickly learn to focus your gaze, answer monosyllabically and keep walking.
Karolina Wachowicz in Morocco (Jam Press)
“Men bombarded me with questions and compliments, even sudden proposals!”
Karolina said the attention became even more intense when she left the city and travelled to small towns and rural villages. The 35-year-old said, “The attention is sometimes suffocating. Simple acts, like sitting in a café or shopping for groceries, become events.
“I couldn’t cross the street without at least one person asking for a photo or money. Marriage proposals were, of course, also common.
“Here, any visible skin or uncovered hair is read as a statement, no matter how modestly you think you are dressed. Suddenly, you realise that even a light summer dress and exposed shoulders can make you the focal point for requests, proposals, or relentless questions.”
Karolina said ‘you become the spectacle’ (Jam Press)
Despite the frequent attention of local men, Karolina said the opposite was true of the women. She said: “Instead of sisterhood, I was met with openly cold, critical stares. Their eyes could slice through me, especially if I wore something slightly less modest than their standard.
“A skirt above the ankle or uncovered arms was enough for some to glare or shake their heads in disapproval. On one occasion, a woman even raised her voice and scolded me in Arabic. I didn’t understand her words, but the tone said it all.”
Despite the challenges, Karolina said it’s possible to enjoy time in Morocco “if you understand just how different the social codes are”.
She added: “Morocco can challenge and exhaust you, but it will also teach you resilience, flexibility, and the importance of cross-cultural kindness, if you’re willing to look beneath the sometimes exasperating surface. “The key to survival is a blend of thick skin, improvisation, humour, patience, and cultural sensitivity.”
AN OASIS fan says she slipped over just yards from where a man plunged to his death at the reunion concert.
The man – aged in his 40s – was understood to be sittingin the upper tier of the stadium when he plunged to his death at Wembley on Saturday night.
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Oasis came to Wembley as part of their reunion tour this summerCredit: RV / BEEM
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A fan in his 40s was understood to be sitting in the upper tier of the stadium when he plunged to his death at Wembley on Saturday nightCredit: RV / BEEM
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Other fans have blasted the “deathtrap” Wembley stadium, calling for the venue to be “held accountable”Credit: Alamy
The highest stands in the 90,000-seat venue are some 170ft above the ground.
Police and paramedics attended to the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Now, other fans have blasted the “deathtrap” Wembley stadium, calling for the venue to be “held accountable”.
Gig-goers who danced the night away to Wonderwall say they were forced to hobble along low railings with a steep drop and a “lethal” slippery floor that was “like an ice rink.”
Some are labelling it “horrendous” given “the amount of money they’ve spent on this new Wembley”.
Jade, 31, from Essex, was at the gig and stumbled in a domino effect of falling fans, suffering minor injuries.
A man a few rows up from her fell down, tumbling into her and knocking her down too.
“The floor was slippery from loads of spilled drinks,” she told The Sun.
“My bag got soaked. Everyone in the seated section was jumping and dancing and way drunker than other concerts.”
Watch the moment that ‘proves’ Oasis feud is finally over as Liam Gallagher pays emotional tribute to Noel live on stage
She fell onto the row in front of her about halfway through the concert, and people helped her up.
“I just got up and carried on. But today I have a dodgy ankle, a few bruises and hurt knees.”
“People were absolutely w***ered,” recalled another on Reddit.
“A bloke near us collapsed, tumbled over a couple of seats and had to be evacuated by the medics – everywhere you looked people were out of their minds.
“It occurred to me that all it would take is one wrong step up there and you’d be a goner.”
One fan said on Facebook: “You’d think a modern venue like Wembley would have sufficient guards for this kind of thing.”
“The top tier is bloody steep. It’s dreadful the barrier is so low,” added another on Facebook.
Not everyone agrees that the stadium is to blame.
One fan said on a fan group: “18 years worth of events, most with 90,000 people attending, and never an incident like it. It’s a tragic accident, and blaming it on the venue or security is ridiculous.”
An eyewitness to the fatal fall wrote on Facebook: “He fell from the top tier into our block. My friend’s daughter did CPR until the paramedics arrived.”
Another shaken onlooker, who was sitting just three seats away, recalled: “Hearing the bang and seeing the aftermath was just something that will stay with you forever.”
“The atmosphere was incredible,” commented a third on Facebook.
“We were nearing the end of the concert, when in the middle of Wonderwall, he fell right in front of us, a few metres away.
“It was very shocking and we left Wembley very upset.”
Oasis released a statement about the man, saying that they are “shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan at the show last night.
“Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved.”
Before singing Live Forever on Sunday, Liam Gallagher appeared to pay his respects to the late fan.
He said: “This one’s for all the people who can’t be here tonight, but who are here if you know what I mean, and aren’t they looking lovely.”
But Liam has used that line before singing that hit song on the other tour dates.
In the gig after Ozzy Osborne passed away, the Britpop duo paid tribute by displaying an image of the Black Sabbath singer on stage during Live Forever, then dedicated Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, to Ozzy.
In a statement on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed a man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining “injuries consistent with a fall”.
A Wembley Stadium spokesperson said: “Last night, Wembley Stadium medics, the London Ambulance Service and the police attended to a concert goer who was found with injuries consistent with a fall.
“Despite their efforts, the fan very sadly died.
“Our thoughts go out to his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers.
“The Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
“Tonight’s Oasis concert will go ahead as planned.”
Saturday’s gig was the fourth of seven London shows on Oasis’ blockbuster reunion tour.
The band crashed ticket sites when they announced they were making a comeback last year – as more than 14 million fans tried to secure a seat at the highly-anticipated gigs.
Last month Liam and Noel reunited on stage in Cardiff for the first time since a backstage bust-up broke up the band 16 years ago.
The Britpop icons returned to their hometown of Manchester for five dates in July.
They performed a 23-song setlist of classic hits, including Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back in Anger and Live Forever to a roaring crowd of 80,000 people at Heaton Park.
They will head to America later this month before returning to London for two more gigs in September.
Wembley Stadium said in a statement to The Sun: “Wembley Stadium operates to a very high health and safety standard, fully meeting legal requirements for the safety of spectators and staff, and is certified to and compliant with the ISO 45001 standard.
“We work very closely and collaboratively with all relevant event delivery stakeholders – including event owners, local authorities, the Sports Ground Safety Authority and the police – to deliver events to high standards of safety, security and service for everyone attending or working in the venue.”
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Saturday’s gig was the fourth of seven London shows on Oasis’ blockbuster reunion tourCredit: instagram/oasis
Michaella McCollum has finally found television success with Celeb SAS and has successfully turned her life around since her days as one of the infamous Peru Two
21:00, 02 Aug 2025Updated 21:07, 02 Aug 2025
Michaella McCollum first became known to the public as part of the Peru Two more than a decade ago but now she’s starring on Celeb SAS (Image: Pete Dadds / Channel 4)
It’s been a bumpy road to television success for Celeb SAS star Michaella McCollum, who first became known to the public as part of the Peru Two more than a decade ago. At just 19 years old, she and Melissa Reid were caught and arrested at Lima airport, Peru.
The duo had tried to conceal the drugs in sachets of porridge and jelly, in the hopes of disguising the smell, but she has completely turned her life around since those dark days. The 31-year-old, who is a native of Dungannon in Northern Ireland, was initially sentenced to six years and eight months behind bars for her crime and was detained at the notorious Ancon 2.
But in early 2016, she applied for parole and was eventually released on the provision of residing in Peru for up to six years, although she was able to return home that April. Now, she’s set to open up about her ordeal Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins – and it comes after news that Rebecca Loos faces brutal Beckham grilling on Celebrity SAS over ‘mistakes’.
Michaella McCollum joins several stars on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins(Image: Pete Dadds / Channel 4)
She’s set to be put through her paces from the outset, with one of her first tasks being labelled an “epic fail” by one of the commanders. Before her stint on SAS, Michaella made headlines as part of the Peru Two over 12 years ago.
In 2013, Michaella had enjoyed a holiday in Ibiza and opted to stay longer while she sought bar work. Eventually, she accepted an offer to carry 11kg of cocaine – worth £1.5 million – out of the country but, along with her accomplice, was caught at Jorge Chávez International Airport.
Michaella confessed to being under the influence of drugs before committing her crime, as she told Good Morning Britain earlier this year. She explained: “I went to Ibiza when I was 19, it was the first time I’d left the UK, it was my first holiday there. I had no friends, I went completely alone and I didn’t know anybody.
“Within two weeks, I started making friendships and relationships’, I made a friendship with a group of people who ended up luring me into trafficking drugs. The initial friendship, everybody in Ibiza at that time, was consuming a lot of drugs. I, as well, was consuming a lot of drugs and drinking a lot of alcohol.”
Explaining that her young age allowed her to be ‘manipulated’ into the situation, she added: “I had this safe group of people who didn’t take drugs or drink alcohol so I was inclined to spend time with them. They were good people, they didn’t do anything, they didn’t party. That’s what they do, these organisations, they have people who are pickers. Their job is mainly to pick people to become mules, and they target your vulnerabilities. Your vulnerability might be your age, at 19 or 20, you’re incredibly naïve and easy to manipulate.”
She believed the people she was spending time with were safe because they didn’t drink or take drugs. This led to her “trusting them” and thinking they were “good people” because they “didn’t party”, which helped them to “lure” her into becoming a drug trafficker.
At the time, members of Michaella’s family thought she had gone missing on the Spanish island and flooded social media with pleas for her information of her whereabouts but it later emerged that she had been caught smuggling drugs. She and Melissa became known as the Peru Two as their story became known around the world.
The pair initially claimed that they had been coerced into going through with the plan by a gang, however they both pleaded guilty to drug smuggling and were sentenced to over six years’ imprisonment in the Ancon 2 jail. During her time in Ancon, Michaella took up a place on a beauty therapy course and began training to be a hairdresser. What’s more, she also taught herself Spanish in under a year to give herself a better chance of survival in prison.
Michaella was granted parole on March 31, 2016, after serving half of her sentence. Her friend Melissa was also freed that same year, on June 21, after Peruvian authorities agreed to “expel” her from the country. While Melissa has chosen to stay out of the public eye, Melissa has spent the last decade carving out a successful career as an author, public speaker and appeared in her own Netflix series detailing the events of her past.
Michaella became known for sporting her hair in a large bun when she first appeared in the media but now sports long blonde locks (Image: Mirror Screen Grab)
In 2019, she published her memoir You’ll Never See Daylight Again, and, at the time, she hit back at critics who suggested she would be making a lot of money from the book deal. She told Lorraine during an appearance on her eponymous chat show: “My family have got themselves into so much debt from this whole process. If I do make money from this, my intentions were never, I was never driven to make money from this, but if I do make some money, then my family would be my priority. Obviously, if I do get a bit extra, then I’d like to help them give back in a way.”
But Michaella came under fire from Piers Morgan during an appearance on Good Morning Britain to promote her book, where the broadcaster accused her of profiting from her own crime. Piers refused to accept her statement that she was using the book to raise awareness and prevent others from making her mistakes.
In fact he believed she must have been hoping for some financial gain, before hitting out at her for suggesting media portrayal of her at the time of the incident wasn’t fair. He also didn’t appear to believe her claims over being naïve when she carried the drugs aged 20.
Michaella McCollum has been wowing fans with her holiday snaps(Image: michaella_mccollum/Instagram)
These days, Michaella, who is also a single mother-of-two to twin boys, has become a successful Instagram influencer and boasts more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. Just last month, she impressed followers with two “stunning” photos captured on holiday at a beautiful location.
And fans were quick to rush to the comments section to not only compliment her on her appearance, but also on her journey over the last 12 years. One person said: “Just finished your audiobook! Found it to be an inspirational read, quite heartwarming actually, which wasn’t expected.
“Your honesty about the situation came across really well. Well done and good luck with your future endeavours”. Another added: “Stunning photos and you look absolutely gorgeous in that dress”.
Opening up about why she chose to accept the offer to star on television’s toughest reality series, she said: “I was hesitant at the start. And then I thought, you know what, when in life are you going to be faced with those types of challenges? You’re not! I was at the point in my life where I was just stuck in my comfort zone, and I thought this is a good way to break those barriers and do the things that scare me, and maybe that will help me in the future with decisions and just different things in life. I need to be okay with taking risks and stepping outside of my comfort zone. So I thought, for me personally, it would be a good challenge to test myself. So that was the main reason.”
Susan Edwards said her holiday was ‘horrendous’ from the minute she arrived at the Greek island of Corfu with her daughter and three other family members
Ellie Fry Deputy Online Features Editor and Nicole Goodwin
09:00, 29 Jun 2025Updated 10:18, 29 Jun 2025
Susan Edwards is fuming over the ‘nightmare’ holiday(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
A fuming mum has vowed never to book with TUI again following a “nightmare” all-inclusive trip to Corfu, where she claims there was “no English food” or hotel entertainment.
Susan Edwards embarked on a seven-night holiday to the Greek island on 12 May. She stayed at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel with her cousins, aged 77 and 78, her daughter, 30, and second cousin, 50.
However, Susan, 69, from Westerhope, described the holiday as “horrendous from the minute [they] got there.”
The holidaymaker explained: “It was all-inclusive, £750 each we paid and there was no food we could eat and we couldn’t have anything to drink.
Food on offer during Susan’s holiday(Image: Susan Edwards)
“I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there’s certain things I can’t eat. The all inclusive drinks were wine, lager, ouzo, or brandy. Yes, there were soft drinks, but we had to pay €1.50 for water.”
Susan and her party arrived at the hillside hotel around 2pm on 12 May, ready to enjoy some food and refreshments after their long journey.
After climbing a large ramp to reach the hotel reception, Susan said she was told that pool-side food would be served at 5pm for guests, which she claims was a “one-inch square of baklava”.
Her dissatisfaction only got worse the next day when she discovered there was “no English food” available at the hotel. Describing the grub on offer, Susan said: “On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce,” Chronicle Live reports.
“There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage.
“We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice – I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn’t eat that. It’s the worst holiday I’ve ever been on.”
The mum says she couldn’t enjoy her preferred drink during her holiday because she doesn’t fancy ouzo and doesn’t drink brandy. She explained that she would normally have bottled lager or one Bacardi and Coke, which she said would have cost her €9 and would have been a different brand.
The mum complained there was ‘no bacon’ at breakfast(Image: Susan Edwards)
“By the time we paid £750 for the holiday, €70 tourist tax for me and my daughter and an extra £450 for both of our meals, I could have been to the Caribbean on that”, Susan fumed.
TUI’s website describes holidays at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as being “all about the laidback life” where “ping pong and pool are the liveliest activities on the agenda”, aside from the occasional live music and Greek night. It also says the four-star hotel has its own private patch of beach “just steps away”.
However, Susan claimed there was no entertainment at the hotel which is “stuck there in the middle of nowhere”. She added: “There was a private beach but it was so steep we couldn’t get down to it and it was 150 yards from the hotel.”
“There’s a ramp at the side of the hotel that you have to try and pull your case up when you arrive. My daughter was up and down, up and down, trying to pull everyone’s case up for them.”
She also expressed her frustration over not being able to get a second key for the room she shared with her daughter. Susan explained: “I asked for a second key for my daughter because sometimes I get tired in the afternoon and rather than lying in the sun and getting burned.
Susan has declined TUI’s offer of a £100 voucher(Image: Susan Edwards)
“But if I went up to have a sleep, my daughter wouldn’t be able to get into the room. She would have to wake me up to get in. I asked for a second key but I was told ‘no, too expensive’.”
Susan said she usually holidays in Spain with her cousins and would always fly with TUI as she felt comfortable knowing “there’s a big company behind you if anything goes wrong.”
However, this time, her confidence in TUI has been shaken due to what she perceives as an inadequate response from the travel firm.
She has been offered £100 in holiday vouchers by TUI, but she claims that other guests she met at the hotel have been offered more after complaining. Susan has declined TUI’s final £100 voucher offer.
“In the past I’ve paid more to get on a TUI flight because if anything happened I’ve always thought you’ve got a big company behind you if anything goes wrong. Not anymore. This holiday was a nightmare,” Susan said.
A spokesperson for TUI UK said: “Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution.”
Coronation Street bosses have revealed that they will be tackling the difficult topic of drugs by showing how they can affect the lives of young people who indulge
The teens of Coronation Street are soon going to be hit with the consequences of taking drugs
Coronation Street is set to air a shocking new drug storyline next week, and the consequences for the youth of Weatherfield will leave viewers stunned.
In dramatic scenes set to air on Monday June 23, Aadi Alahan throws a wild party at number 7. What begins as a harmless midsummer bash quickly spirals into chaos with “disturbing” consequences.
When Bernie Winter calls the teens out for being boring, Aadi decided to get rid of his sensible image by inviting his friends over for a night to remember. However, this party takes a dark turn when troublemaker Brody Michaelis brings a bottle of LSD to the party in the hopes of making a quick profit.
Things take a dramatic turn when Aadi Alahan decides to throw a party for his friends
When Aadi catches him selling the drugs, he is furious and kicks Brody out. But the situation only escalates when Summer Spellman convinces Aadi and Nina Lucas to try it, claiming she took LSD while in America.
After this dangerous brush with peer pressure, Aadi divides the LSD into three drinks. Summer and Nina take theirs, but before Aadi can drink his, he’s distracted. When he returns, the drink has disappeared — and there’s a big possibility someone else gulped it down without knowing what was in it.
Meanwhile, Lauren Bolton flees the party after starting to feel unwell and soon finds herself in a terrifying situation. The exact details of her ordeal are being kept tightly under wraps, but a teaser from ITV describes it as a “nightmare” scenario.
The official promo trailer for the episode shows Summer and Nina breaking into Roy’s darkened café while high. When the sound of sirens fills the air, they huddle together in panic.
It’s clear something has gone horribly wrong, and the entire Weatherfield community will soon be facing the consequences of the teens’ actions.
This is not the first time Summer has found herself in a dangerous situation because of drugs. In 2017 she was dared to smoke Spice by Simon Barlow, and collapsed after going through with it.
That incident nearly cost the girl her life, and led to serious legal trouble for her the Barlow family and her legal guardians. Now it seems the teen has decided to risk it all for another hit, and this time is bringing Nina down with her.
Elsewhere on Coronation Street, DS Lisa Swain is set to become more protective of Kit Green after several clashes with him in the workplace. Actress Vicky Myers told The Mirror: “I think after what has happened with Tinker, Lisa really feels like she is this protector.
“She sees something in Kit that reminds her of herself but equally, she frustrates him and he does her. She knows not everything he does is above board and it doesn’t sit well with her.”
Chris and Diana struggled to sell their shared ownership property, and lost £10,000 in the process
Touted as a stepping stone to getting on the property ladder, shared ownership was designed to be one answer to a tough housing market.
But behind the hope lies a growing wave of discontent, as complaints to the housing watchdog – over repairs, costs and selling – have soared.
“We had none of the rights of homeowners, and all the obligations of renters,” said Diana, who together with her husband Chris, bought a shared ownership property in east London in February 2020.
But the couple decided to sell in 2021 after finding it “traumatic”.
They said they had to try to sell through what is known as a nomination period during which the housing association or landlord has the exclusive right to find a buyer for the shared ownership home.
Two years later and £10,000 worse off, after the property was re-evaluated at less than what they paid, they eventually sold.
“It’s a big con and we felt trapped,” said Diana.
“Not being able to sell was a trauma.”
They have gone back to private renting because, according to Chris, it is “much simpler and easier”.
Now out of it, Diana says she would not recommend the scheme because “they sell it to you as a dream but then it became a nightmare”.
There are currently about 250,000 shared ownership households in England, according to figures.
In 2019-20 there were about 202,000, according to the English Housing Survey.
Although more shared ownership properties were being delivered year on year, the complaint figures, obtained via a BBC Freedom Of Information (FOI) Act request, show shared ownership complaints have risen by almost 400% in the past five years, and are continuing to rise.
The FOI also found:
There has been a rapid increase in the number of complaints the ombudsman has received relating to shared ownership tenures; in 2024 it received 1,564 – almost five times the 324 received in 2020
Shared ownership complaints have risen faster than wider social housing ones
Of the complaints made over the last five years, 44% were based in London, and the South East having the second highest number
The most common complaints relate to repairs, costs, managing relations, and moving and selling properties.
Kathy bought a 40% share with a friend in a two-bedroom flat in north London in 2017. She pays a subsidised rent on the remaining 60%.
“I don’t have the bank of mum and dad. It was either that or put most of my salary into rent and have this feeling that I’d never be on the property ladder or have my own space,” said the 44-year-old.
“I love my flat and the community. In terms of where the building is located and how close it is to London, these are all amazing things.
“But it has mega downsides, particularly regarding finances and transparency and the level of service that we receive from the housing provider.”
Kathy says she has had to get a lodger to keep her “head above water” to cover increasing costs but her long-term plan is to sell
In the past eight years, she said her costs had increased so much, including more than £200 a month rise in service charges, that she has had to get a lodger and cannot afford to increase her share.
Repairs take years to complete, she said, adding a buzzer was broken for a year and a sewage system has been faulty since 2012.
“The sewage was overflowing and flowing directly into the river, and going into the children’s playground. It stank in summertime,” she said.
“They sent out all these consultants and they charged everything to us. The sewage system was not fit for purpose so why are we paying?”
Kathy’s housing association is not being named because her neighbours are scared it will devalue the property.
“It’s not affordable anymore. I have to have a lodger live in my house just to help me pay and keep my head above water,” Kathy added.
“My long-term plan is to sell – I can’t continue like this.”
Single parent Fatima said she had “no choice” but to choose shared ownership
Fatima bought a shared ownership property in 2019 after being evicted from two rental properties when her two children were younger.
As a single parent, she said there was “no way” she would have been able to get a mortgage so shared ownership was “the only option”.
Now “in a bind” due to an 80% increase in service charges within the last year, Fatima, along with others in the block, complained and said they would not pay the increase until it had been investigated.
Repairs have been an issue for a long time, she said. When the BBC filmed at her flat, the communal corridors were heated to 31C (88F) and the lift was broken.
“The biggest issue is all the heating costs that go into our service charges are heating the communal hallways. The building is cooking from the inside.”
Fatima’s corridor was 31C (88F) due to issues with overheating
She said the shared ownership model was an “in-between option which could work if there weren’t so many companies involved”.
There was a freeholder who had appointed a managing agent, as well as a housing association, she said.
“We don’t know who to go to, everything takes so long.”
Fatima added: “I have an asset but if it’s unsellable and unaffordable it’s not an asset.
“It’s always on my mind. It causes a lot of anxiety.”
‘Relationship breakdown’
Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway said the “inherent complexities” of shared ownership presented challenges to landlords and residents.
“Shared ownership has been around for decades, and there are still some inequities with the way in which it works that is driving complaints to us,” he said.
He described a “mismatch” between the expectation and understanding of the shared owner and the landlord.
“Whilst it can start off as smiles, very quickly we can see that relationship break down.”
Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway says the government should address “fundamental inequities” in the shared ownership system
He added the number of parties involved could be “depressing for a shared owner; that feeling of being passed from pillar to post and being fobbed off at different parts of the process”.
“I can also see from a landlord’s perspective they don’t necessarily always have all of the levers in their hands to resolve the issue,” he said.
“Put all of that together and you’ve got a perfect storm – and that’s what lands on our desks.”
He added that landlords must improve communication and transparency, and the government should address “fundamental inequities in the way in which shared ownership is designed”.
The Shared Ownership Council, a cross-sector initiative, said while it believed shared ownership had a “key role to play” in addressing housing needs, it recognised it “has not always worked as well as it should for everyone” and “key challenges” need to be addressed.
“We take the concerns raised by the Housing Ombudsman and shared owners very seriously,” it added.
It has recently developed a code to “standardise best practices and consumer protection” ensuring, it says, “transparency, fairness, and improved support for shared owners in marketing, purchasing and management of homes”.
‘Drive up transparency’
But Timea Szabo from the campaign group Shared Owners network says it is “too little, too late”.
“This is a sector that has consistently failed to comply with their statutory obligations – some of the housing providers who back the code have multiple maladministration findings to their name,” she said.
“We do not think that a voluntary code of practice will have much of an impact on their day-to-day experience.”
Figures shared exclusively with the BBC show 83 of 140 (59%) of Shared Owners members surveyed in February 2025 have struggled to sell their share, for reasons including unresolved building safety issues, high service charges, and a short lease that the shared owner cannot legally extend.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said it was “aware of the challenges faced by some who have entered the scheme”.
The spokesperson added the government was “considering what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners, alongside consulting this year on implementing measures to drive up transparency of service charges, ensuring leaseholders and tenants can better hold their landlords to account”.
Tony Exall was on a jungle tour near West Papua, Indonesia, when his left eye began to irritate him. He was shocked to discover what was actually causing the problem
Tony Exall initially blamed his eye problems on sweat or a tiny bug(Image: Kennedy News/Tony Exall)
A Brit travel agent’s trip to test holiday hotspots became a ‘nightmare’ when he discovered a leech sucking on his eyeball. Tony Exall was on a jungle tour near West Papua, Indonesia, on May 22 when his left eye began to irritate him. The 58-year-old blamed it on sweat or a tiny bug but two hours later a fellow visitor spotted that he actually had a leech on his eyeball.
A horrifying photo shows Tony’s bloodshot eye with the small black bloodsucker latched to the white area called the sclera. Tony grew concerned it might wriggle its way behind his eye so ended his trip early to find medical help.
The rainforest in Indonesia where Tony ran into the leech problems(Image: Kennedy News/Tony Exall)
After eight hours and trips to two hospitals a doctor extracted the leech using tweezers – despite the creature pulling on his eyeball tissue to hang on. Tony, who owns travel company Philippine Dive Holidays, was in Indonesia to test out locations for customers when he decided to head on a photography trip.
The travel agent avoided catching an infection and achieved his aim of snapping a rare king bird-of-paradise minutes before the incident. He posted the video to Facebook where users described it as ‘stuff nightmares are made of’ and like ‘something from a horror movie’.
Tony, from Oxted, Surrey, said: “I came over here to investigate different places to work with in Indonesia so I thought, while I’m here, I want to do a bit of bird snapping.
Tony’s eyeball with a leech on it(Image: Kennedy News/Tony Exall)
“We were waiting for the bird to turn up and I was sweating buckets. I could feel something in my eye but I just thought it was a bug. I tried to get rid of it but couldn’t so I tried to ignore it.
“There were leeches everywhere and I must have used the back of my hand to wipe the sweat so I essentially wiped it into my eye. A couple hours later we went to move on to somewhere else and one of my spotters pointed out the leech in my eye.
“My biggest concern was that it would get round the back of my eye. He tried to pull it out with his fingers. He was pinching my eyeball to get it out but the leech was fixed onto my eyeball. I tried rubbing it but I couldn’t get it out.”
Tony had trekked two hours through the jungle near Malagufuk, West Papua, to reach an area known for king bird-of-paradise sightings.
Tony’s eye after having the leech removed(Image: Kennedy News/Tony Exall)
After having the leech pulled from his eye, Tony was prescribed eye drops and antibiotics to make sure he didn’t develop an infection.
Tony said: “We went to two hospitals to find someone that knew something about eyes. At first he tried to remove it and that was quite sore because a leech grabs hold of something and starts to suck the blood.
“He started to gently pull the leech which was quite sore as it was something pulling on my eyeball. “My next concern was how do you get it off my eye without leaving anything behind. You hear these stories about tropical diseases and infections and having one in your eye is not the best place to have one.
Tony, 58, while in Indonesia(Image: Kennedy News/Tony Exall)
“The doctor then squirted some anaesthetic drops onto my eye, got some tweezers and pop, off it came. The tissue of my eye was being pulled. I have never had that sensation before.”
After sharing the ‘squeamish’ photos of his eye on Facebook, freaked-out users were quick to comment on his bizarre experience. One user said: “I’m not usually squeamish but that is stuff from horror movies! Hope everything is okay now.”
Another added: “Omg you need a trigger warning on this post. Sounds awful, hope you recover quickly.” A third said: “Stuff nightmares are made of.” A fourth added: “Dangerous stuff, this photography.”
Victoria Finnigan, 25, has instructed lawyers to investigate the cause of the E.coli infection after her daughter Freya Finnigan-Haynes was left needing emergency surgery
Milo Boyd Digital Travel Reporter and SWNSed (Ed Chatterton)
13:02, 02 Jun 2025
Freya Finnigan-Haynes was diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection
A mother has shared her harrowing tale of a dream holiday to Egypt that turned into “one of the worst experiences of her life” when her two-year-old daughter contracted deadly E.coli..
Victoria Finnigan, 25, has asked lawyers to investigate whether she has a claim after her little girl, Freya Finnigan-Haynes, required emergency surgery following their luxury trip to Hurghada. The toddler was diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection that resulted in both her kidneys failing after she fell seriously ill during the £2,000 holiday last November.
Victoria and her partner Thomas Sloan, 24, had taken Freya away for some winter sun, but all three fell ill with gastric symptoms following their holiday in Egypt.
Upon their return to the UK, Thomas recovered within a few weeks, however, Victoria and Freya were diagnosed with E.coli..
Freya’s condition worsened over the next two days, with her hands, feet and lips turning blue, leading to her being rushed to hospital by ambulance. Both of Freya’s kidneys failed and she was moved to another hospital for surgery to insert dialysis tubes.
She underwent dialysis for three weeks and received four blood transfusions, remaining in hospital over the Christmas period. Freya now has to take folic acid daily and will need annual check-ups until she turns 18.
Victoria, a home carer, and Thomas, a car body repairer, have since hired lawyers to investigate their illnesses. “We’d been looking forward to our holiday for a long time and couldn’t wait to get out there and enjoy some winter sun,” Victoria, from Twickenham, London, said.
“Instead, it turned into one of the worst experiences of our lives. It was awful when Thomas and I fell ill, but I hoped that Freya had escaped it. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. To see my darling girl so unwell was incredibly traumatic, and to be told that she was suffering kidney failure devastated me.
“All I wanted to do was make her better. Sadly, she’ll have to have regular check-ups for a long time. We know we can’t change what happened but the least we deserve are some answers, especially for Freya.”
The family’s dream trip turned sour when Victoria and Thomas were struck down with sickness and diarrhoea shortly after their holiday began between November 29 to December 9 last year. Their daughter Freya started showing similar symptoms on the flight back home a week later.
While Victoria and Thomas got better within weeks of returning to the UK, Freya’s condition led to hospitalisation due to kidney failure, and she remained in care until New Year’s Eve.
Jatinder Paul, an international serious injury solicitor at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, commented on the ordeal: “The first-hand accounts we’ve heard from Victoria and Thomas are deeply concerning. The impact of gastric illness should never be underestimated. That Freya went on to develop kidney failure and had to undergo dialysis as a result, demonstrates the severity of what can happen.
“Understandably, Victoria and Thomas have a number of concerns over how their holiday was ruined by illness. We’re now investigating those concerns and are determined to provide the family with the answers they deserve.”
Emmerdale is lining up some key moments and some big twists and turns next week on the ITV soap, with new spoilers teasing discoveries and secrets under threat
00:01, 20 May 2025Updated 00:01, 20 May 2025
Emmerdale is lining up some key moments and some big twists and turns next week on the ITV soap(Image: ITV)
There’s some big moments ahead on Emmerdale including a wedding, a killer discovery and a sad cancer diagnosis.
One killer’s nightmare faces coming true, as a special set of episodes, with a change to the usual format, sees him face his nightmares. Elsewhere another killer could also be exposed as a newcomer demands answers.
It’s teased one character goes missing after another discovery, while fans can also expect two men at war and some surprises. We’ll start with the big wedding, as killer John Sugden risks being exposed.
He’s left in a panic when he realises that the week of his wedding to Aaron Dingle could go very wrong, as the lake is being dredged and his ex Aidan Moore has woken from his coma. It seems there’s more to be told about what led to Aidan being in a coma for years, with it believed he would never regain consciousness.
But next week it’s confirmed that he’s awake, and soon John is fearful Aidan will expose his lies and the truth about their past. Then there’s the fact the lake is being dredged due to the slurry leak, caused by John.
He framed Mackenzie Boyd for this but his actions could be about to haunt him. Viewers know John killed Nate Robinson last September and no one in the village knows.
There’s some big moments ahead on Emmerdale(Image: ITV)
That could be about to change though, as with the lake needing clearing and Nate’s body being in said lake surely it’s only a matter of time before the murder is finally exposed. With that and Aidan and Aaron having jitters, will the big day go ahead? Will they even make it to the vows?
Viewers will be treated to multiple outcomes before seeing what actually happens, with each episode next week forming the same day. We will see John’s fears come to life before finding out whether or not the pair get married.
John even tries to do a runner at one point, caught out by Aaron. Aaron also follows him to the hospital after seeing him head there with Cathleen in his wedding suit – with one moment seeing the wedding called off.
John pleads his case, while one character, Mack, appears to be missing. The ceremony begins, but will it go ahead without any further drama?
One killer’s nightmare faces coming true(Image: ITV)
Speaking of Mack, he finds himself caught up in Ross Barton’s drama with new brother Lewis. After the pair try to steal Lewis’ cannabis plants from his secret farm in the attic of his home, Lewis catches them out thanks to a camera app and wants answers.
Ross gets Lewis’ keys and manages to convince Mack to help him, with them soon finding the farm in the attic. But when Lewis gets an alert on his phone that suggests an intruder is in the attic he prepares to confront him.
He realises it’s Mack and calls out Ross, wanting an explanation from both of them. But Lewis agrees to let Mack go on one condition, he wants to know the truth about his his mother Emma Barton died.
It seems Ross could finally tell him how Moira Dingle was the true killer, as she’s been fearing would happen. But if Ross does expose her, how will she react and will Lewis let her get away with it?
Mack finds himself caught up in Ross Barton’s drama with new brother Lewis(Image: ITV)
Elsewhere next week there’s worrying scenes as Sarah Sugden is diagnosed with the early stages of cervical cancer. As she heads to the hospital for her biopsy results alone after recent tests, she’s left struggling to take in the diagnosis.
She’s undeterred over her plans to have a baby through IVF though and learns this still could be possible. Sarah bumps into ex Jacob Gallagher and she tries to put on a brave face, only to break down and confess her diagnosis.
He comforts her but when he realises Sarah found out due to her IVF plans, he’s pretty blunt and shares his clear disapproval of her having a child given her life-limiting health condition, fanconi anaemia. He explains the impact of losing a mum especially when you are younger, before calling her selfish – but how will Sarah react?
Finally next week, and things continue to boil over for enemies Billy Fletcher and Joe Tate. As Billy continues to accuse ex Dawn Taylor of having feelings for Joe after their affair, she has enough with the constant battles – leading to a plan from Joe.
