DEAD COOL! - Moment a Marvel fan has celebrated his 100th skydive - by jumping dressed as Deadpool
Image by: Derek Finn
A Marvel fan has celebrated his 100th skydive - by jumping dressed as Deadpool.
Derek Finn, 37, jumped from 12,000ft dressed as the lycra-clad superhero, played by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds.
He decided to wear the outfit after watching the skydiving scene in the second movie, when Deadpool jumps to the ground - only to be left hanging on a roadside sign.
Ex-freestyle skier and full-on daredevil Derek donned his favourite Marvel hero's suit, and had a buddy film the 50 second free fall over Las Vegas, Nevada.
Derek, from Las Vegas, said: "It ended up being a perfect day, and I was able to do the jump with five friends - one of them filming it!
"I had some amazing footage, and just wanted everyone to know that you can have loads of fun skydiving and going in fancy dress!
"Usually people do something fun to celebrate a milestone like the 100th jump.
"They jump naked, or in their underwear or something.
"Since mine happened to be on our hHalloween party, so I decided to wear a fun costume - and who's more fun than Deadpool?
"I mean, you also don't want anything loose or flapping or sticking out when you skydive because it can catch on your parachute, so the one-piece was a good pick!"
Image by: Derek Finn
Derek first started skydiving in May because he always wanted to try it, jumping so regularly he got his licence in just four months.
He decided to dress as the 'Merc with a Mouth' for his 100th jump over Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) as he loves the loudmouthed hero.
Derek said: "I picked Deadpool because he's probably my favourite Marvel superhero - I've always been a fan of the comics, video games, and movies.
"And there's an epic skydiving scene in the Deadpool 2 movie.
"So I thought dressing as him would be a perfect fit!
"We had a load of fun, and it made for an awesome day!"
Derek jumped for the 100th time at around 2pm on October 26.
TRAGIC DEATH - A two-year-old girl has died after contracting E.Coli following a holiday at a "disgusting" hotel in Turkey
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A two-year-old British girl has died after contracting a tummy bug following a holiday at a "disgusting" hotel in Turkey, it emerged today.
Little Allie Birchall was struck down by E.Coli poisoning and developed complications after staying at the five Crystal Sunset Luxury Resort and Spa, east of the city of Antayla.
Her family had to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support after she was flown back to the UK and had been rushed to hospital.
The little girl died on August 3 - just three weeks before her third birthday - and less than two weeks after returning home from their holiday at the resort.
Her mum, Katie Dawson, told how all members of the family suffered from gastric symptoms including stomach cramps and diarrhoea during their 10 day stay.
The family had travelled to Turkey with tour operator Jet2 Holidays on 12 July.
Katie said they had concerns over the hygiene at the resort, including faeces in a swimming pool and food which had not been properly heated.
She said: “Food was sometimes left uncovered and occasionally served lukewarm, and there were birds occasionally flying around the food.
“We saw faeces in the swimming pool and I spoke to other holidaymakers who saw the faeces in the pool on more than one occasion, and staff just scooped it out without closing the pool or giving it a thorough clean.
“The walls in the children’s toilets were also smeared with faeces. It was disgusting.
But Allie did not start getting ill until five days after getting back to their home in Atherton, Greater Manchester, when she began suffering with stomach cramps, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and lethargy.
Peppa Pig fan Allie was seen by an out-of-hours GP, but as she got worse she was admitted to Royal Bolton Hospital on July 30 where various tests were carried out.
It was confirmed that Allie had contracted Shiga-Toxin producing E.Coli (STEC), which later led to her developing deadly Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) - a life-threatening complication related to the poisoning.
HUS is a serious and potentially fatal condition that affects the blood and blood vessels, resulting in the destruction of blood platelets. It can also cause kidney failure and brain damage.
Allie was moved to the Manchester Royal Infirmary and put in an induced coma on August 1.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
An MRI scan was carried out, which revealed that she had sustained severe brain trauma and damage. Katie had to make the difficult decision to terminate Allie’s life support following the advice from doctors.
Allie died on August 3.
Katie said: “In sharing Allie’s story, we want to make people more aware of the signs and symptoms of STEC HUS.
"I keep thinking that if I had known about the condition, then I would have probably taken Allie to hospital sooner and it wouldn’t have ended the way it did.
"Allie was such a beautiful, happy girl and we are all utterly heartbroken. We still can’t believe she is gone.
“Allie was an intelligent, beautiful and independent little lady.
"She was always giving kisses and cuddles at home, and always wanted to be sat on someone’s knee or to be picked up and carried around.
“Allie loved baking, playing with her dolls, playing nurse and she was always sticking plasters on us and our dogs.
"I bought her a nurse’s outfit and doctor’s bag full of equipment for her birthday but she never got to see them.
"Allie also loved watching Peppa Pig and singing nursery rhymes.
“There is now a massive hole in our home and our hearts. We all miss her dearly. She should not have died. She had so much to give.
“While nothing will bring her back, we need to know what caused her illness and if anything could have been done to prevent it.
“We all suffered gastric illness and there were a number of people complaining of being unwell during our stay at the hotel, but we didn’t anticipate how serious it could be.”
The family have now instructed specialist international serious injury lawyers, Irwin Mitchell, to investigate what happened.
Public Health England is also currently investigating the matter, and an inquest has been opened to examine the circumstances surrounding Allie’s death.
Jatinder Paul, a Senior Associate Solicitor and specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: “Allie’s family are understandably heartbroken at the loss of their lovely little girl and are struggling to come to terms with what happened.
“Through our work we are sadly only too aware of the potentially devastating consequences of serious illnesses such as STEC and E.coli, particularly for children, which are only highlighted by Allie’s sad death.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare and we are supporting Katie and her family through this difficult time and are now investigating how Allie contracted her illness.
“As part of our investigations, we are looking into the family’s stay at the Crystal Sunset Luxury Resort and Spa and if any issues are identified, we hope that measures will be taken to ensure this does not happen again.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Katie Dawson went to the all-inclusive resort with partner, Wayne Birchall, 35, and children, Bobbi Birchall, nine, and Casey Calland, 15.
The couple, who both run their own window cleaning business, spent around £4,000 for the 10-day break.
Katie, 35, told how meals were served in a buffet style, with the family eating mostly English food.
Allie was eating chicken nuggets, mash and peas and chips, along with cereal and ice cream.
Katie said: "We all suffered, apart from Allie, from gastric problems while we were away.
"I was bedridden for a couple of days but the others weren't as bad as me.
"Allie was totally fine for the whole of the holiday, she had an absolutely brilliant holiday. She loved it.
"When Allie first got poorly we had no idea it would be linked to the holiday.
"We are hoping to get to the bottom of what caused this."
Today (TUES) it emerged that holidaymakers as far back as two years ago had claimed they found poo in the pool at the resort.
One woman said on TripAdvisor: "They also close [sic] the main pool because their [sic] was poo in the water we also seen [sic] someone change a baby's nappy then washed [sic] the baby's bottom in the pool."
The review was posted on September 8, 2017 and rated the resort as three out of five.
A spokesperson from Jet2.com said: “We are very sorry to hear about these tragic circumstances, and we would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to Ms. Dawson and her family at this very difficult time. As lawyers have been instructed, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment.”
Diablo the baby porcupine and Fig the sausage dog are the best of friends
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS 
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
A pair of best friends could end up in a sticky situation if their rough-and-tumble goes too far - because a sausage dog is pals with a baby porcupine.
Porcupette Diablo made friends with little puppy Fig under the watchful eye of surrogate mum Estelle Morgan, who is hand-rearing the spiny little critter because he got rejected by his mum.
Zookeeper Estelle took the tiny porcupette home to give him the best chance of survival when his mum Hannah rejected him at Cotswold Wildlife Park in Oxfordshire.
When Diablo was just a few days old, Estelle introduced him to her puppy Fig for some company and essential social interactions to help his development, and the pair soon became best friends.
The prickly pair now spend all day playing together, but will only have a few more days before Diablo has to leave - and go back to the zoo.
Estelle said: "It’s safe to say they have become best friends.
"When Diablo gets excited he will do a buckaroo-style run, where he thrashes his head around and jumps up in the air.
"Under close supervision, they will run around the garden together and Fig has been very gentle and patient with Diablo."
Diablo was born to parents Hannah and Prickle at Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford.
But the decision was made to hand-rear the baby porcupine when his mother rejected him.
She said: "Hannah previously had twins in February that she is still caring for, so it is likely she wasn’t really ready for another baby so soon.
"His unexpected arrival was a big surprise for all of us."
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Image by: Tom Wren SWNS
Little Diablo was very feisty from birth but is now showing his softer side and building his social skills with best buddy Fig.
He is currently being bottle-fed by Estelle in her kitchen at her home which is located within the wildlife park.
Estelle said: "When Diablo was first born he was very feisty and wasn’t scared to give me a nip.
"However now he has settled into a good routine and will comfortably follow me around the kitchen and will even come to me for reassurance."
When Estelle began hand-rearing Diablo, he weighed just 300g and has grown to a whopping 1.8kg.
For the first month, he was fed one bottle every two hours to get him into a good routine.
But at six weeks old, he is now tasting solid foods and has developed a liking for apples and sweet potatoes.
Estelle said: "My most stand out moment hand-rearing Diablo was when he latched on and suckled on his own from the bottle for the first time.
"This happened when he was three days old and was just a huge relief for me - the first few days are always worrying.
"Now, at six weeks old, he is tasting solid foods - sweet potatoes and apples are his favourites - so he can go longer in-between feeds which also means I’ve been able to get more sleep."
Image by: Tom Wren SWNSVideo by: Tom Wren SWNS
From Russia with love: Four-year-old girl's message in a bottle travelled 5,000 miles from Spain to MOSCOW
Image by: Jake McPherson
A four-year-old British girl who threw a message in a bottle into the sea in Spain was stunned to receive a reply - from a couple in MOSCOW.
Taylor Powell tossed the bottle into the water on the third day of her holiday in Santa Susanna near Barcelona.
She included a picture of herself and a note which read: “If you find this picture, please respond with a name of your country and a picture."
And she was amazed when her dad Ritchie, 31, received a text from a couple named Sasha and Alex who said they found it in Moscow's Moskva River.
They sent a photograph of Taylor's note along with a Google Maps image showing their location and a note signed ‘From Russia with love’.
Experts reckon the only way it could have made the journey by sea was to travel at least 5,000 miles across the Bay of Biscay, around the Shetland Islands and across the North Sea.
Image by: Jake McPherson
Image by: Simon Galloway
Image by: Simon Galloway
Ritchie said: "When I told Taylor someone had replied to the message, her face completely lit up. She was so happy.
"I asked them to send proof and received a pin of their location to my phone. We were absolutely ecstatic.
“We told Taylor her the bottle will pass by mermaids and sharks - for it to turn up in Moscow is magical for her. She’s so excited."
Ritchie and Taylor, from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, were on a four-day holiday to Santa Susanna, 37 miles from Barcelona on Spain’s north east coast.
They were joined by Ritchie’s girlfriend Milly Templeton-Browne, 22, who helped Taylor pen the letter, which included her dad's mobile number and read:
“Hello my name is Taylor Powell, I am four years old and on holiday in Spain with my daddy.
“If you find this picture, please respond with a name of your country and a picture.
“Love Taylor xxx”
Their hotel was situated beside the seafront - and she dispatched the bottle on May 19.
Car salesman Ritche said: “Taylor made a wish when she threw the bottle into the sea.
“She kissed it and said ‘I wish I could be a mermaid’."
Ritchie and Milly, an administrator at Weston College, were driving to Parklife festival in Manchester on June 7 when they received the text from a Russian mobile number.
It was accompanied by a picture of Taylor’s note held in a woman’s hand and a Google Maps pin showing their location.
The text read: "We hope your holiday in Spain was great - from Russia with Love, Sasha and Alex.”
Image by: Simon Galloway
Image by: Jake McPherson
The dad-of-one posted the story on his Facebook page - and received more than 300 likes with dozens of heartfelt messages.
Dr Adrian New, a scientist at the National Oceanography Centre, said it is possible for the bottle to have reached Russia by water.
This would involve it travelling around Portugal to the Bay of Biscay and up to Rockall Trough, west of Ireland.
The bottle would then float around the northerly tip of Scotland to the Shetland Islands before entering the North Sea.
Next, it would transition into the Baltic Sea before arriving at western Russia and continue north-eastwards along the north-western coast of Norway - arriving in Northern Russia.
However, Dr New said he would expect the journey to take “longer than just one month”.
He said: “From Spain there is a generally northwards current called the Shelf Edge Current (SEC) which runs along the upper regions of the continental shelf break.
“This is where the shallow shelf sea waters get suddenly deeper and plunge down typically from 100-200m depth to 4000m depths or so.
“The SEC is usually in water depths around 500m or so.
“This could take the bottle northwards along Portugal, around the shelf break in the Bay of Biscay, then up through the Rockall Trough west of Ireland, then up to the north of Scotland and Shetland.
“Here it could then either turn southwards into the North Sea and possibly transit into the Baltic and then arrive in western/southern Russia, or it could continue north-eastwards along the north-western coast of Norway and from there arrive in Northern Russia.”
Spurs fans MISS Tottenham’s incredible Champions League comeback after getting too drunk and leaving the stadium at half time - thinking it was full time
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A family of Spurs fans MISSED Tottenham’s incredible Champions League comeback after they got too drunk and left the stadium at half time - thinking it was FULL TIME.
Lifelong Spurs fans James, Michael and Will Perkins stormed out of Ajax’s Johan Cruijff Arena when the score was 2-0 and “all hope seemed lost”.
The father and son trio thought their beloved Spurs were seconds away from Champions League semi-final heartbreak so headed for the exit - just before the 45th minute.
However, there was still a full half of football left to play in Amsterdam on Wednesday night - which turned out to be 45 minute spell that will go down in club history.
Tottenham went on to win the match 3-2, after Lucas Moura scored the second half hattrick with less than 60 seconds left to play.
But Spurs season ticket holders, James, Michael and Will, from south London, missed the whole thing - after sinking 12 pints each before the match and mistaking half time for full time.
Social media producer James, 23, said: “We just thought there was no way we were going to score three goals in less than five minutes.
“We were pretty poor and were having no chances at all. We all left just before half time - thinking it was full time.
“We didn’t look like we were ever going to score. All three of us were pretty drunk and just didn’t think we were going to score.
“No one was talking and everyone thought the game was over at that point. We thought we were leaving at the perfect time and wanted to beat the rush out of the ground.”
Boozed up and miserable, the three heartbroken fans began to make their way back to their hotel in central Amsterdam.
But as they stood on metro train station platform, James received a phone call from a friend .. just as the second half was getting underway.
It was then that the penny dropped and James realised he had walked out of the stadium at half time rather than full time.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Whilst he was on the phone to his friend, Spurs scored the first of their three goals, which sparked the start of a memorable comeback.
James, Michael and Will rushed back to their hotel and managed to catch the last half an hour of the match in the hotel bar.
He took off his shirt and ran around the bar and celebrated as if he was still stood in the stands when the final goal went in and Spurs sealed a sensational victory.
James added: “We were stood waiting for the train and my friend called me. He couldn’t believe we had left. He said the game was still going on.
“He told me when Spurs scored the first goal. I was so confused. But then I realised no one was stood around us waiting for a train.
“We were able to watch in the bar and to be honest, I’m fine with it now. I was still excited to be watching because of what was happening.
“I was just happy we were coming back. It’s still amazing to see us reach the final.
“It was an unbelievable feeling when we had won. I took my shirt off and started running around.
“Obviously, it would have been better to be there but it was still an incredible experience for sure. We celebrated as if we were still at the ground.”
James paid 64 euros for his ticket and has travelled around Europe all season watching Spurs in the Champions League.
James, his dad and his brother arrived in Amsterdam for the Champions League semi-final second leg at 1pm on Wednesday, and spent the seven hours before kick off drinking.
They arrived at the ground in time for the 8pm kick off, but due to a drunken mix-up, missed the start of the match.
Blurry-eyed James even tried to get into the Amsterdam Arena using a ticket for an old Tottenham match.
He arrived at his seat ten minutes into the match - when Spurs were already losing - and meant he thought he had missed a full half of football.
James said: “We thought we had left at the perfect time to beat the rush at full time.
“I left and my dad and brother followed me.
“I’m still happy but that’s the last time I ever leave a football match early.”
James is hoping to attend the Champions League Final in Madrid with his dad and brother on June 1.
Spurs will take on Liverpool at the Estadio Metropolitano, where one team will be crowned the champions of Europe.
Harrowing 999 call captures terrifying moment a violent thug broke into his ex-girlfriend's home to beat her semi-conscious
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A harrowing 999 call captures the moment a violent thug smashed his way into his ex-girlfriend's home where he beat her semi-conscious and stabbed her with a knife.
Aaron Marsden Booth, 27, can be heard breaking through the front door of his ex-partner’s home as she screams in terror and begs for help from police.
She desperately asks call handlers: "Can I have the police please, my boyfriend is breaking in. He is kicking my door down can you hurry up?"
A loud noise of the door being smashed in can be heard in the background before the she lets out a "blood-curdling scream" and pleads: "Please, don't hurt me."
Booth can be heard telling her: "What I'm going to do...I'm going to f***ing kill you." before the phone line cuts dead.
The abusive yob then battered the beauty salon worker semi-conscious in her own home before she was able to flee from the property in Glossop, Derbys.
Booth then stabbed his victim in the street in front of police officers who were arriving at the scene before holding the blade to her throat.
Officers, armed only armed only with batons and capture spray, pleaded with him to not harm her further and he eventually walked away and returned to her address.
He then forced armed police into a three-hour standoff as his ex girlfriend was rushed to hospital following the shocking incident in February this year.
Booth went on to plead guilty to wounding with intent and was jailed for 14 years as his victim, now 31, bravely watched on from the public gallery at Manchester Crown Court
Shocking injury pictures released by Derbyshire Police after the case also show the victim, who the force have not named, with horrific facial bruising and swelling.
Judge Richard Mansell QC praised her in helping bring Booth to justice and ensuring that others would not become a victim at his hands.
He told her: “You have been brave in the extreme. You have not just protected yourself; you have protected other women.”
The victim said Booth was "charming" when they first met in 2017 and, despite warnings from pals about his previous behaviour, began a relationship with him the following year.
She came to realise why her friends were concerned as his abusive behaviour came to the fore in May 2018 when he began drinking to excess and taking drugs.
Sentencing, Judge Mansell added: “When at home, you would bully and degrade her by spitting, flicking cigarettes or throwing household items at her, as well as calling her names.
“You pursued her by turning up at her home and the beauty salon where she worked and contacting her friends, but then left her alone for about a month.
“However, you met up with her in July 2018 and persuaded her that you would change and so she agreed to start seeing you again.
“Very soon you reverted to the same kind of behaviour.”
In the September of that year Booth threatened to kill his victim before wrapping both his hands around her neck as if to strangle her.
His victim tried repeatedly to break of their relationship. But each time Booth would bombard her with calls and texts and force her, through emotional blackmail, to retract her complaints made against him.
The evening prior to the assault, Booth’s victim had been enjoying a night out with her friends - during which he was caught on CCTV following her from pub to pub.
In the footage Booth could be seen becoming increasingly angry as the night went on, before finally his victim had to lock herself in a toilet to get away from him.
After Booth, of Glossop, was ejected from the pub, his victim left the bar and went home to bed before he turned up at her front door demanding to be let in.
His victim called police as he attempted to kick the front door down.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Judge Mansell said: “She was crying and pleading with the operator to hurry up because you were trying to break in.
“After a few moments, there is a huge bang and she lets out a blood-curdling scream of terror as you smashed a window and climbed into the house.
“You immediately set about beating her up, knocking her to the ground and punching her repeatedly about the face.
“All that could be heard was her moaning in pain.
“This was a sustained and brutal assault on a defenceless woman.”
Leaving her in a semi-conscious state on the floor with multiple fractures to her face, Booth grabbed a knife from the kitchen.
Realising he had a knife in his hand, his victim managed to run from the house but Booth caught up with her stabbing her repeatedly in the legs and side.
Police officers witnessed the stabbing and urged Booth to put the knife down – instead he grabbed his victim, holding the knife to her throat and telling officers he would kill her if they came any nearer.
Eventually the officers managed to talk Booth away from the woman – and he walked back to the house in Sumners Place, Glossop.
Locking himself in the property - armed officers were forced into a three hour standoff before he eventually threw his weapons out of the window and was arrested.
After being charged with attempted murder, Booth went on to plead guilty to a section 18 assault – wounding with intent.
He must serve at least nine years in prison before he can apply for parole and once freed must serve six years on licence.
He was also handed an indefinite restraining order which prohibits Booth from contacting his victim.
Detective Constable Graham Millar, of Derbyshire Police, said after the case: “I would first like to praise the bravery shown by his victim.
“The incident in February was the culmination of months of physical and mental abuse by Booth.
“His behaviour ground down a strong, independent, young woman – causing her to lose more than two stone in weight as Booth’s campaign of abuse continued.
“This all came to a head in February. In what should have been a place of safety, she pleaded for her life as he beat and stabbed her.
“Anyone hearing that call cannot help but feel a part her terror as he smashed his way into the house.
“It is testament to her bravery and strength that was able to bring charges against Booth.
“She showed that same strength, dignity and bravery throughout the court process – even when it appeared she may have to give evidence against Booth – and ended in her sitting in court watching him be jailed for 14 years.
“I hope the sentence handed to Booth brings a degree of closure to this chapter in her life.
“I would also like to take this moment pay tribute to the officers who were first on the scene that night.
"Armed with only their batons and captor spray they were faced with a situation that could easily have led to a far more tragic ending.
“Their actions on that night were, quite simply, incredible. They are an absolute credit to the force and I am proud to call them fellow Derbyshire Constabulary officers.”
Following the case, victim Zahra Rechelle took to social media to thank well-wishers for their support and shared the shocking video released by police.
She wrote: "I obviously knew and agreed to this being shared, but only this!
"I know it’s horrific to hear and he’s evil.
"But the police saved me, my eyebrows still look delightful in them awful pictures, we now live by the beach with the best family and friends and he has to do a minimum of 9 years in prison!
"Thank you to everyone’s messages, so overwhelming makes me cry."
Pal Leah Mae Rudge replied:" This literally broke my heart. I love you babe, I’m so glad you’re safe and the other side of all this now xxxxxxxxx"
Summer Coppock added: "I've never heard anything like this.. not even on a horror movie! Its actually made me cry. You're such a strong woman Zahra Rechelle and I'm so glad you're okay now."
Emma Charles wrote: "Unreal, what an amazing woman you are for standing up to him and sharing this to try help others. Love and hugs."
Video by: Steve Chatterley
More than 130 seal pups born in River Thames over last 12 months
Image by: Steve Chatterley
It may look like a scene from the Antarctic, but these amazing pictures of a large seal colony were taken on the Thames Estuary.
More than 130 seal pups were born in the River Thames over the last 12 months, according to new figures.
Harbour seals bred 138 newborns in the once filthy river, which is now also home to sharks, seahorse and eels.
Conservationists say it proves the Thames’ ecosystem is now “thriving” after being declared “biologically dead” 60 years ago.
The pictures of the seal colony were taken on the Thames Estuary near Herne Bay in Kent.
Conservation biologist Thea Cox, of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) which conducted the survey, said: “We were thrilled to count 138 pups born in a single season.
“The seals would not be able to pup here at all without a reliable food source, so this demonstrates that the Thames ecosystem is thriving and shows just how far we have come since the river was declared biologically dead in the 1950s.”
ZSL has estimated Thames seal populations annually since 2013. The most recent results, from 2017, recorded 1,104 harbour seals and 2,406 grey seals across the estuary.
The pioneering pup-count was an attempt to understand why seal numbers in the river are increasing.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Scientists are unsure whether the numbers are rising due to resident seals having pups or because adults are migrating from other regions where colonies are known to be dwindling.
The ZSL team analysed hundreds of photos taken during the seal’s summer pupping season as part of UK-wide seal monitoring initiatives.
They took photos from a light aircraft as the seals rested on the sandbanks and creeks below, making it easier and more accurate to count the constantly moving, playful creatures.
The Thames is home to both harbour seals and grey seals, but only the former breed there.
Project manager Anna Cucknell, who leads ZSL’s Thames conservation, said: “Incredibly, harbour seal pups can swim within hours of birth which means they are well adapted to grow up in tidal estuaries, like the Thames.
“By the time the tide comes in they can swim away on it. Grey seals, on the other hand, take longer to be comfortable in the water, so breed elsewhere and come to the Thames later to feed.”
“The restored ‘Mother Thames’ - as we call her - is an essential nursery habitat and home to many animals including more than 100 species of fish, including two species of shark, short-snouted seahorses and the Critically Endangered European eel.”
ZSL is launching its virtual reality experience ‘Thames Safari’ as part of the Totally Thames Festival later this week.
It will allow explorers to learn about the animals - including seals - as they journey through one of London’s most important wildlife habitats.
Video by: Ashley Moran
PUT HIS FOOT IN IT - Footage shows a man allegedly on the run from police hiding in an attic - before falling directly onto a waiting officer
Image by: Matty Walsh
This funny video shows the moment a man who was allegedly hiding from police in an attic fell through the ceiling - leaving his leg dangling inches above a waiting officer.
Matty Walsh, 24, was at a party with some friends when he heard a banging at the door and someone shout "police" - at which point one of the group vanished.
He said that he had no idea who the man was, how he got there, or where he went when the police knocked on the door in Rochdale, Manchester.
But he said police came in and declared they were looking for an alleged suspect - before there was a loud creak from the ceiling.
A hole appeared in the roof and plaster rained down on the police officer as a man's leg appeared through the ceiling.
Matty, from Rochdale, Manchester, said: "We heard a cracking and the police said, 'who's in the roof'?
"The next thing a foot comes in and the plaster comes down and almost hits the copper on the head.
"There was no way out and he came down when they went to get him, there was no way out so he just gave up.
"We were all having a laugh about it, I don't know what the coppers thought of it."
As Matty filmed the two officers interviewing a party goer on the sofa on the opposite side of the room, a loud creak can be heard coming from the roof.
Matty, a builder, said he realised what was happening and filmed the incident on May 31, to put on Snapchat.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a man had been arrested at the party following an earlier domestic assault
They said: "Shortly after 02.00am on Saturday, June 1, officers responded to reports of a domestic assault in Rochdale.
"A male was detained at a nearby house in Ennerdale Road and arrested on suspicion of assault and breaching a restraining order."
Video by: Matty Walsh
14-year-old has become the youngest Brit to fly solo in a powered aircraft - three years before he's even allowed to DRIVE
Video by: Ellis Wylam 
Image by: Jon Mills
A 14-year-old schoolboy has become the youngest Brit to fly solo in a powered aircraft - three years before he's even allowed to DRIVE.
Junior aviator Maksim Ferguson bypassed British laws - which will not allow him to get his wings until he is 16 - by travelling to Canada for the privilege.
Canada is the only country in the world where a 14-year-old is allowed to fly on their own.
Teenager Maks received a certificate after he took to the skies at Burlington, Ontario, Canada, on Monday April 15 at age 14 years, one month and 28 days old.
He was joined by dad, Vincent Ferguson OBE, 54, who runs his own ecological incineration business, on a two-week mission to get him in the air.
Despite being challenged by typical Canadian weather, which saw high winds and even snow, Maks, from Mawdesley, Lancs., managed to cram in as many lessons as possible to achieve his dream.
For his first ever flight Maks took off alone in gusty conditions in a Piper PA-28 single engine, four-seater aeroplane, ascending to 1,000 ft.
In 15 minutes he navigated the chosen flight path and communicated with Canadian air traffic control, before successfully touching back down at the airstrip.
Maks said: “I wasn't expecting to go solo when I did.
“They had cancelled nearly all the flights as the weather was so bad and I thought that any opportunity to fly had gone out the window.
"Then we got a call from the Chief Flying Instructor saying let's head out, who then said I was ready and I could go solo.
“It all happened so fast and I was so nervous sitting there on the runway in the plane by myself.
"It also didn't help that my dad and all my instructors were stood right beside it filming me and taking pictures."
Over the next couple of days, with improved weather, Maks went up again, totting up over two hours' solo flying time.
Maks' UK flying instructor told him that, as he had been taking almost weekly lessons since he was eight-years-old, he was experienced enough to fly solo by the time he was 12.
Maks and his dad had originally planned for him to fly to Australia to when he was 16 so he could fly solo 12 hours before he would have been able to in the UK.
But when they found out about Canadian law they set new plans in motion.
Before Maks could fly he had to pass a Class 3 Canadian Medical Certificate, which he did in the UK.
He had to reach the minimum ten hours' flying time in Canadian skies, which includes performing stalls, spins and spiral dives - not allowed for safety reasons in the UK.
He also had to pass an aviation exam, the PSTAR Examination, and the ROC(A) and English Proficiency Test to correctly communicate with Canadian air traffic control.
The high-flying teen hopes one day he will be an RAF pilot or commercial airline pilot.
“The funny thing is, my dad was once terrified of flying, but he overcame his fear and got his pilot licence when I was really young," said Maks.
"I'd grown up around planes because of my dad and absolutely loved flying from my very first lesson."
Maks' father went with Maks on his own. Mum, Victoria, who is 38 and works for the family business, and little sister, Charlotte, 11, were too scared to go along.
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
Vincent said: “I still remember the day I took the stabilisers off Maks' bike when he was a little boy and I felt that same anxiety as when he went cycling away from me all those years ago, albeit on a far greater magnitude.
"I was petrified, it was two weeks of hell for me, but Maks took the whole thing in his stride and flew like an absolute professional. I am so proud of him."
Maks has loved flying since he was five-years-old but took his first official flying lesson at ANT (Air Navigation & Trading) in Blackpool, Lancs., when he was eight.
Maks' flying instructor, Russell Whyham from ANT, said: “Maks is by far the youngest pilot we've ever trained in our 70+ year history.
"He's been obsessed with aeroplanes since his first lesson and he'll hopefully one day join the elite list of ANT student flyers who go on to become commercial airline pilots or similar.
“His level of training, skill and dedication has meant that he's been ready to fly solo for a number of years now and the only thing that's held him back is his age.”
Sadly Maks will not gain a place in the record books, as the World Guinness Book of Records does not recognise achievements with an age limit.
In January 2019 this year, Ellie Carter was named the UK's youngest pilot when she flew a powered aircraft on her 16th birthday.
Image by: Jon Mills
WATER RESCUE - Moment volunteers rescued an exhausted humpback whale being dragged to the seabed after it got caught on lobster pot
Image by: Noel Hawkins
This the incredible moment volunteers rescued an exhausted humpback whale being dragged to the seabed by a lobster pot.
The 12m long adult was left fighting for its life after it got its tail caught on fishing gear off Orkney in Scotland.
The majestic mammal had spent at days - potentially up to a week - battling to keep its blowhole above water, but was fast losing its fight when volunteers arrived.
Video footage shows the cetacean - which could have travelled 4,500 miles from the Caribbean - fighting for its life.
Volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue worked for hours - hanging off the side of boats with their heads in the water - to cut the terrified animal free.
And against the odds it survived the ordeal to swim off into the deep.
Volunteer Noel Hawkins, 49, from Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty, in the Highlands, said: "It was managing to lift its head up and down but it was quite distressed when we first got to it.
"It was trumpeting and breathing very fast. That noise you hear on the video isn't the boat - it's the whale exhaling.
"Once we started work it did begin to be more still.
"That seems to be a bit of a humpback trick. I like to think that's them knowing that they are getting help.
"We had to be really careful. It's not just dangerous for us, but it's dangerous for the animal too.
"It could have been there for up to a week. There was scarring on the tail and down its back. It had been pulling on it for a while."
The team were alerted by a fisherman who returned from holiday to find his lobster and crab pots off Westray Island had snared a whale.
Much to the relief of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, he didn't try to free the whale himself, but got in touch with volunteers.
Image by: Noel Hawkins
Image by: Noel Hawkins
Image by: Noel Hawkins
Image by: Noel Hawkins
Members from across Scotland drove to the top of the country, before getting a ferry, then driving further and chartered a boat, to reach the animal on October 1.
The humpback was being pulled to the seabed by rope tied around a lobster pot, tethered to the seabed by a massive weight.
It was strong enough to lift the weight just enough to get to the surface to breathe, but was fast running out of energy.
The team faced the challenge of getting close enough to rescue the animal, but having to stay safe.
It was too risky for the team to get in the water - in case they are caught up and dragged down with the freed whale - so they have to rescue the animal from the boat.
The team hung off the side of the boat with their heads in the water to get a better look.
Noel, a communities manager with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, cut the whale free, hanging in the water with a knife, while someone on the boat held his legs.
"This one was quite a straight forward rescue, in terms of it was just on the tail," he said.
"We had lots of local support. The fisherman himself was on hand to help us too."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
