SPEED DATE - A couple who met on a dating app got engaged after ONE month and then tied the knot just four weeks later.
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
A couple who met on a dating app got engaged after ONE month and then tied the knot just four weeks later.
Christopher Rimmer and Viktorija Vakulenko, both 34, met through an app called Christian Dating for Free and arranged to meet face-to-face after a month of chatting online.
Viktorija, originally from Latvia, travelled to the UK for work and met Chris in his hometown in Southport, Merseyside, where they discussed the idea of marriage on their first date.
Despite feeling an instant connection, the pair abstained from having sex, and after dating for one month, Chris popped the question on Southport Pier where they had one of their first dates.
The pair set a date for June 2019 – two months after they first met – and tied the knot at Shoreline Church, Southport, surrounded by 60 family and friends.
Chris and Vicktorija have now returned from their honeymoon in Barcelona and can’t wait to start the rest of their lives together.
Vicktorjia, said: “The moment I saw his profile I felt a connection to him – his photos made him look open and kind.
“I spoke to a few people on the site but after I met Chris on there I stopped my other conversations and put all my attention onto him.
“He had such a strong passion for ministry and it just felt right.
“I knew there was something special and we went for it.”
Vickorija, from Riga, Latvia, joined the dating site in March 2019 after her sister encouraged her to sign-up.
She had only been on the site for two weeks when Chris came across her profile and struck up a conversation with her.
The pair felt an instant connection and arranged to meet up for their first date in Chris’ home town Southport, in Liverpool, after Vickorija moved to the UK looking for work.
She said: “I wasn’t sure about joining the dating site but I’d moved home after travelling in Thailand and my sister suggested it would be a good way to meet people – even just to make some friends.
“I spoke to a few people and then Chris started a conversation with me and it just felt right.
“To be honest I was planning to stay alone for a while – I didn’t expect to meet someone so quickly.
“At the time I started applying for jobs in the UK and I planned to go over for the some interviews.
“It tied in together and I could also finally meet Chris.
“I remember being at the airport with my mum and she could already see how happy I was, giggling on the phone to him.
“I already felt like I was in love with him when we were talking online.”
Smitten Vickorija moved to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, to stay with a friend, before travelling up to meet Chris first the first time over Easter Weekend in April 2019.
She said: “There was a postcard in my host’s house of Southport and thought: ‘That looks so nice, what a cool place.’
“It felt like there were lots of signs for us to be together and I was taking those signs as direction.
“I was super nervous but there were lots of sparks the moment we met at the train station.
“He took me to the pier and it was such a romantic first date.
“We started talking about marriage that day – we both knew that’s what we wanted.
“We joined that dating app because we were hoping to meet someone to have a future and because we’re both have the same faith.
“Chris had a spare room for me to stay in that weekend and we knew nothing else romantic was going to happen.
“We were both prepared to wait until we got married because it felt right.”
Image by: Chris Rimmer
Image by: Chris Rimmer
Image by: Chris Rimmer
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
After their first weekend together, Vicktorija started looking for work in Southport so she could be closer to Chris.
Chris decided to pop the question on May 15 – less than four weeks after they first met face-to-face.
He hatched a plan to take her to the pavilion restaurant, Southport, where they had one of their first dates and he asked staff to film the moment he popped the question.
Vicktorjia said: “I knew we were going to get married because we talked about it but I didn’t know when it would happen.
“Chris took me to the restaurant and it was a beautiful sunset.
“When he asked me I was so surprised and excited - it was all perfect.”
The couple couldn’t wait to make things official and set a date for the big day on 15 June 2019 – less than two months after they first met.
They held the ceremony at Shoreline Church, Southport, in front of around 50 family and friends, followed by a reception at
She said: “My mum and sister came over from Riga but my dad couldn’t make is so Chris’ dad offered to walk me down the aisle.
“We had only just met and he said I was ‘perfect’ for Chris – it meant so much.
“Everyone had a great day and although it started cloudy it got sunny.
“It was a perfect day and it never felt like it was too soon, it felt like it was just the right time.
“We want children and I’m looking forward to the future and for now we’re looking for a place to live and focusing on our ministry.”
Chris, who had been on the dating site for a couple of years, recalls the moment he first came across Vicktorija online.
He said: “We were both of the site because we wanted to meet someone and get married, I just hadn’t met that person yet, not until I found Vicktorija.
“The moment I saw her pictures I thought: 'Who is this girl? I have to speak to her.’
“We were so similar and we both had a strong belief in our Christian faith which bought us closer together.
“The moment I met her I knew were going to get married – we wanted to get to know each other a bit and become best friends.
“The day I proposed I didn’t have much of a plan, I just knew I wanted to take her to the pier where we had one of our first dates.
“The sunset was incredibly and I knew I had to do it then.
“I told the staff I was going to propose and asked them to film us.
“It was perfect and they helped make the day really special for us.
“The wedding day was perfect – I felt like the luckiest man when I saw her walking down the aisle.
“After the big day we headed off for our honeymoon in Barcelona and did some trekking and exploring.
“ Vicktorija loves her food and we definitely put some weight on.
“Everything’s a bit up in the air at the moment, we’re looking for somewhere to live to get settled.
“We’re taking each day at a time and enjoying getting to know each other more.”
Video by: Gabriella Petty
BASE JUMPING HORROR - A base jumper is lucky to be alive after he tumbled 180ft down a mountain when a gust of wind slammed him into a notorious rock face
A base jumper is lucky to be alive after he plummeted 180ft when a gust of wind slammed him into a notorious cliff face.
Sam Percival, 35, miraculously survived the horror fall after his parachute spun mid-jump, slamming him into the sheer cliff face at speeds of at least 30mph.
He was attempting to become the first person to jump off Lord Berkeley’s Seat in An Teallach, in the Scottish Highlands - which has claimed the lives of THREE walkers this year alone.
A shocking video shows how after jumping, while he free-fell 200ft, a gust of wind spun him round into the cliff face, partially deflating his parachute.
The brave adventurer then plummeted a further 180ft - the equivalent of 14 floors - before he landed on a rocky outcrop.
Sam was pummelled by falling debris - and then had to climb for hours to get help.
Rescuers were amazed he survived the accident, and miraculously he's now recovering at home with just a few sprains, cuts and bruises.
Lucky Sam, an outdoor instructor, from Horwich, Lancashire, said he feels lucky to be alive - while rescuers said that was "something of an understatement."
Sam, who lives in Aviemore, in the Highlands, said: "It felt like being in a washing machine filled with boulders.
"I struck the cliff at about 30mph.
"I tried to get hold of a ledge but I kept accelerating towards the floor of the gully.
"The canopy was reducing my speed, but it wasn't supporting me.
"Next I hit the bottom of the gully, 180ft from where I struck the cliff.
"I was underneath a pile of boulders that had come down with me.
"My clothes were in shreds.
"At first I thought that adrenaline must be masking something, but I managed to get to my feet and basically all I have is a sprained ankle and wrist.
"I'm a very, very lucky man. People keep saying I should buy a lottery ticket, but I think I have already sued up all my luck for this year at least.
"When you are basejumping the worst thing that can happen when you jump is total malfunction - your parachute doesn't open.
"The second worst thing in a 180 - it opens but it opens, for whatever reason, facing towards the cliff.
"Depending on a few things like how long you fall for, or the winds, you have as little as a few milliseconds to do anything about it."
Image by: Sam Percival
Image by: Sam Percival
Image by: Sam Percival
Image by: Sam Percival
Sam, who has been base jumping for five years, wanted to be the first person to jump off Lord Berkeley’s Seat in An Teallach, in the Scottish Highlands, on Thursday.
He said he and this friends tested the conditions and he decided to go first, but was caught by a side gust of wind after he threw up his parachute.
"We did push it," he said
"The winds were a bit too high, but I made the decision to jump."
After free-falling 200ft, the gust twisted him 180 degrees into the rock face, so instead of gliding to the bottom of the gully, he slammed into the mountain.
He then tumbled a further 180ft before he slammed into a rock ledge.
Unable to see his expedition buddies, and without any phone signal, one friend made the brave decision to jump after him, while the other climbed down the treacherous mountain.
The group called 999, and then spent two hours climbing to a safe place, where they were met by Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team and The Inverness Coastguard helicopter.
"When I met the winchman he asked me where the casualty was," said Sam.
"I told him it was me. He replied 'when we heard we were attending a casualty who jumped off Lord Berkeley’s Seat, we were expecting a fatality'."
Sam and his friends were airlifted to the base of the mountain.
He added: "I don't know of anyone falling the distance I have, and coming away with a few scratches.
"I was very, very lucky to survive."
Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team agreed.
A spokesperson said: “Lord Berkeley’s Seat is 1,030m above sea level and has a mostly vertical drop of at least 500m on its north face.
“After jumping off the peak, the casualty’s parachute was caught by a gust of wind which turned him around and propelled him into the face of the mountain.
"He then slid a short distance before stopping.
“He was then able to climb back up, over steep and very hazardous terrain, to rejoin his companions on the main ridge.
"He was found to have sustained only minor injuries but was evacuated in due course from the mountain by Rescue 151 to Dundonnell MRT base at the foot of the mountain.”
Dundonnell MRT leader Donald Macrae said: “This is the first time we’ve been called out to a base-jumping incident.
“To say this young man is lucky to be alive is something of an understatement. He must have a guardian angel.
"He came very close indeed to a long vertical drop which he would not have survived.”
Video by: Sam Percival
Image by: Sam Percival
Image by: Sam Percival
RAGING BULL - Farmer says he 'has no beef' as he is reunited with the prize-winning bull which trampled him after being spooked by an opening umbrella
Image by: JP Yorkshire Evening Post 
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
The farmer trampled by his prize-winning bull at an agricultural show was reunited with the animal today - and revealed it had been 'spooked' by the opening of an umbrella.
Show-goers looked on in horror as Willy Barron, 61, was dragged along the ground and knocked unconscious by Limousin bull Barrons Olso, who weighs almost one tonne.
Miraculously Mr Barron survived serious injury during the incident at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate on Tuesday.
Today the farmer was reunited with 16-month-old Barrons Olso at the showground.
He told how the animal was spooked by a spectator's opening umbrella which caused him to slip on a ramp.
Barrons Oslo was photographed as he then charged into his handler, striking him on the head, and dragging him along the ground as shocked viewers watched on.
Mr Barron, who bred and reared the bull, was knocked unconscious for a few seconds after suffering a blow to the head and had four stitches behind his ear.
The farmer from Burnhope, County Durham, has defended Barrons Oslo, saying he meant "no malice".
He said: "Apparently an umbrella opened in front of us as we were walking together, which startled the bull.
"When that happened he slipped on the ramp and that really unnerved him.
"He just wanted to be away from the area at that point, so he ran. I remember being dragged along the floor before being hit in the head and going unconscious.
"I came round after a few seconds and got some treatment."
Image by: JP Yorkshire Evening Post
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
Mr Barron added: "There was no malice in the bull whatsoever.
"It was just those two things startled him within the space of a few seconds.
"If it was only the umbrella that went up he would probably have been fine, but he slipped as well and that scared him."
Mr Barron, who breeds pedigree Limousin bull at his property, Morrow Edge Farm, said: "I certainly have no hard feelings about what happened, it's just one of those things.
"He's a really good bull and we're both absolutely fine.
"I have seen the same kind of thing happen to other people before, just not to myself."
The incident happened on Tuesday (11/7) at around 9.45am, moments after Barrons Oslo was crowned champion in the Great Yorkshire Show's British Limousin class.
Mr Barron had to be stretchered away from the area and transported to Harrogate District Hospital, where he was treated.
He said the loose bull was caught by someone seconds after he bolted and led to a nearby shed to calm down.
After being discharged by doctors, Mr Barron made his way back to the showground to check on Barrons Oslo.
Prior to the incident Barrons Oslo placed first in his class and won three prizes, including 'best junior exhibitor bred male' and 'best British Limousin animal exhibited by a North Eastern Limousin Breeders Club member'.
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
SAVED BY A WHISKER - Farmer saves four cubs after he performed an emergency C-SECTION on a dead fox
Video by: Ashley Moran 
Image by: Jean Rolfe
A farmer saved the lives of four cubs after he performed an emergency C-SECTION on a dead fox on the side of a busy road.
Chris Rolfe, 24, carried out the operation after a female vixen was knocked out and killed by a car.
The farmer witnessed the crash happen and immediately stopped his vehicle to check if the fox was still alive or if it was suffering.
Chris was travelling back from his farm on the A272, near Cowfold, West Sussex at around 11.45pm when he says his "instinct" kicked in.
The countryman said he couldn't leave a fox to die or suffer on the side of the road without checking on it first and seeing if he could help.
Chris, from Haywards Heath, West Sussex said: "I saw her on the road and stopped to check and see if she was suffering.
"It was instinctive otherwise instead of one life lost, it would have been the death of all of the cubs as well as the mum."
After carrying out a few checks on the injured animal, he had found that the vixen had died but when he checked its stomach he could see it was moving - which indicated to Chris that she was pregnant.
He said he ran to his car to get a knife out and performed an emergency C-section on the fox - taking out four little cubs measuring around six inches long.
Although Chris did not have any veterinary training, he has previously performed a C-section during lambing season.
Chris then put them into his jacket pockets and drove them to his mum, Jean Rolfe, house where they have since be hand-reared.
He added: "I didn't think about it, I just done it."
Image by: Jean Rolfe
Image by: Jean Rolfe
The cubs are now seven weeks old and the family are working with the Fox Project - a registered charity dedicated to treating the Red Fox - to get them strong enough to go back into the wild.
The little furry youngsters have been named Ginger, Biscuit, Big tip and Little tip.
Chris said: "I am really pleased they are all healthy.
"It was just something I felt obliged to do, I wouldn't want to see the mum suffer and that is why I got out of the car.
"And then when I realised she had passed away when I was checking her body, I saw her stomach moving.
"I couldn't think about it too much, I just had to perform the C-section because every minute is crucial.
"After I got the cubs out, I took them straight to my mum's and she cared for them - making sure they were clean and getting their circulation going, making she they were up and running."
Image by: Jean Rolfe
Jean, 51, from Haywards Heath, who has previously cared for foxes with the Fox project, said they both acted fast when Chris arrived at her home with the cubs.
She added: "Chris put them in his pockets and delivered to me.
"They arrived all bloody, and in the wild mum would lick them to get clean.
"Mum would also have quite a rough tongue as well, which would help to get the circulation going. But I wasn't going to do that.
"So we got a damp towel and just really rubbed them quite hard, harder then what you would think, and that actually washes them and gets the circulation going.
"We then put them in a cardboard box on top of a heater to keep them warm.
"Cubs also can't pee and poo themselves and so mum would normally lick them.
"So we got damp cotton wool and cleaned those areas, to make sure they are able to go to the toilet because that is a major factor in what could kill them."
Jean said she began feeding the cubs milk every 20 minutes which then went to "two hours, and three" and they now being weaned.
She added: "They are eating puppy dog food, plus frozen chicks.
"The reason being they would have fur, and bones and all sorts when they are in the wild. So we are trying to get them ready for the wild.
"It has taken a lot of care and effort to look after them. And thankfully all four survived."
The cubs are under the Fox project programme and will aim to go back into the wild at the age of six months.
And during this time, the foxes will travel to other fox foster homes without Jean or Chris - where they can become more independent by themselves, trying to get used to new surroundings and smells.
If the cubs are not ready to be left in the wild at the six month stage, they will continue to travel to different fox foster homes until they can become more independent.
Jean said: "If Chris hadn't stopped, they wouldn't have survived. So Chris just got on with it and dealt with it.
"He was in that frame of mind, I guess because he was looking after the sheep his instinct was there.
"A lot of people talk about having foxes as pets, and even though they are lovely animals, they are wild and they need to be wild."
GP TRAGEDY - Dedicated family doctor with 'glistening future' jumped to his death while feeling unable to talk about his own mental health for fear of losing his job
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A dedicated family doctor with a “glistening future” jumped to his death from a bridge while feeling unable to talk about his own mental health for fear of losing his job.
Father-of-two young children Dr Miles Christie, 43, felt he had let his family down before he walked onto Archway Bridge in north London, climbed over the railings and leapt 80 feet to his death.
Shocked onlookers watched in horror as the GP plummeted on to the busy double carriageway on the afternoon of Tuesday May 14th this year, an inquest heard.
He left behind his 40-year-old wife Juliette Stern and their two children, aged just three and five.
Juliette, a producer with animation production company Passion Pictures, told the inquest at St Pancras Coroner's Court that she had been married to her husband for six years.
In a statement read to the hearing, she said: “He was a hugely charismatic, kind, positive and gentle soul.
“He was adventurous and had a genuine interest in life and in people.
“He had the ability to engage with people from all walks of life.
"It is very difficult to come to terms with how someone can unravel like this."
The inquest heard that on the day of his death Dr Christie had planned to go swimming with his brother and left his home in Muswell Hill, north London, with his swimwear in his pocket.
He was later seen pacing up and Archway Bridge at around 3.30pm wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans, before climbing onto the railings and jumping to his death.
Dr Christie died at the scene despite paramedics desperate attempts to save his life, the inquest heard.
The inquest heard he had struggled with work-life balance while caring for patients at two separate practices, and feeling increasingly anxious about financial pressures.
Dr Christie worked day and night at the Burnley Medical Practice NHS surgery in Willesden, north west London, and at the private Knightsbridge Doctors in west London which he planned to move to full-time, the hearing was told.
But the inquest heard that after resigning from his position as an NHS practitioner, he became increasingly anxious and expressed concerns about the contract and overhead costs related to taking over the Knightsbridge practice.
He began working longer hours and lost around eight kilos (17.6 lbs) in weight, the inquest heard.
In the days leading up to his death, he was also sent five invoices mistakenly informing him he owed money to cover a gap in his Medical Protection Society (MPS) membership, totalling around £48,000 - despite only owing £3,000.
The global organisation offers protection for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals and helps them to understand and navigate the challenges of modern practice.
The inquest heard that a fellow young doctor at the the Knightsbridge practice spoke often with Dr Christie who said he had been suffering from headaches, poor sleep and night sweats which appeared to be due to anxiety.
Dr Christie was accompanied by his father Dr Peter Christie, a retired paediatrician, to see a psychiatrist days before his death.
But he denied having suicidal thoughts because of his two young children, when speaking with a psychiatrist two days prior to his death on May 14.
Coroner Mary Hassell concluded that Dr Christie had taken his own life.
Several friends, relatives and colleagues left the inquest in tears.
Summing up, the Coroner said: "He was an excellent doctor.
"He was very in demand. He had quite obviously a tremendously loving family and everyone wanted to help him out."
She said she believed Dr Christie "could not see the wood for the trees" after becoming so "poorly" with his mental health.
She added: "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he did take his own life.
"I don't think that the money worries or the work worries or any of the worries explain why."
Speaking after the hearing, Dr Christie's brother told of the stigma surrounding doctors and mental health.
Phil Christie, 39, said: "There is a stigma surrounding doctors and mental health.
"As people become more aware of mental health in society, we have got to become more aware of the people who are taking care of us.
"Who are looking after the people who take care of us?
"They are working in very tense environments and they are not mental health themselves."
Speaking afterwards, Dr Christie's widow, Juliette, says more needs to be done to support medical professionals who are reluctant to seek help for their mental health for fear it could go on their record and prohibit them from practicing.
She said: "Suicide is far more prevalent in the medical profession generally.
"We need to understand why this might be and getting them support rather than being concerned with their ability to practice."
Describing her husband, she added: "He was deeply concerned about a mental health diagnosis going on his record and affecting his ability to work."
Phil added: "Miles touched the lives of so many people as a beloved husband, father, son, brother, friend and as a caring doctor to the thousands of patients he looked after as a General Practitioner.
“Miles lived a wonderful life, seeking out and soaking up all experiences London and the world had to offer.
“We will remember his beaming smile, infectious charm, his brightest of minds, and especially the sight of him unable to speak or breathe through laughter.
“The outpouring of love since Miles’s passing has been incredible, illustrating the joy he brought to so many people’s lives.
“He leaves a huge hole and will be dearly missed, but always remembered.”
A Memorial Fund in Dr Christie's name has already raised more than £34,000 to support his widow and their two young children.
BATTERY OPERATED - Two-year-old girl lucky to be alive after going to hospital for scheduled appointment - only for doctors to find a life-threatening battery lodged in her throat
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
A two-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after going to the hospital for tummy ache - only for doctors to find a life-threatening battery lodged in her throat.
Little Elsie-Rose was so close to death that her mum, Kirsty Duffy, was told to give her "one last kiss" before she underwent an operation to remove it.
It turned out Elsie-Rose had swallowed a dangerous penny-sized lithium battery within the last 24 hours.
At first medics thought it could be a penny, but a further x-ray revealed a battery had become lodged in the top of her oesophagus, located around the chest area.
Doctors at Sheffield Childrens' Hospital, South Yorks., told her it was critical as the electrical current was mixing with saliva to produce caustic soda, rapidly burning a hole in her throat.
Swallowed batteries can cause catastrophic internal bleeding and death within hours and Kirsty was told it needed to come out immediately.
Elsie-Rose was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary for emergency surgery.
Kirsty said: “The surgeons told me her chances of survival were like her walking across a motorway without getting hit by a car or lorry. I couldn’t believe it.
“They told me to give her ‘one last kiss’ and although I was devastated and in shock at the time, I just did my best to be strong for her.”
The surgeon who operated on Elsie-Rose, managing to remove the battery with minimal damage, told single mum Kirsty her little girl was "lucky to survive something she should not have survived".
Throughout, mum-of-four Kirsty was so overcome with adrenaline that it was only when she arrived home to Barnsley, South Yorks., after spending five days in intensive care, that she burst into tears.
Full-time mum Kirsty said: "I can't believe I nearly lost my little girl. This could have had a very different outcome.
"I could have been arriving home without her. It doesn't bear thinking about."
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
Bright Elsie-Rose had been suffering with tummy ache for several months and Kirsty had visited her doctors a few times, each time being told Elsie had an infection.
But when Elsie-Rose's condition deteriorated after having problems eating, Kirsty demanded a hospital appointment, scheduled for August 29.
Kirsty said: "Elsie-Rose was gradually getting worse, she is very bright so had often told me 'Elsie's poorly'.
"On the night before her appointment she had said 'Elsie feeling sick' but I just put it down to the continuing problem - which turned out to be constipation - I did not know she had swallowed a battery.
"It was by a stroke of absolute luck that her hospital appointment was the next day."
Kirsty has no idea where Elsie-Rose had picked up the battery from, thinking it could be from any number of toys owned by her brothers and sisters, Bradley Bird, 12, Amelia Duffy, seven, and Alissia Duffy, six.
“She’s not the type of toddler who puts items in her mouth usually so I didn’t know what had happened," said Kirsty.
"In no way would I have thought batteries would be a good thing to swallow, but never would I have thought that it could kill a child.
"It is so important that parents keep these out of reach of children."
Elsie-Rose is now on medication to heal her throat and she is expected to make a full recovery.
Kirsty said: "We are still having to sort out her other problem, though eating really soft food, to help her throat, has helped her a lot.
"She seems back to her normal self, which is such a relief to see."
Mike Thomson, Consultant Paediatrician specialising in gastroenterology at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Button batteries are incredibly dangerous and can cause severe injury within hours of young children swallowing them.
“There has been a rise in children across the UK being injured as a result of button battery ingestion.
“The easy to open packaging for these buttons and their use in toys means that parents and carers often aren’t aware if a child has access to them.
“We recommend that any button battery is safely secured within the toy or item or kept out of reach from children.
“If you suspect a child has swallowed a button battery then you must seek immediate medical attention either at a local emergency department or paediatric hospital so that it can be removed.”
Batteries can be found in toys, remote controls, car keys, musical greetings cards, calculators and weighing scales.
Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust said: “Elsie-Rose has had a miraculous escape.
“If a lithium coin cell battery gets stuck in a child’s food pipe, it can cause catastrophic internal bleeding and death within hours of being swallowed.
“Symptoms often aren’t obvious until it’s too late, which is why a battery can go undetected for so long.
“That’s why it’s so important to know where powerful lithium coin cell batteries are in your home – in products as well as spare and ‘flat’ batteries – and keep them well out of reach of small children."
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
Image by: Alex Cousins SWNS
Little girl born without irises is forced to wear sunglasses every day as she can’t stand light
Image by: Adam Harnett 
Image by: Adam Harnett
A little two-year-old girl is forced to wear sunglasses everyday because a rare condition means she is super sensitive to light.
Little Rhiannon Kay was born with no irises - the coloured bit surrounding her pupils - meaning her eyes are completely black.
The condition as aniridia means that she cannot control the amount of light going into her eyes and too much light can cause her pain.
Even in winter the toddler has to wear a hat and specialist, super-tinted sunglasses because she is unable to control the amount of light entering her eyes.
At home her parents have blinds drawn during the day to dim the light in their rooms and have a special tint on their car's windows.
Her parents Teresa Kay, 36, and Vaughan, 38, were first made aware of a problem with their daughter's eyes shortly after she was born on September 28, 2016.
The mum from Norfolk explained: "When she was first born, the doctors were doing checks and they said there was something wrong with her pupils.
"They said she didn't have irises. We didn't know exactly what it was at first."
The couple feared their daughter was blind because her eyes didn't follow the light.
But soon Rhiannon was diagnosed with aniridia, a rare genetic condition which affects just two people in every 100,000.
Not only would this limit how much light the toddler could comfortably see but the parents were also told the condition could cause kidney cancer.
Teresa said: "It was terrifying because we didn't know whether she was going to get cancer. You're supposed to be enjoying this time with your baby but we were terrified.
"When she was younger her eyes would roll constantly.
"She would look through the right of her eye to look straight where her eyes shake the least."
It was then that the parents were told their daughter had also developed nystagmus, also known as involuntary eye movements, due to her condition.
Rhiannon also developed cataracts and may suffer from other eye conditions in the future.
Despite her condition, Rhiannon can still see things close up but struggles seeing things in the distance.
Although there is a newly-developed treatment abroad where synthetic irises can be fitted, the parents are reluctant to put Rhiannon's eyes through too much surgery.
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
They also fear the synthetic irises are "static" which could make things much worse for their daughter's eyes.
Teresa continued: "It is very rare she will be outside without sunglasses on.
"She is so sensitive to light so all the windows in our car are tinted. If she did go out without sunglasses then it would be painful and uncomfortable for her.
"The things she struggles with at the moment are depth perception so she can trip up and fall over things.
"She goes to pre-school every week and they try not to change the layout of the room too much.
"We think she struggles to see things in the distance. She's able to feed herself and play with her toys. She enjoys watching TV and playing with her Disney toys.
"But her hearing is so precise, she can hear a car pull up outside our house while I can't hear a thing."
Rhiannon's condition however has prompted some cruel comments from passer-bys who walk past and see the toddler wearing shades in the winter.
Some are baffled by the sight while others compare her to the musician Elton John because of the sunglasses she is wearing.
The mum explained: "We do get comments, some just see a girl getting ready for summer in winter and some people say: 'Oh they look really cool'.
"Even when she was a tiny baby people would say things like: 'Why on Earth are you putting those on her?'
"It is just people making comments every single day. Some are just normal glasses but some are opticians glasses with tinted lens but even then we get comments.
"Mostly I just bite my tongue but sometimes we will tell them the reason.
"It's just about trying to change those sort of things people say because the comments can be thoughtless and cruel. It can be really hurtful."
But the family refuse to let the comments affect their happy little girl who Teresa described as "full of life."
Despite the fact that the family can't go abroad on a summer beach holiday, Teresa said she would never want her daughter to miss out on anything.
Teresa said: "We would not go on a beach holiday because of the sun and the glare on the sea and sand but we go to our local beach.
"We never want to stop her from doing something, we just have to make adaptions.
"She's just amazing, the chattiest little two-year-old ever. She's full of life."
In a bid to raise awareness of the rare condition and to also raise some money, the couple have got a number of fundraising events lined up.
They have already competed in the Tour De Broads 100-mile route in May and the Norwich Cycle Swarm's 70 miles on July 7, raising over a grand.
But it's not over there because they've got another 100-mile route on August 18, and the overnight Dusk Til Dawn 12-hour Mountain Bike Night Race in October.
To donate to their fundraising bid, visit www.justgiving.com/companyteams/RhiannonKay
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
Dog hilariously howls the final note of the Countdown theme tune - every time she hears it
Image by: David-Joe Williams 
Image by: David-Joe Williams
This hysterical video shows a telly-addict Jack Russell that howls every time she hears the final note -- of the theme song to COUNTDOWN.
David-Joe Williams has no idea why Hollie has such a reaction to the iconic jingle.
The 14-year-old Jack Russell will wait patiently until the end of the countdown, the howl in tune with the final note - every single time.
David-Joe, from Ilfracombe, Devon, said Hollie has done it since she was a puppy, and has now shared a video of the hilarious reaction.
He said: "We have no idea why she does it, but it always makes us laugh.
"It had become pretty normal to us but I thought other people might find it amusing.
"I filmed her doing it a few times and put one of the clips on Facebook. It has now had more than 42,000 views.
"In one of the clips I only had to play her a recording of the Countdown clock and she still howled."
David-Joe, whose family run the St James Dairy convenience shop in Ilfracombe, said they don't even watch Countdown too often.
He said: "We'll watch it if it's on, but we're not exactly massive fans.
"We watch '8 Out of 10 Cats does Countdown' more, and Hollie reacts the same way to that.
"There must be something about that music she loves."
Video by: David-Joe Williams
ROUND OF A-PAWS- Harlso the amazing sausage dog attracts huge Instagram following by balancing everyday items on his head
Image by: Paul Lavery
An adorable dachshund has become a viral sensation for balancing a series of random objects on his head.
Paul Lavery, 30, was amazed to discover his dog Harlso's "hidden talent" after jokingly placing a squeaky toy on his head and watching as the pup stood still as a statue.
Wearing a jazzy bow tie, the five-year-old pooch miraculously balances various items on his head including a globe, a glass of water and a stack of doughnuts.
His bizarre talents have catapulted him into internet stardom and he has over 92,000 followers on Instagram alone.
Image by: Paul Lavery
Image by: Paul Lavery
Paul, who lives with his partner Jen Scott, 29, at their home in Belfast said: "We got him five years ago and we just fell in love with him at first sight and brought him home.
"For us, we didn't know he knew any tricks, we tried teaching him to sit, lie down, roll over and he wasn't interested!
"When he was about two years old I sat a chicken toy on his head and he just sat there looking at it really still.
"I called Jen down and said: 'Jen! Harlso has a hidden talent!'"
Soon after, the bewildered couple set up various social media accounts in February 2016, and after nine months Harlso had 14,000 followers.
Paul, a social worker, said: "It really started growing quite quickly. People from all over the world follow him.
"When we created the Instagram account it was mainly just for us, family and friends. We never expected it to take it off.
"I just thought: 'Who is going to be interested in seeing these photos and videos?'
"Harlso's got his very own VIP fan club for the most dedicated fans and we get messages through from people wanting to meet him.
"We got one message from a couple from Australia who said they were in the area and asked if they could pencil in a time to meet him and pet him."
Image by: Paul Lavery
Image by: Paul Lavery
Paul photographs and videos Harlso balancing all sorts of things on his head including a Toblerone, an aubergine and even a slice of watermelon.
He also has impressive array of outfits in the videos and has a selection of over 300 bow ties to choose from.
He explained: "Anything long and tall we like to try and balance on his head. You can put pretty much anything on his head as long as it's not too heavy and too dangerous.
"I get people messaging me asking for training tips like I'm Cesar Millan! I do not know how he does this, one day he might decide to just stop.
"We always try to match his bow tie to what he's balancing on his head. We try to do themes for Halloween, Christmas and Easter too.
"It's amazing because when he was balancing things it used to surprise us but he can balance almost anything and 99 per cent of the time, he manages to do it first time."
Image by: Paul Lavery
Image by: Paul Lavery
Harlso has won a 2019 Webby Award due to his talents and is even listed as one off the Guinness World Records 'Amazing Animals.'
He also recently won Northern Ireland's Social Media Personality of the Year- beating several humans to the prize.
And although Harlso is a pretty big deal now, Paul said the fame hasn't changed him.
He added: "He was always really bossy and a bit of a diva so the fame hasn't changed him because he's always been like that!"
Video by: Paul Lavery
FIN-TASTIC - Vets operate on their smallest patient ever after performing a procedure on a goldfish weighing less than A GRAM
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
A vet has done a UK first by operating on its smallest patient ever after performing a delicate procedure on a 'gold fish' -- weighing less than A GRAM.
Little Molly - named after its species - was rushed into the practice after its owners noticed a large lump on its belly.
Staff at Highcoft Rabbit, Small Mammal & Exotic Vets, Bristol, immediately diagnosed a tumour and prepared Molly for surgery.
The emergency procedure saw vets catheterised the gold fish's mouth before anaesthetising the molly and removed the mass within 40 minutes.
The vets - who normally operate on the likes of iguanas, snakes and crocodiles - says the 1g 'goldfish' is the smallest animal to go under the knife.
The operation - which cost less than £100 - was hailed a success after Molly woke up within minutes of the anaesthetic being removed and returned home to its tank later that day.
Exotic species vet Sonya Miles said: "It's not common across the UK to bring your fish to the vets but it is here. We are seeing more and more fish which is great.
"It used to be the odd one or two every few months but more and more people are realising we are happy to see them.
"Although it looks like a goldfish its actually an exotic fish from the molly species although it does look incredibly like a goldfish.
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
"A couple had been given the molly fish by an elderly neighbour but after a few weeks they noticed a lump on her underbelly and brought her in.
"It was definitely the smallest animal we've seen here. It barely registered on our scales.
"Both modern and veterinary medicine has advanced over time so we're able to perform
"It's a pretty simple procedure and took no longer than thirty or forty minutes. We submerged the fish in a container of anaesthetic solution.
"Once the righting reflex is lost and the fish is asleep it was the laid on the operating area.
"The fish is kept wet (which makes the puddle), the mouth is catheterised and different concentrations of anaesthetic are injected over the gills to keep the fish at a stable level of anaesthesia.
"The area covered with a water proof paste as stitching the skin closed isn’t a possibility. The fish was then woken up in fresh oxygenated water.
"The operation was a success as we were able to remove the tumour before it started to upset its balance.
"You definitely have to have steady hands and good eyesight. It was definitely a team effort.
"We're glad to have been able to help the fish before the tumour started to upset its balance."
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
