Family of a baby boy given three months to live are desperately waiting to see if the NHS will pay for the drug that could save his life
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
The family of a baby boy given three months to live are desperately waiting to see if the NHS will pay for the drug that could save his life.
Six-month-old Haris Khan was born with a rare and debilitating genetic disorder, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), also known as floppy baby syndrome.
When his family were given the devastating diagnosis this month they were also delivered the mortifying blow that the drug that could give him a better, longer life had been pulled in November last year.
Now, Haris' dad, salesman Shakeel, is joining a protest next month - along with other SMA families - to fight for the £450,000-a-year drug, Spinraza.
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
They will be gathering outside the NICE offices in Manchester next Tuesday ahead of a crucial meeting to come to an agreement over funding.
In the meantime, adorable Haris, from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, is in intensive care at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital attached to an apparatus that helps him breathe.
His family of 31-year-old dad, mum, shop assistant Renata, 26, and nine-year-old brother Marijus, are staying at a local hotel so they can be at Haris' bedside 24/7.
They fear each moment could be his last.
On February 14, specialist doctors told the family Haris has the severest form of the illness, type 1, which affects the nerve cells needed to control the muscles we use for moving, swallowing and breathing.
The irony is, that if Haris had been diagnosed sooner - he was born in August last year - he would have already been given the drug, as it available on a pre-approval basis.
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
The first British girl to receive it, Annabelle Rose Thomas, has come off breathing support, can swallow food and has even ridden a horse.
But last summer, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said it was not recommending Spinraza be available on the NHS in England because the cost was deemed 'too high for it to be considered a cost-effective use of NHS resources'.
It remains available in Scotland and several other European countries.
Biogen, the company which makes the drug, charges almost £600,000 for it in the US market.
It is offering Spinraza at a lower price of £450,000 for the first year in the UK, and offered an undisclosed discount to the NHS, but it was still not enough.
Shakeel said: "Only a hundred babies a year maximum need that treatment. We, as a country, are losing a hundred babies because we don't think it's justified to save them.
"These organisations are using my son as a bartering tool. The best I can do is to save my son, or keep him with us for as long as possible.
"I'm just beginning my journey in parenthood - I want him here as long as he can be.
"There is a one in four chance my next child will have this - we can't have any more children."
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Amazingley, the Wythenshawe community had shown tremendous support for the Khan family.
Every neighbour on their street has a poster in the window about SMA.
Marijus' school and the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity are helping the family any way they can.
Whatever the outcome for Haris and the decision on March 6, Shakeel and Renata don't want other families to go through the same ordeal.
"We might only have my Haris for a few months, so I've got to create a legacy for him," said Shakeel.
"The NHS don't screen for SMA at birth.
"Had they screened him in August when he was born, the treatment was available until November on the Early Access Programme.
"Eighty infants are on that - Haris would have been 81.
"That's one thing we're calling for."
Haris is the youngest child with SMA to feature on a leaflet being handed out to all MPs this week by the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Shakeel wants as many people as possible to be aware of the fight and support the cause.
"Every SMA parent is waking up thinking 'is this our child's last day?' he said.
A spokesperson for NHS England said: "We understand how difficult and frustrating it is for families waiting for decisions to be taken on the funding of new treatments, which is why the company must price this drug responsibly and at a level which is both cost effective and affordable to the NHS.
"It is disappointing that Biogen chose to close the Early Access Programme for new patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 before the NICE assessment process had been completed."
A JustGiving page has been set up to raise money to support the Khan family's campaign to improve awareness of SMA. It is also where Shakeel is posting updates on Haris and his battle. You can visit and donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/littleharis?utm_id=69
Video by: Matthew Newby SWNS
RSPB hit out at local council for netting up a cliff stopping birds from nesting
Video by: Margaret Wilcox 
Image by: Margaret Wilcox
Bird lovers hit out at a council putting up netting on a cliff side preventing sand martins from nesting.
The RSPB say that the netting is risking the lives of the birds as they may get stuck in it.
The RSPB shared a video on Twitter and said the effect of the material, which resembles a football net, was "heart breaking" and said that the council "have not taken out (and their contractor's) original advice."
The netting was put up on the Bacton cliff side, Norfolk, to deter wildlife from nesting during a project to stop erosion.
North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) will move 1.8 million cubic metres of sand from the cliff side and on to the beach.
The council says this will protect Bacton village from flooding for "up to 20 years".
An online petition to stop the nets, has been created to: "Grant legal protection to Swallow, Swift and Martin nest sites not just nests."
The petition has gained over 25,000 signatures to protect locations similar to the Bacton coast.
A spokesperson for the RSPB said: "We are disappointed that North Norfolk District Council have placed netting on the cliffs at Bacton to prevent sand martins from nesting.
We can confirm the Council's actions do not follow RSPB advice, or indeed their own construction plans."
Based on the images we have seen published, our advice has not been followed and we will be reaching out to NNDC to offer further advice and support."
The decision has sparked outrage on social media, with some users sharing videos saying: "These innocent Sand Martins have travelled thousands of miles to revisit our amazing country & to find their nest sites netted up like this is crazy.
"Whoever's ordered this, needs their family home taken from them!"
A North Norfolk District Council spokesman said: “The Bacton/Walcott Coastal Management Scheme (the Bacton Sandscaping Scheme) is a highly complex project.
“It has been designed to protect hundreds of homes in Bacton and Walcott, and the critical infrastructure of Bacton Gas Terminal, for many years to come, and has been five years in the planning.
“It has been subject to full environmental impact assessment, planning permission and marine licence applications.
“We understand that the RSPB have concerns around the temporary netting element of the project and we are intending to meet with them and contractors on site to fully assess what those concerns are."
Image by: James Linsell Clark SWNS
Image by: Margaret Wilcox
North Norfolk District Council have given into pressure and have agreed to remove controversial netting on a cliff side that is preventing birds from accessing their nests.
Following a meeting with the Nature's Voice the Council have announced: "Following positive discussions with the RSPB and Natural England today, we have instructed contractors to remove the upper levels of netting on Bacton cliffs.
"Minimum levels will be retained to assist in progressing with this critical project to protect people’s homes and national infrastructure.
"Following this, ongoing discussions will take place between NNDC and the RSPB about the material to be used on the lower section of cliff to allow this to happen.
"Please also be aware that these cliffs are not safe to climb on. Please don’t attempt to do this. A team of abseiling professionals will carry out the work in the next 24 hours."
The RSPB are unhappy with the result as it doesn't go far enough to protect sand martins and other birds.
A spokesperson said: "The issue and images of the Bacton cliff netting have been very upsetting for all.
"We are pleased to have had a conversation with North Norfolk District Council this afternoon about the situation. During the conversation, the Council committed to removing the netting covering the upper section of the cliffs tomorrow once their abseiling teams are available.
“We will be taking up an invitation from the Council to visit the site as soon as possible this week to discuss our outstanding concerns. This will cover our concerns regarding the 1.3km length of the netted cliff face that will remain.
"We will ask the Council to reduce this to 50m maximum and keep to a height of 7m. We will also be raising the issue of the material currently in use.
"We will be re-outlining our original recommendation of geotextile meshing to ensure that the burrows in the sandscaping zone are not smothered; in addition, by using geotextile it will also ensure no birds can be trapped.
“We will continue to keep everyone updated as the situation develops. Thank you for your concern regarding the sand martins.”
Two separate online petitions in connection have been signed by hundreds of thousands of people.
The petition 'Make 'netting' hedgerows to prevent birds from nesting a criminal offence' has over 260,000 signatures, and was supported by Labour MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Education Angela Rayner.
The other, 'Grant legal protection to Swallow, Swift and Martin nest sites not just nests' has close to 40,000 signatures.
A protest has been organised at Bacton beach, Norfolk at 5pm this evening (8/9), by a private Facebook group in which members have threatened to remove the netting themselves.
The hashtag 'NetsDownForNature' has been trending on Twitter throughout the day.
Image by: James Linsell Clark SWNS
Image by: James Linsell Clark SWNS
Shocking footage shows brainless driver going the wrong way on the M1
Video by: Mark Thomas 
Image by: Mark Thomas
Shocking footage shows a brainless driver risking lives by going the wrong way on the M1 – before trying to correct his error by reversing up the fast lane.
The elderly motorist turned right and crossed three lanes of the busy motorway before driving towards oncoming traffic.
When the male driver realised his mistake he tried to reverse back along the fast lane before pulling forward again.
The driver eventually manages to reverse back up the road before driving the wrong way down the sliproad.
The video shows the hapless motorist join the southbound carriageway of the M1 at Milton Keynes, Bucks., at 1pm on Monday (1/4).
Lorry driver Mark Thomas, 54, captured the terrifying moment on his dashcam as he drove from Tilbury Docks in Essex.
The divorced dad-of-one, of Shrewsbury, Shrops., said: “I was really shaken up by it, he could have killed someone, I couldn’t believe it.
“I was driving in the middle lane and noticed in the distance was not quite right.
“I was doing around 60mph when I saw the car coming up on the fast lane, and slowed down to 40mph in an instant.
“I just slowed right down and put on the hazard warning lights.
“I could see a young bloke in the white van next to me brake hard and he was really straining on the seatbelt.
“The man in the silver car looked like he was 65 to 70 and was very confused.
“He might not have understood the signs. I wondered if he might be a foreigner.
“When he was reversing on the fast lane I was shouting out the window at him to turn around, in fact I went hoarse from shouting.
"He tried reversing back down the carriageway a couple of times until he weaved his way back down the fast lane and goes the wrong way down the slip road.
"It was lucky it was a clear day because if it had been foggy that would have been it. The road was busy with cars and lorries like mine and he could have caused carnange.
“I have been a trucker for 32 years and this is the first time I’ve seen anything like this.
“I sent the dashcam to the police and they say someone has already reported it, I don’t know what’s happened to the driver."
Image by: Mark Thomas
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Brave six-year-old saves baby brother’s life by choosing to become his bone marrow donor
Image by: Kelsey Stynes
A six-year-old girl and her baby brother are closer than ever after she bravely saved his life -- by becoming his bone marrow donor.
Caleb Ashby needed an urgent bone marrow transplant after a shortage of infection-fighting blood cells left him in danger of being killed by a common cold.
Big sister Sophia was an 100% match and bravely demanded her worried parents to let her be a donor by declaring: "If I give Caleb my bones he will live”.
The schoolgirl had her bone marrow extracted from her hip, before it was donated to poorly Caleb, just a few beds away.
Parents Kelsey Stynes, 28, and Lee Ashby, 31, had to wait for two weeks to find out Caleb’s body had 100% accepted his sister’s bone marrow.
Four weeks on, the four-month-old is set to make a full recovery, but protective Sophia - who has a stronger bond than ever with her little brother - has refused to leave his side.
She's recovered from her op, but is attending the hospital school after being given special permission to keep a close eye on him until he goes home in six to eight weeks.
Beautician Kelsey, from Barwell, Leicestershire, said: "It makes me so emotional just thinking about it.
"I am completely overwhelmed by it all. She just amazes me. She has been fantastic for the whole way through this.
“She hasn’t stopped smiling and she knows she has done a good thing but I’m not sure if she knows how amazing she is.
“If she didn’t want to go ahead with it then we wouldn’t have Caleb here with us now.
“She saved Caleb’s life. She has done an amazing job and without her we wouldn’t have reached where we are now.”
Mum-of-four Kelsey, who has two other sons, Zachary, one, and Tyler, eight, found out Caleb was going to be born with a heart defect when she was 22 weeks pregnant.
He had truncus arteriosus - only one large blood vessel leading from his heart instead of two - and a hole in his heart, when he was born in December last year.
Image by: Kelsey Stynes
Image by: Kelsey Stynes
At just two-weeks-old Caleb underwent a major eight-hour operation, in January, to insert a plastic stent into his heart to do the job of the blood vessel he was born without.
Caleb spent five days in intensive care and doctors soon realised the newborn’s wound was not healing.
Further tests revealed he had “no white bloods at all” meaning he was at serious risk of infection.
Doctors warned he could be killed by a common cold and his body was too weak to properly recover from the heart surgery.
They discovered he had bone marrow failure - when the soft centre of the bones fails to produce enough healthy blood cells to keep up with the body’s needs.
Kelsey says doctors said if they had known about Caleb’s blood condition, they wouldn't have performed the heart surgery.
The family were told the only option to save his life was a bone marrow transplant, to give him a new immune system.
Kelsey said: “It was very touch and go at that point. We thought we had been through the worst after his operation.
“That was a very scary time for us. We had to trust the surgeons with our baby.
“I was so relieved it all went to plan. I just fell to the ground.”
Kelsey, Lee, Sophia and Zachery were tested as potential matches, on February 18.
Zachery was ruled out but doctors knew even before the results came back that, as Caleb's parents, Kelsey and Lee's bone marrow would at least be a 50% match.
Because of the urgency and severity of Caleb’s condition, doctors had prepared a blood transfusion using Lee’s partial match before the results came back on February 27.
Image by: Kelsey Stynes
Image by: Kelsey Stynes
A partial match transfusion would have a lesser chance of success and would require Lee's bloods to be manipulated in a lab prior to the op.
The major risk would be that the transfusion would fail and Caleb's body would reject his dad's bone marrow - placing his life on the line once again.
But on the same day Lee was preparing to undergo the transfusion, tests revealed Sophia was an 100% match - handing her baby brother a vital lifeline.
Kelsey said: “I had mixed emotions. Sophia was so willing but I didn’t want to put Sophia through it if she didn’t want to.
“But she said 'I want to help'. She said ‘if I give Caleb my bone he will live’."
Doctors had already spoken to Sophia about what the test results could mean for her if her bone marrow ended up being a full match.
Kelsey says her daughter "smiled and was happy" when the family found out her bone marrow was a 100% match.
Sophia was put through a series of psychological assessments before being cleared to be her brother’s donor.
She had the option to opt out - but courageously stuck to her word and went ahead with the blood marrow donation on March 5.
During her procedure, Sophia was put under general anaesthetic before stem cells were removed from the bone marrow in her hip bone, ready to transfuse into her baby brother.
Then, having endured a week of chemotherapy to prepare his blood for a transfusion, Caleb underwent his second life saving operation on March 6.
If he didn't have the life-saving op - Kelsey says her baby "probably wouldn't be here today".
She says Caleb couldn't have sustained life with bone marrow failure and he would have been given end-of-life care if all other options had failed.
Thankfully the operation was successful, but Kelsey and Lee faced an anxious two week wait to find out if Caleb’s body had fully accepted his sister’s bone marrow donation.
During that period Caleb was kept under constant supervision in an isolation unit where he could only see his mum and doctors.
To keep the area sterile, Kelsey would have to change her shoes and swap her outside clothes for inside clothes to cut the risk of carrying germs from the outdoors inside.
But to Kelsey’s overwhelming relief, Caleb was given the all clear and doctors described the transfusion and a “textbook” procedure.
Kelsey said: “They were very happy with how it went. That two week wait was really difficult. We became obsessed with the numbers.
“I doubted it every second of every day. We just wanted to know if it had worked or not.
“He’s recovering well and it’s all about the numbers now. We can’t leave hospital until his blood is stable.
“He will have to be kept a very close eye on for the rest of his life and will be in and out of hospital for check ups for the next year.”
Caleb and Kelsey are still in hospital and expect to be there for another eight weeks.
Caleb is yet to set foot in the family home and is still being monitored around the clock in hospital.
Meanwhile his mum and sister are living at the nearby Ronald McDonald House, which provides a free ‘home away from home’ accommodation.
Sophia has also opted to stay by her brother’s side and is attending the hospital school while he fully recovers.
She recovered from her 50 minute procedure within 24 hours but was kept away from her brother during her recovery.
Kelsey says it was "hell" having two poorly children and says it was tough for her to put Sophia through her operation in order to save Caleb.
She said: "It was such a hard thing to do, as a mum. I spent all day worrying about them both.
"I didn't know what to do with myself and ended up just waiting by the recovery bay for Sophia to come out."
The family hope to be reunited at home within two months, and Kelsey says she is dreaming of booking a big family holiday to celebrate Caleb’s miraculous journey.
Kelsey said: "They adore each other. Sophia is amazing with him and they are the best of friends.
"They are closer than ever now. Sophia knows she has done an amazing thing."
WATCH: Two adrenaline junkies cheat death climbing 784ft London skyscraper
Video by: Syed Bukhari 
Image by: Syed Bukhari
This is the heart-stopping moment two adrenaline junkies climb a 784ft skyscraper above Canary Wharf without safety ropes.
Syed Bukhari, 21, and Owen Reece, 18, scaled the Landmark Pinnacle building, which is set to become the tallest residential building in Europe when completed.
They raced up 75 flights of stairs before walking out to the end of a crane on Saturday afternoon.
After a 20 minute walk the pair can be seen balancing on the end of a crane with their arms in the air, while taking in the view of the City of London.
Syed, who runs dozens of similar urban explorer videos on YouTube channel SyedSB TV, said: “We chose that one because it’s one of the tallest buildings in London.
“The hardest thing is climbing up as your hands start to become tired.
“We stayed up there for an hour taking pictures as the view is one of the best things about doing it.
“People might slate us for doing it but I would just say to them 'you only live once'.
“We’re not playing another person’s life, only ours.
“We don’t want to be restrained and only do things ordinary people can do. We want to push ourselves.
“Anyone who does this sort of thing knows the risks so we know what we are getting ourselves into.”
Owen said: “We were there for a few hours waiting for the workers to go home
“Because it was rainy there were times when I thought ‘Yo this is sketchy to get down’.
“But we had to focus.
“I don’t really get nervous as I’ve been doing this for three years.
“We don’t really joke about.
“When we got to the top the view was incredible.
“We could see the whole of London.
“We could see so much the landscape started to look a bit round.
“I’d love to do something like the Eiffel Tower but we’ve got a few more in the pipeline.”
Image by: Syed Bukhari
Prisoners in smell block H
The toilet was installed by Transport for London for bus drivers caught short in the area, but locals are furious about the stone-grey building.
Local politicians in a leafy suburb have joined the fight against the "arrogant" plonking of a toilet block resembling a Dr Who Tardis on a residential street.
The toilet was installed by Transport for London for bus drivers caught short in the area, but locals are furious about the stone-grey building.
Hundreds of objectors have signed a petition against the private, driver-only toilet, known by fuming locals as 'the Turdis', in Biggin Hill, south east London.
Residents say they were given no warning about the permanent portaloo - and now local councillors have pitched in on the row.
There are now three of these bogs in Bromley, with others in Petts Wood and St Mary Cray.
The Biggin Hill bog has already had its window smashed, but neighbours claimed it was a bird.
Speaking last night (Tues), executive environment councillor William Huntington-Thresher said he was calling on TfL to lose the loo as soon as possible.
He said: “It appears TfL intended to notify residents but this did not happen,.
“It is disappointing TfL did not consult residents, and it is also disappointing TfL did not attempt to locate toilets that can be used by a number of bus routes.
“They clearly decided to install these with minimum effort on their part.
“I would agree with residents the location is entirely unsuitable and call upon TfL to remove it as soon as possible.”
The toilets were installed by TfL using its permitted development rights, meaning the authority could only object on the grounds of highway safety.
These rights have only been used previously for bus shelters, and the council is exploring whether it does extend to toilets.
Biggin Hill councillor Julian Benington said: “It is a monstrosity.
"The need for a toilet there is certainly questionable.
"I would like to ask the portfolio holder to ensure this toilet is removed as soon as possible – we don’t want it hanging around until Christmas and the new year.”
Petts Wood councillor Simon Fawthrop said TfL was acting “as though it can do whatever it likes” by placing a toilet in a special conservation area in his ward.
TfL has already apologised for the communication breakdown and is investigating how letters failed to reach Biggin Hill residents, and said it was meeting with neighbours to discuss the site’s feasibility.
Nick Fairholme, a director at TfL, said: “We are sorry that we did not inform all residents of our plans to install a toilet for bus drivers in Biggin Hill.
“We try to be mindful of residents when we install these important facilities but understand that there are concerns about this location.
“We have offered to meet the local community to explore the feasibility of a more suitable location, or if that is not possible to see if any changes can be made to the existing facility.”
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Seven-year-old girl with incredibly rare birthmark set to feature in international exhibition
Image by: Adam Harnett
A seven-year-old girl born with a large birthmark on her face is featuring in an international exhibition with a message to 'love the skin you are in'.
Rosabella Harrison attracted the attention of world-renowned fashion photographer Brock Elbank after she was chosen to be the face of the charity Caring Matters Now.
The organisation provides support for those affected by Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN) - a rare type of birthmark affecting one per cent of infants worldwide.
A photo shoot for the charity in September perfectly captured Rosabella's enchanting personality, which in turn grabbed the eye of photographer Elbank.
She will now appear in his "How do you C Me Now" exhibition in March, which celebrates the lives affected by the condition and is set to travel the world.
The youngster, from Beccles, Norfolk, was born with CMN which appears in less than one in 20,000 newborns in the UK.
However, Rosabella is particularly unique as her birthmark's placement and composition are both very rare.
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
Her mother, Chantelle Harrison, 29, said: "It's incredibly rare. People normally have the birthmarks somewhere on their body but not normally on the face.
"We're just little people - things like this don't normally happen to us. But Rosabella loves it - any excuse to be in the lime light. It's lovely."
The condition is not just cosmetic and also poses the risk of future neurological problems and melanoma.d Rosabella returns to hospital once a year for tests.
Elbank partnered with CMN - the only UK charity dedicated to those affected by the condition - to celebrate beauty that is more than skin deep.
The London-based fashion photographer is best known for his captivating series of 150 portraits of individuals with freckles - which captured their beauty and uniqueness.
His latest exhibition uses images of adults and children of all ages affected by CMN, representing 13 countries from five continents.
The exhibition title encourages the audience to consider their current perceptions of individuals affected by a visible difference.
The "How Do you C Me Now" exhibition will open at Oxo Tower Wharf on London’s South Bank on March 14 for two weeks before travelling around the world.
Speaking about Elbank, Chantelle said: "He's absolutely fantastic. He really makes you feel at home. We had breakfast made for us.
"He managed to get what we wanted and what he wanted. He really captured her personality."
Rosabella's mother also praised Lowestoft’s Picture Studios who took the original press shots for the charity and have been a great support for the family.
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
A Caring Matters Now spokesman said: "The aim of the exhibition series is to give a clear message to the world – love the skin you are in.
"We want this beautiful series of images to reduce the public’s negative perceptions of visible differences."
Rosabella, who lives on a farm with her mum, is also an accomplished horse rider and is part of the dressage and show jumping team at her school - and has her own pony, Rosie.
Chantelle said: "Rosabella has been riding all her life because we live on a farm and she is part of the dressage team at school.
"She has only just turned seven and that is a massive achievement for her.
"She was part of the Beccles Royales Gymnastic Club too and plays piano, guitar and ukulele.
"She just wants to try anything that is going on - she is so fearless and is just good at everything she turns her hand to.
"She is going to do an amazing things."
Pensioner saved after sinking up to his NECK in manure
Video by: Simon Maudlin 
Image by: Simon Maudlin
This is the moment firefighters saved a dog walker who was trying to rescue his pet and got stuck up to his neck - in MANURE.
Brian Marshall, 75, waded into the massive slurry pit to retrieve his Jack Russell Archie but soon found himself sinking.
Luckily his desperate calls for help were answered by fellow dog owner Matt Hollick, who heard faint calls as he left a nearby veterinary clinic.
He raised the alarm and firefighters arrived just as Brian's head began to sink into the stinking pile of waste.
“I’d given up trying to get out on my own," said Brian. "I felt like I was digging my own grave.
“I was gradually giving up and didn’t think I was going to make it.”
The drama began as Brian enjoyed a walk near Upper Caldecote, Beds., on Sunday (17/02) with Archie and his other dog Bella.
He said he had no choice but to go in after his pet.
“Using the Duke of Edinburgh’s words, 'I had been a bloody fool, and there was no one but me to blame'," he said.
"However to see the death by drowning of your loyal and trusted pet dog in front of your very eyes was not an option for me."
Trapped in the sludge, he began shouting for help and the wind carried his voice towards nearby Elizabeth Smith Veterinary Practice.
Luckily Mr Hollick heard his pleas as he loaded his dog into his car after an appointment.
Writing on social media, he said: "It's not everyday you take your dog to the vets as it ate raisins, to emerge having saved a guy's life in a farmers field.
"I was placing the dog in the car and taking after care advice with the vet.
"I could hear a faint cry for help which was being carried on the wind which was blowing in my direction.
"Three more calls of help later and I took off to investigate.
"I was greeted by an enormous muck slurry pit with a man stuck in the middle and sinking below the surface.
"I provided some initial advice to stabilise his position and used his dog leads and dog to reduce his decline."
Image by: Adam Harnett
Brian had been stuck for nearly an hour by the time crews from Sandy and Kempston Community Fire Stations and HART Ambulance reached him.
They used an inflatable hose, inflatable rescue paths and dry suits to pull him out of the pit.
He was then rushed to Bedford Hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
Brian from Ickwell, Beds., is full of praise for the actions of Mr Hollick.
“He masterminded it all," he said. "He called the emergency services and as I was sinking fast he told me to keep my arms up.
"The more I moved the worse it became."
“The fire crews were absolutely awesome. They went into the muck themselves to put a hoist round me.
“I and our two dogs Bella and Archie are so fortunate to all be alive and well.
"The Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance crew, Bedford Hospital A&E, the police and so many others who were involved.
"Thank you one and all and for those who have phoned and sent messages. It is quite overwhelming.
“Thank you all so very much. Humanity can be very cruel at times but on this occasion nothing but kindness can be described.
"My long suffering wife Christine is busy manuring the garden as she sorts out all my clothes.”
A neighbouring farmer, Simon Maudlin, who had been called by the residents of nearby houses after hearing the cries, said: “Brian Marshall was a very lucky man.
"The wind carried his voice across a large open field towards Elizabeth Smiths Vets and the residential property.
"No wonder the area is called Windy ridge and it carried his voice of distress towards the buildings.”
The veterinary surgery also gave dogs Archie and Bella a clean bill of health.
A spokeswoman for the fire service said: "If you ever find yourself in a position where a pet or other animal is caught in water, mud or in this case a muck heap - please call 999 immediately for advice before getting yourself in to a situation where you are unable to tell emergency services where you are or more seriously putting your life in danger."
Image by: Adam Harnett
Image by: Adam Harnett
Speaking today (wed), Brian Marshall said it was his 16-year-old white Jack Russell Bella who had got stuck in the slurry, while Archie watched on.
The former owner of a horticultural business and his 68-year-old wife Christine have owned Bella since she was a newborn puppy.
Mr Marshall said the lucky dog was recovering well, adding: "She's absolutely fine. She's almost back to wanting her two-hour walk a day."
Asked what his wife said when she heard of the incident, Brian replied: "She said, 'Where's that lovely jumper that I knitted you?'
"She had knitted me this lovely blue jumper and they [the rescuers] had to cut it off me."
Describing the ordeal, he said: "I don't know how Bella go in that far but she just did. I looked round and she was howling her eyes out.
"I couldn't bear to see her drown. It was a silly thing to do. It was mad.
"I went in upright. I was getting further and further into the muck but in the process of pulling her out, it sent me onto my back."
He added: "I will live to fight another day when I thought there would be an early funeral round a manure heap."
Stunned teen wakes up from coma to find she’d had a BABY!
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A teenager went to bed with a headache, fell into a coma and woke up four days later - after unknowingly giving birth to a surprise baby.
Ebony Stevenson, 18, had no idea she was pregnant, and after going to bed feeling unwell on December 2, 2018, she was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma before waking up on December 6 having had a baby girl.
The college student - who studies Sports Physiotherapy - hadn't developed a bump, experienced no morning sickness and had not missed a period.
She had no idea she was expecting as her unborn baby was hidden in one of two uteruses, in a condition called uterus didelphys.
The condition, thought to affect one in 3,000 women, means those affected are born with two uteruses.
In Ebony’s case, only one of them had a fallopian tube to carry an egg, while the other had none – meaning her chances of conception should have been slim.
After suffering a series of seizures on December 2, Ebony was rushed to Royal Oldham Hospital, Greater Manchester, and placed in an induced coma.
Medics performed tests and discovered Ebony had suffered from preeclampsia which had caused the seizures, and she was pregnant.
They told her mum immediately and said that the baby needed to be delivered right away.
She underwent an emergency caesarean on Monday 3 December and gave birth to a baby girl at 1.32am who weighed 7lbs 10ozs - just over three hours after the first fit.
Ebony woke on December 6 to discover she had given birth and was suddenly a mum.
She has now got her head around the news and is enjoying bonding with her daughter, who she has named Elodie.
The first time mum, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, said: "I didn't think I even wanted kids, at least not for another 10 years and never expected to be a young mum.
"Waking up from a coma to be told I had been pregnant and had given birth to a baby girl was overwhelming to say the least.
"Meeting my baby was so surreal. It felt like an out of body experience.
"I worried I wouldn't bond with my daughter because I had no time to get my head around her arrival, but I think she's amazing.
"It's an absolute miracle. I wouldn't change Elodie for the world."
Ebony had thought she was just unwell when she went to bed at 8.30pm on Sunday 2 December, complaining of a headache.
She doesn’t remember anything from then until waking up four days later - suddenly a mum.
Thankfully her mum, Sheree, 39, a stay-at-home mum-of-five, has been able to fill in the blanks.
Sheree said: “At around 10pm that night I heard Ebony shout down to me that her headache had gotten really bad.
“She started being sick so I rushed her into the bathroom and before I knew it she was having a seizure on the bathroom floor.
“I rang 999 immediately as she’d never had anything like this before.”
In the five minutes it took the ambulance to arrive, Ebony had five more seizures.
When paramedics treated Elodie they asked if she was pregnant.
“Despite me insisting she couldn’t be pregnant, the paramedics were certain she was, and to my shock a bump had appeared at her stomach,” Sheree said.
“They think the ferocity of the seizures could have caused the baby to move, making it suddenly visible.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Ebony Stevenson
Image by: Ebony Stevenson
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Ebony was rushed to Royal Oldham Hospital, near Manchester, where she was sedated before being rushed for an emergency caesarean that same morning.
Proud grandmother Sheree was the first to hold the surprise baby, who was born weighing 7lbs 10oz.
“It was a strange moment because I had no time to prepare for it,” Sheree said.
“I was over the moon that she was happy and healthy, but couldn’t help but worry about my own little girl who remained in a coma.”
For the next four days, Ebony was in an induced coma while Sheree and her mum – Ebony’s grandmother, Geraldine, 56 – stayed by her side, all the whilst looking after the little baby girl – who was later named Elodie.
On December 6, Ebony finally opened her eyes, and it was only then that she learnt she had two uterus’ – one of which was continuing to menstruate and the other which was growing her baby girl.
“When I woke up I remember the nurses telling me I had a baby, and before I knew it they’d put her on my chest,” said Elodie.
“It sounds awful now, but I asked them to take her away as I was so confused and sure they’d made a mistake.
“But my mum explained it all to me while the nurses were there and they gave my little girl back to me to hold properly for the first time.
“Although I was so confused – and pretty scared – it was a beautiful moment and she was so quiet.”
Due to the weight of her little girl, doctors suggest that Ebony carried her to full term, which is astonishing considering she had no idea.
This was made possible by the fact she has two uteruses - one is positioned towards her back so the pregnancy went unnoticed.
Neither Ebony nor her mum had any idea that she had two uteruses, but this allowed her to continue having regular periods throughout the pregnancy, disguising it even more.
“The doctors said that Elodie was a miracle baby, as women with her condition often struggle to conceive or carry to full-term,” Sheree said.
Both mum and baby remained in intensive care until finally being allowed home on December 13, where little Elodie was introduced to her uncles and aunts – Kennedy, 12, Poppy, eight, Pia, three and Navy, two.
“Ebony has taken to being a mum so well, she’s a natural,” Sheree added.
“And little Elodie is an absolute beauty – we couldn’t love her more if we tried.”
Ebony plans to go back to Hopwood College, Middleton – where she’s studying Sports Physiotherapy – in February, and mum Sheree will help take care of the baby.
“Although I had no time to prepare, I wouldn’t change what’s happened for the world,” said Ebony.
“I’m so excited to wake up and see her every morning, and to get to spend another day with my precious little miracle.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Hospital orthopaedic staff start morning ballroom dance routine before their shift
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS 
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Nurses at a hospital department have a new daily routine to boost spirits - a ballroom DANCING session on the ward before they start their shift.
The 22 staff members of orthopaedic outpatient team spend five minutes each morning moving and shaking to some upbeat dance tunes to get warmed up for work.
The unique daily fitness routine was only started in the department about four weeks ago.
But Orthopaedic Practitioner Andrew Stewart, who introduced it, says it is already proving a big hit.
Andrew, 58, who works on the orthopaedic outpatient ward at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, said: "It's a great way to warm yourself up, get your spirits going.
"We're always busy on the outpatient department, we can see between 200 and 400 patients in a morning, so it can get a bit intense. The dancing helps to clear the mind.
"It's still very new, but it's already proved to be a big success in the department."
Andrew, who has worked at the hospital for 12 years, loves to dance, and goes to weekly ballroom and Latin dancing classes - which is where he got the idea.
He said: "We do this thing called the Cupid shuffle at the end of each session, and I thought, this is what I'm looking for to bring back to work."
Andrew added: "It's a cross-generational thing, too - anybody can do it.
"One of our staff has had two knee replacements and has a bad hip, but she still comes along and joins in where she can.
"We start our shift at 8.30 in the morning, so we spend five minutes dancing, usually from 8.15 to 8.20.
"We try to get a dance in at the end of our lunch break, too - but it depends how busy we are.
"We get some funky tunes on to get us moving and get our blood flowing. At the moment we're dancing to Uptown Funk and to 5 6 7 8 by Steps."
Andrew said that anywhere between eight and fifteen staff members join in the dance routines - depending on how many people are working that day.
"We don't profess to be fitness gurus - it's just a bit of fun. I think fitness is an all-round thing, and is just as important for your mental health.
"It's about shaking off the sluggishness," he added.
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNSVideo by: Ellis Wylam
