PromoMAG

A 17-year-old Formula 4 driver who had to have both his legs amputated after a crash will definitely race again, his family says.

Billy Monger, from Charlwood in Surrey, hit the back of another car at Donington Park on 16 April.

His cousin Mark Sumpter, who is also a racing car driver, said he “definitely wants to get back behind the wheel”.

“He’s got a steering wheel in his bed at the moment. He’s trying to work out how he’s going to use a hand clutch.”

Mr Sumpter said Billy was “doing really well, and has been massively lifted” by all the messages of support.

More than £775,000 has been raised online to fund the care, treatments and therapies he will need.

Formula 1 teams and drivers are showing their support at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix with #BillyWhizz stickers on their cars and helmets.

On Friday, the three-times world champion Lewis Hamilton spoke about how he had been “affected” by the crash.

“It really hit home,” said Hamilton. “Just to see a kid, I’ve been there, been in that position of racing.

“He was doing well fighting to get to Formula One and then such a horrific incident.”

Hamilton said he was dedicating “this race weekend to Billy”.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

…read more

Source:: BBC UK

A man who crawled the London Marathon dressed as a gorilla has completed the course and raised £26,000 for charity.

Tom Harrison – who calls himself Mr Gorilla – took six-and-a-half days to do the 26.2 mile route on his hands and knees, “gorilla-style”, in aid of The Gorilla Organization.

Mr Harrison crossed the finish line on The Mall with his sons and had a medal presented by conservationist Bill Oddie.

He said he felt “tired but happy”.

‘A little bit fruity’

“Prior to this, the most I had crawled in one go was a mile, so I found the first day of the marathon really exhausting,” he said.

“Each day became it’s own little marathon.

“I’ll be glad to get the costume washed as it’s getting a little bit fruity.

“I think I’ve started to smell a bit like a gorilla.”

The father-of-two, a Met Police officer who lives in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, started his attempt on 22 April, crawling the streets of the capital for between 10 and 12 hours a day.

He originally aimed to raise £1,500 but said the reaction to his challenge had been “incredible”.

“The fact it went global has been completely unexpected, but brilliant,” he said.

Mr Harrison was joined outside Buckingham Palace by his two sons, Nicholas, six, and Alex, four – also dressed as gorillas.

They were watched by a crowd of around 100 people.

Mr Harrison, 41, originally from Worcester, was inspired to take on the challenge by his passion for the work of the charity, which runs conservation projects in several African countries.

The charity’s executive director Jillian Miller, described his efforts as “incredible”.

“He’s now officially our highest fundraiser ever,” she said.

“He feels very strongly, as the father of two little boys, that he wants to help preserve biodiversity for future generations.”

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

…read more

Source:: BBC world news feed

Mary Hayes’ wish was granted after she had made the request for six years in a row at her care home.

What do you get someone who has seen 105 birthdays? Some firemen of course.

Mary Hayes has been a resident at Ivybank Care Home in Bath since the year 2010.

Every year, she asks for firemen for her birthday, so the home finally granted her wish.

A team of off-duty firemen from Avon Fire & Rescue turned up especially to deliver her cake.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

…read more

Source:: BBC world news feed

Theresa May is making her first campaign visit to Scotland ahead of June’s snap general election.

The prime minister asked Scots to vote for her to “strengthen the Union”, the economy and her hand in Brexit talks.

In London, Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn talked to young people, while the Lib Dem’s Tim Farron says he wants to become the leader of the UK opposition.

In Glasgow, Nicola Sturgeon said the SNP “will not let the Tories drag Scotland backwards”.

The UK goes to the polls on 8 June for the general election, five weeks after local authority elections across Scotland, as well as in England and Wales.

Addressing party activists at a community education and employment centre, First Minister Ms Sturgeon said Scotland needed strong SNP MPs at Westminster to keep a check on the Tories.

She set out examples of what she said was the SNP “delivering positive change”.

She said: “Here in the East End of Glasgow we don’t need to be reminded of what happens when the Tories are in power at Westminster.

“We’ve seen it over generations and now, even with a small majority, Tory cuts are doing real damage to communities like this one. Every Tory vote risks allowing them to impose deeper cuts, penalise the vulnerable and undermine the Scottish Parliament.

“So in this general election, we have the chance to say loudly and clearly that Scotland will not let the Tories drag Scotland backwards.”

Prime Minister Mrs May visited a business and spoke at a campaign rally in Banchory, introduced by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.

Mrs May discussed the UK government’s modern industrial strategy.

At the rally, she said: “My message to the people of Scotland today is clear: if you vote for me, it will strengthen my hand in the Brexit negotiations.

“It will strengthen the Union, strengthen the economy, and together the UK and Scotland will flourish. Because when Scotland is flourishing, the rest of the United Kingdom is flourishing too.”

Scottish Labour has been campaigning in Edinburgh, while the Lib Dems were out in Helensburgh and Kirkintilloch.

Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn urged young potential voters to overcome “apathy and resignation” because it only favours the Tories.

He highlighted figures showing 2.4 million young people are missing from the electoral register.

The Labour leader said: “The Conservatives are more than happy with this state of affairs.

“Apathy and resignation will secure them seats on election day.”

In Leeds, Mr Farron will reiterate his claim that he could replace Mr Corbyn as …read more

Source:: BBC UK

A march has taken place to remember a boy who died after paramedics were allegedly denied permission to take him to his local hospital.

Callum Cartlidge, eight, suffered a cardiac arrest at home after developing suspected sepsis.

Paramedics were allegedly told to take him 18 miles (29km) to Worcestershire Hospital and not nearby Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

An investigation into Callum’s death is ongoing.

‘A town in loss’

Neal Stote, from Our NHS Worcestershire, a campaign group which is trying to save services at the Alexandra, said around 500 people had turned out for the march through the centre of Redditch.

“We have spent years fighting these service cuts,” he said.

“Having warned of the potential dangers and then seen our worst fears realised so quickly has been a terrible eye-opener for the town.”

He said Callum’s family had worn Chelsea shirts in honour of their son’s football allegiance.

“We are a town in loss,” he said. “We are marching to highlight the loss of Callum and the loss of our services.”

Callum, from Redditch, had seen a GP on 28 February and was diagnosed with tonsillitis and a tummy upset and given antibiotics.

His mother Stacey said her son got worse and on 2 March a GP sent him to Worcestershire hospital.

He was discharged at 23:00 BST and she was told to give him Calpol. He collapsed the next day and later died.

Sources claim paramedics wanted to take him to Redditch but were told they could not as it had stopped admitting children to A&E in September.

Three members of staff performed life support throughout the 23-minute journey to the hospital.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said it was investigating the case.

The trust, which has been in special measures since 2015, has been downgrading services at the hospital, with maternity and paediatrics having relocated to Worcester.

NHS England has said offering specialised services in a more centralised way nationally is “the best hope of improving patient care”.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

…read more

Source:: BBC world news feed

Two women have been arrested after a street fight ahead of a planned speech by UKIP leader Paul Nuttall in Hartlepool.

Mr Nuttall was due to speak at a rally in the town as part of the party’s general election campaign.

But police had to be called when the women began fighting outside the venue.

Mr Nuttall, who revealed he would be standing in the Boston and Skegness constituency, said neither of the women were UKIP members.

He blamed the incident on “hard-left activists”.

Onlookers and UKIP officials had to break up the fight.

It is not yet known what sparked the altercation, but it is understood some people brought EU flags to the event.

Mr Nuttall said: “You’ve got some hard-left activists who are causing trouble.

“The fight had absolutely nothing to do with UKIP. None of them were UKIP members.

“I think you will find out on the streets that there is a lot of support for UKIP.”

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm two females, one aged 62 and the other aged 28, were arrested for assault at the Headland in Hartlepool whilst the area was being visited by UKIP members.

“Inquiries are on-going.”

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

…read more

Source:: BBC world news feed

A man has appeared in court accused of the murder of an ex-Royal Navy officer thought to have been run over by his own car.

Mike Samwell, 35, was fatally injured as he tried to stop thieves from stealing his car from outside his home in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.

Ryan Gibbons, 29, from Chorlton, appeared before Salford and Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

He was remanded in custody and is due before the crown court on Tuesday.

Mr Gibbons, of Steven Court, Egerton Road South in Chorlton, is also charged with burglary and aggravated vehicle-taking.

A 15-year-old boy, from south Manchester, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and burglary has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Two men, aged 20 and 21, who were arrested on suspicion of murder and burglary have also been bailed.

Former submarine officer Mr Samwell, was asleep with his wife Jessica in their Cranbourne Road home when intruders struck in the early hours.

Police believe he was run over by his car, a black Audi S3, which was taken and later found damaged about three miles away from the house.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

…read more

Source:: BBC world news feed

Two people have died and eight people have been injured, one seriously, following a collision between two cars and a van.

It happened on the A20 Eglantine Lane in Farningham, near Dartford in Kent, at about 01:20 BST.

A spokeswoman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said two people were pronounced dead at the scene.

The road remains closed in both directions and is not expected to reopen until later in the afternoon.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

…read more

Source:: BBC world news feed