Thursday, July 18, 2013
Mule rescued after 27 days without food or drink in daring operation
A mule, stuck in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, northern India, for 27 days without food or drinking water, was rescued in a heroic one-of-a-kind operation on Tuesday. Several efforts from the authorities to rescue the animal had been unsuccessful over the past few weeks. The Army had tried constructing a bridge over the Mandakini river but it was washed away. The Air Force helicopters could not fly low enough to drop food in the terrain.
It took a colossal effort from a civilian pilot, Captain Bhupinder, and his team to pull off a miraculous rescue. Captain Bhupinder, along with Captain Angad, not only flew to the dangerous flyzone in Sonprayag but was able to land his chopper near the river. However, the trickiest part of the operation lay ahead.
Earlier, it was planned that the mule would be airlifted but due to unavailability of sufficient safety equipment, the team moved to Plan B. Vets accompanying the rescue team sedated the mule, tied its legs and then blindfolded it. Captain Bhupinder pushed back all the seats. The animal was then carried inside the helicopter. As the chopper took off, the sedation was key as an underdose could have led to the mule waking up in mid-air, and in panic damaging the aircraft, which may have been fatal.
YouTube link.
An overdose, on the other hand, could have led to a cardiac arrest. Fortunately, the nerve-wracking 28-km journey was completed successfully, and the mule, now named "Hope", is recovering in a hospital in Guptkashi. Kamna Pandey, co-opted member, Animal Welfare Board of India, said: "This goes to show what just a few men can do. The authorities should take a lesson. Around 1200 mules are still stuck in Uttarakhand."
It took a colossal effort from a civilian pilot, Captain Bhupinder, and his team to pull off a miraculous rescue. Captain Bhupinder, along with Captain Angad, not only flew to the dangerous flyzone in Sonprayag but was able to land his chopper near the river. However, the trickiest part of the operation lay ahead.
Earlier, it was planned that the mule would be airlifted but due to unavailability of sufficient safety equipment, the team moved to Plan B. Vets accompanying the rescue team sedated the mule, tied its legs and then blindfolded it. Captain Bhupinder pushed back all the seats. The animal was then carried inside the helicopter. As the chopper took off, the sedation was key as an underdose could have led to the mule waking up in mid-air, and in panic damaging the aircraft, which may have been fatal.
YouTube link.
An overdose, on the other hand, could have led to a cardiac arrest. Fortunately, the nerve-wracking 28-km journey was completed successfully, and the mule, now named "Hope", is recovering in a hospital in Guptkashi. Kamna Pandey, co-opted member, Animal Welfare Board of India, said: "This goes to show what just a few men can do. The authorities should take a lesson. Around 1200 mules are still stuck in Uttarakhand."
Man builds life-size Tonka truck
Brad Doane, a tow truck driver from Menomonie in Wisconsin, is extremely proud of having built a life-size Tonka truck that actually drives. "You can't mistake what it is," smiles Brad. "'Dang, that looks like a Tonka truck.'" It looks like a Tonka truck, because in essence it is. It's a 16 foot long, 10 foot tall, two ton life-size fabrication of a Tonka Mighty Wrecker.
Brad rolled it out of the shop earlier this year and has been turning heads ever since. "He had every Tonka there ever was," said Lonna Doane about her 40-year-old son. Lonna gets credit for putting the bug in Brad's ear when she brought home to the shop a well-used toy Tonka tow truck she purchased at a charity auction.
"He said, 'Mom, I want to build the Tonka." Brad found a drive train in an 1984 Chevy pickup he purchased along a roadside for $700. He then spent a year cutting, bending and welding steel into a shape that mirrors the original Tonka, only at 12 times the size. "When you're driving down the road and you meet people, it's not like they give a double take; it's like a triple take," says Brad.
YouTube link.
Though the truck is fully functional and a registered vehicle, it won't be towing many cars. Like the toy it's based on, its winch has a hand crank. "I had to keep it true to the little guy you know," Brad laughs. Lonna describes her son's dedication to the project as a complete "labour of love for him." Brad plans to share the love by taking the truck to community parades and festivals.
Brad rolled it out of the shop earlier this year and has been turning heads ever since. "He had every Tonka there ever was," said Lonna Doane about her 40-year-old son. Lonna gets credit for putting the bug in Brad's ear when she brought home to the shop a well-used toy Tonka tow truck she purchased at a charity auction.
"He said, 'Mom, I want to build the Tonka." Brad found a drive train in an 1984 Chevy pickup he purchased along a roadside for $700. He then spent a year cutting, bending and welding steel into a shape that mirrors the original Tonka, only at 12 times the size. "When you're driving down the road and you meet people, it's not like they give a double take; it's like a triple take," says Brad.
YouTube link.
Though the truck is fully functional and a registered vehicle, it won't be towing many cars. Like the toy it's based on, its winch has a hand crank. "I had to keep it true to the little guy you know," Brad laughs. Lonna describes her son's dedication to the project as a complete "labour of love for him." Brad plans to share the love by taking the truck to community parades and festivals.
Men accused of stuffing personal hygiene products in their underpants
A man taped his underpants to his legs with electrical tape, then stuffed them with personal hygiene products at a Florida Family Dollar and walked out without paying, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Nicolas Williams' unusual shoplifting method failed when an employee caught on and called deputies, according to a Sheriff's Office arrest report. The 24-year-old Miami man was arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail.
Arrested with him was Vincent Wilder, 34, also of Miami, who also filled his underpants with hygiene products, but apparently did so without taping them, according to the report. Both men face larceny charges. The crime happened at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, at the Family Dollar on the 1900 block of Lake Worth Road in Lake Worth.
A deputy who responded to the scene found three adults and three children inside a Dodge pickup truck, with numerous bottles and containers of products scattered on the ground around it. More containers and products were stacked inside, according to the report. In all, $339.42 worth of hygiene products was taken from the store. A store employee confirmed the items were not purchased. Deputies spoke with the three adults in the truck, who said they drove to Lake Worth from Miami with a plan to shoplift.
Williams and Wilder said they sell the products. "Williams confirmed that he does not normally tape the leg holes of his underpants, and did so on this date for the enhanced ability to conceal a greater amount of retail merchandise," a deputy noted in the report. He said he frequently sells personal hygiene products to people in the Miami area, and chose that type of item because it's "what everyone needs." The third adult in the truck, a woman, was not arrested. Williams and Wilder remain behind bars in lieu of bail set at $7,500 and $10,000, respectively.
Arrested with him was Vincent Wilder, 34, also of Miami, who also filled his underpants with hygiene products, but apparently did so without taping them, according to the report. Both men face larceny charges. The crime happened at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, at the Family Dollar on the 1900 block of Lake Worth Road in Lake Worth.
A deputy who responded to the scene found three adults and three children inside a Dodge pickup truck, with numerous bottles and containers of products scattered on the ground around it. More containers and products were stacked inside, according to the report. In all, $339.42 worth of hygiene products was taken from the store. A store employee confirmed the items were not purchased. Deputies spoke with the three adults in the truck, who said they drove to Lake Worth from Miami with a plan to shoplift.
Williams and Wilder said they sell the products. "Williams confirmed that he does not normally tape the leg holes of his underpants, and did so on this date for the enhanced ability to conceal a greater amount of retail merchandise," a deputy noted in the report. He said he frequently sells personal hygiene products to people in the Miami area, and chose that type of item because it's "what everyone needs." The third adult in the truck, a woman, was not arrested. Williams and Wilder remain behind bars in lieu of bail set at $7,500 and $10,000, respectively.
Woman trapped between walls mistaken for ghost
A Chinese woman has been rescued after spending the night stuck between two walls because she tried to take a shortcut on her way home.
Locals heard the unnamed woman's screams in Anhui Province but assumed it was the voice of a ghost and steered clear.
It wasn't until seven hours later that a passer-by realised the voice was not from the dead and called for help. Firefighters spent half an hour breaking down one of the walls to free her.
YouTube link.
The woman had reportedly tried to squeeze through the gap but didn't realise the passage between the walls became narrower and narrower as it went on.
Locals heard the unnamed woman's screams in Anhui Province but assumed it was the voice of a ghost and steered clear.
It wasn't until seven hours later that a passer-by realised the voice was not from the dead and called for help. Firefighters spent half an hour breaking down one of the walls to free her.
YouTube link.
The woman had reportedly tried to squeeze through the gap but didn't realise the passage between the walls became narrower and narrower as it went on.
Family severed penis of man who eloped with their daughter
Lebanese citizen Rabih A., 39, who hails from the Akkar town of Hrar, was found wounded at the square of the Aley town of Baisour with his penis cut off. Lebanese Red Cross medics rushed the man to the West Shahhar Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The incident happened after Rabih eloped with a woman identified as Rudeina M., who hails from the town of Baisour.
When the relatives of the girl learned of the issue, they investigated the circumstances and found out that Rabih and Rudeina were at a chalet in Tabarja, so they went there and brought them to Baisour, where they severed the man's penis and left him at the town's square. Rabih arrived at hospital suffering from “extreme fatigue after he was severely beaten.”
The man arrived at hospital “without his penis, which was chopped off, while his testicles were smashed,” security sources said. "After Rabih and his girlfriend agreed to tie the knot despite the objection of her family, her relatives telephoned him and said they wanted to make a reconciliation and agree to the marriage," the sources said.
"They agreed to have dinner at a restaurant, but after the dinner the man was kidnapped and severely beaten," they added. "The relatives 'severed his penis to punish him for marrying their daughter.'" The tragic incident caught the attention of the political circles and a high-ranking leader fiercely rebuked the girl's family and the group who committed the crime.
When the relatives of the girl learned of the issue, they investigated the circumstances and found out that Rabih and Rudeina were at a chalet in Tabarja, so they went there and brought them to Baisour, where they severed the man's penis and left him at the town's square. Rabih arrived at hospital suffering from “extreme fatigue after he was severely beaten.”
The man arrived at hospital “without his penis, which was chopped off, while his testicles were smashed,” security sources said. "After Rabih and his girlfriend agreed to tie the knot despite the objection of her family, her relatives telephoned him and said they wanted to make a reconciliation and agree to the marriage," the sources said.
"They agreed to have dinner at a restaurant, but after the dinner the man was kidnapped and severely beaten," they added. "The relatives 'severed his penis to punish him for marrying their daughter.'" The tragic incident caught the attention of the political circles and a high-ranking leader fiercely rebuked the girl's family and the group who committed the crime.
Search party launched for Captain Buxton the sailing cat following disappearance
A charity sailing adventure has hit rough waters with the disappearance of ship's cat Captain Buxton. The feline first mate went missing while sailing yacht Amalia, crewed by his owners Helena and Steve Neal from Whitstable, was moored in Lossimouth harbour, Scotland.
They stopped off on their 11-week trip around the coast of Britain to raise money for Pilgrims Hospices. An entry on the couple's blog says: "We had a terrible surprise on Friday morning. We awoke at 5am, to an alarm that I should have cancelled on my phone, and Buxton was not there. We searched the boat, and then the marina for him but he was nowhere to be found."
YouTube link.
A fellow sailor saw him overnight sitting on top of another boat, and then walking along the pontoons, but there have been no more clues to his whereabouts. The couple have put up posters around the town and registered Buxton as missing but after two days hunting decided to continue with their journey. They said: "This morning, given the futility of our search, we made the tough decision to leave Lossiemouth and head on with our journey.
"The people of Lossie are an amazingly friendly and accommodating bunch and I'm sure if Buxton is there he'll turn up and we'll get to hear about it. He has been microchipped so we should hear from a vet if he turns up too. We've got everything crossed and are hoping dearly that it won't be long before we hear some good news. He is a part of our family and we hope so much that we'll see him again soon." Anyone with information about Buxton's whereabouts can contact the couple via their Facebook page.
Update: Captain Buxton has been found.
They stopped off on their 11-week trip around the coast of Britain to raise money for Pilgrims Hospices. An entry on the couple's blog says: "We had a terrible surprise on Friday morning. We awoke at 5am, to an alarm that I should have cancelled on my phone, and Buxton was not there. We searched the boat, and then the marina for him but he was nowhere to be found."
YouTube link.
A fellow sailor saw him overnight sitting on top of another boat, and then walking along the pontoons, but there have been no more clues to his whereabouts. The couple have put up posters around the town and registered Buxton as missing but after two days hunting decided to continue with their journey. They said: "This morning, given the futility of our search, we made the tough decision to leave Lossiemouth and head on with our journey.
"The people of Lossie are an amazingly friendly and accommodating bunch and I'm sure if Buxton is there he'll turn up and we'll get to hear about it. He has been microchipped so we should hear from a vet if he turns up too. We've got everything crossed and are hoping dearly that it won't be long before we hear some good news. He is a part of our family and we hope so much that we'll see him again soon." Anyone with information about Buxton's whereabouts can contact the couple via their Facebook page.
Update: Captain Buxton has been found.
Fox made off with woman's handbag during barbecue
A fox caused a stir at a barbecue last week when it stole a guest's beloved handmade handbag. Izzy Lachowicz, 28, fom Colliers Wood, had been having dinner in a friend's garden in Tooting, soth London, on July 9 when the animal appeared from the bushes.
Although shy at first, the fox popped its head out from time to time to keep an eye on the guests' movements and any potential scraps on offer. But midway through the evening the group went inside the house to get more wine when, unbeknown to the handbag's owner, the furry thief pounced. When the time came to leave though Miss Lachowicz suddenly realised she could not find the bag, which she had bought during a trip to Thailand last year.
Miss Lachowicz said: "I got a bit worried, because my house keys, work keys and bank cards were in it." She added: "We searched the house and the garden, but with no luck. I knew it hadn't been stolen so it was a complete mystery. I had to stay at my friends' because I was locked out and went to sleep very distressed thinking about changing locks in the house, cancelling all my cards etc."
But the next morning after telling her work she was going to be late, Miss Lachowicz decided to check the garden one more time, and there behind the shed were the shredded remnants of her much-loved bag. She said: "It was quite annoying and I did love that bag but it hasn't changed my mind, I still don't have a problem with foxes at all. Fortunately the cheeky little fox didn't manage to work out my Pin number and my bank accounts were not touched."
Although shy at first, the fox popped its head out from time to time to keep an eye on the guests' movements and any potential scraps on offer. But midway through the evening the group went inside the house to get more wine when, unbeknown to the handbag's owner, the furry thief pounced. When the time came to leave though Miss Lachowicz suddenly realised she could not find the bag, which she had bought during a trip to Thailand last year.
Miss Lachowicz said: "I got a bit worried, because my house keys, work keys and bank cards were in it." She added: "We searched the house and the garden, but with no luck. I knew it hadn't been stolen so it was a complete mystery. I had to stay at my friends' because I was locked out and went to sleep very distressed thinking about changing locks in the house, cancelling all my cards etc."
But the next morning after telling her work she was going to be late, Miss Lachowicz decided to check the garden one more time, and there behind the shed were the shredded remnants of her much-loved bag. She said: "It was quite annoying and I did love that bag but it hasn't changed my mind, I still don't have a problem with foxes at all. Fortunately the cheeky little fox didn't manage to work out my Pin number and my bank accounts were not touched."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)