Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Man rescued after four days stuck in storm drain
A 53-year old Tennessee man was rescued on Sunday after he got stuck in a storm drain four days ago near Centennial Park in Nashville.
Brian Williams, who was attending a swim meet at the Centennial Sportsplex heard the man calling for help at around 12:30pm.
“He was yelling, ‘Help! Help!’ sort of repeatedly,” Williams said.
“We used our flashlights from our cellphones and we could see him, but he was back in the pipeline a good ways, probably about 10 feet,” Williams explained.
The man was elated when he heard Williams and his family come to his aid. “He said, ‘Praise God. Thank you. I have been down here forever.’ And he was just very happy at that point,” Williams added. Firefighters had to dig into the ground and break into a cement pipe to free the man. It took over two hours. The assistant chief with the Nashville Fire Department said the man had entered the pipe last Thursday. The man got stuck due to a bend in the narrow drain pipe, which ran next to the Sportsplex’s tennis courts.
He told firefighters that he climbed in the pipe because he has always been “adventurous.” Firefighters had to dig down to reach the section of pipe he was stuck in to cut him out. He was in deep enough that they had to use a 4-foot pry bar to get oxygen to him as they worked to free him. He appeared to have been about 6 to 7 feet from the opening of the pipe. A firefighter sat at the opening of the pipe and spoke with the man throughout the ordeal, explaining the process to free him in an effort to keep him from panicking.
YouTube link.
The man suffered cuts to his body and appeared to be dehydrated. He was immediately given oxygen once he was free and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment. It was a situation that could have ended much worse. “If we had some rain, you know obviously he was in a storm drain, so it could have ended very badly for him. I think he had a guardian angel overlooking him and he was able to get out of there alive,” Williams said.
The man was elated when he heard Williams and his family come to his aid. “He said, ‘Praise God. Thank you. I have been down here forever.’ And he was just very happy at that point,” Williams added. Firefighters had to dig into the ground and break into a cement pipe to free the man. It took over two hours. The assistant chief with the Nashville Fire Department said the man had entered the pipe last Thursday. The man got stuck due to a bend in the narrow drain pipe, which ran next to the Sportsplex’s tennis courts.
He told firefighters that he climbed in the pipe because he has always been “adventurous.” Firefighters had to dig down to reach the section of pipe he was stuck in to cut him out. He was in deep enough that they had to use a 4-foot pry bar to get oxygen to him as they worked to free him. He appeared to have been about 6 to 7 feet from the opening of the pipe. A firefighter sat at the opening of the pipe and spoke with the man throughout the ordeal, explaining the process to free him in an effort to keep him from panicking.
YouTube link.
The man suffered cuts to his body and appeared to be dehydrated. He was immediately given oxygen once he was free and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment. It was a situation that could have ended much worse. “If we had some rain, you know obviously he was in a storm drain, so it could have ended very badly for him. I think he had a guardian angel overlooking him and he was able to get out of there alive,” Williams said.
Angry man drove his truck through his house
John Paul Jones Jr. of Senoia, Georgia, said he was angry and fed up, so on Thursday afternoon he started up his pickup truck in the backyard of his house and drove to the front yard by way of the living room.
"I don't know, it was just one of those spur of the moment crazy things," said Jones. He says that he had just got off the phone with his wife at the time, and the conversation made him so angry, one thing just led to another.
Soon after the crash, neighbours were calling 911. "The police came out here, I told them I needed air conditioning," said Jones. "They said, 'open a window.' I told them it wasn't enough. As you can see, I had a nice breeze."
Even though he drove his pickup truck straight through a building, Jones said it's still running just fine. He lost a light and had to plug a tyre, but aside from that, there are only a few scratches. Jones is not being charged with a crime because there's nothing against the law about driving a truck through a house, as long as it's your truck and your house.
With news video.
"I don't know, it was just one of those spur of the moment crazy things," said Jones. He says that he had just got off the phone with his wife at the time, and the conversation made him so angry, one thing just led to another.
Soon after the crash, neighbours were calling 911. "The police came out here, I told them I needed air conditioning," said Jones. "They said, 'open a window.' I told them it wasn't enough. As you can see, I had a nice breeze."
Even though he drove his pickup truck straight through a building, Jones said it's still running just fine. He lost a light and had to plug a tyre, but aside from that, there are only a few scratches. Jones is not being charged with a crime because there's nothing against the law about driving a truck through a house, as long as it's your truck and your house.
With news video.
Woman surprised to find opossum and its babies in her closet
A woman from Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, had quite a surprise when she went into her closet last week. Amid the clothes and shoes, she found an angry, hissing opossum hiding in a plastic bag.
"I opened it really gently and it did that thing, that 'grrr,'" Tara McVicar said. With her camera in hand, McVicar set out to clean out her closet, but the opossum was not alone.
It had several babies clinging to its back. McVicar believes the opossum got into her house because she occasionally leaves the door open to let her rabbit in. "Her demeanor changed when my demeanor changed.
YouTube link.
"I really did have a moment when I saw her children and I was like, 'What's going on?'" McVicar said. McVicar lured the animal out of her apartment and the opossum family went on their way.
With additional news video.
"I opened it really gently and it did that thing, that 'grrr,'" Tara McVicar said. With her camera in hand, McVicar set out to clean out her closet, but the opossum was not alone.
It had several babies clinging to its back. McVicar believes the opossum got into her house because she occasionally leaves the door open to let her rabbit in. "Her demeanor changed when my demeanor changed.
YouTube link.
"I really did have a moment when I saw her children and I was like, 'What's going on?'" McVicar said. McVicar lured the animal out of her apartment and the opossum family went on their way.
With additional news video.
Teacher ate live worms after pupils passed tests
Teachers at a Central Texas elementary school rewarded their students for finishing their end-of-year tests by performing a series of dares, including eating live worms.
As a reward for exceeding school goals on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness tests, four fifth-grade teachers from Clements/Parsons school in Copperas Cove accepted a challenge from students to do some “gross but awesome” things.
One teacher had to kiss a guinea pig, another kissed a bulldog and another ate frog legs. But reading and language arts teacher Michele Cox had to eat live earthworms.
“Worms taste pretty much like dirt”, Cox said. “But it’s okay. I chased it with chocolate. It was really great, seeing (students’) reactions and the fact you actually followed through with what you said you would do,” Cox added. “Most of them don’t think you’ll do it.”
As a reward for exceeding school goals on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness tests, four fifth-grade teachers from Clements/Parsons school in Copperas Cove accepted a challenge from students to do some “gross but awesome” things.
One teacher had to kiss a guinea pig, another kissed a bulldog and another ate frog legs. But reading and language arts teacher Michele Cox had to eat live earthworms.
“Worms taste pretty much like dirt”, Cox said. “But it’s okay. I chased it with chocolate. It was really great, seeing (students’) reactions and the fact you actually followed through with what you said you would do,” Cox added. “Most of them don’t think you’ll do it.”
Man who murdered housemate with frying pan and mop jailed
A man from Adelaide, Australia, who used a frying pan and a mop to murder his sleeping housemate has been jailed for more than two decades.
The South Australian Supreme Court heard Peter James Freyer, 49, attacked Joe Triulcio last August at a house at Parafield Gardens after the man had threatened, purely as a joke, to kill Freyer's uncle at a time when he was in a bad mood about family matters.
The court heard Mr Triulcio, 42, had no warning of the attack to be able to defend himself.
While the threat to kill Freyer's uncle was never meant seriously, the killer took that remark that way. Justice David Lovell said Freyer, 49, had stewed for several hours before deciding to act against his housemate. "Your motive to commit this murder was to make a pre-emptive strike, given your perception of the threats made by the deceased," he said. "The prosecution maintained there was objectively no danger [from the threat]." Mr Triulcio was asleep in the living room when Freyer grabbed a frying pan and bashed the victim up to 15 times. The man did not die immediately.
The court was told he made a gurgling sound for about 45 minutes until Freyer got a mop and shoved it down the victim's throat to suffocate him. Before the killing, Freyer had watched a home movie with deceased family members in it. Justice Lovell said the murder was horrific and Freyer had been significantly affected by alcohol. "The number of blows and the force with which you inflicted the head injuries ... make this a particularly callous and gruesome murder," he told Freyer. "I'm not confident about your prospects for rehabilitation."
Mr Triulcio moved in with Freyer and two other people to their property after a relationship ended. After brutally killing his housemate, Freyer sent a text message to a cousin saying: "You or your dad can rest easy. I did this all for you. Joe is dead." He also left a phone message on an uncle's answering machine saying: "I've killed Joe. He is dead." The court heard Freyer had a history of depression and anxiety. The judge said the crime had "torn apart" Mr Triulcio's family, who described him as a loved and valued man. Freyer's mandatory life sentence for murder came with a non-parole period of 21 years.
While the threat to kill Freyer's uncle was never meant seriously, the killer took that remark that way. Justice David Lovell said Freyer, 49, had stewed for several hours before deciding to act against his housemate. "Your motive to commit this murder was to make a pre-emptive strike, given your perception of the threats made by the deceased," he said. "The prosecution maintained there was objectively no danger [from the threat]." Mr Triulcio was asleep in the living room when Freyer grabbed a frying pan and bashed the victim up to 15 times. The man did not die immediately.
The court was told he made a gurgling sound for about 45 minutes until Freyer got a mop and shoved it down the victim's throat to suffocate him. Before the killing, Freyer had watched a home movie with deceased family members in it. Justice Lovell said the murder was horrific and Freyer had been significantly affected by alcohol. "The number of blows and the force with which you inflicted the head injuries ... make this a particularly callous and gruesome murder," he told Freyer. "I'm not confident about your prospects for rehabilitation."
Mr Triulcio moved in with Freyer and two other people to their property after a relationship ended. After brutally killing his housemate, Freyer sent a text message to a cousin saying: "You or your dad can rest easy. I did this all for you. Joe is dead." He also left a phone message on an uncle's answering machine saying: "I've killed Joe. He is dead." The court heard Freyer had a history of depression and anxiety. The judge said the crime had "torn apart" Mr Triulcio's family, who described him as a loved and valued man. Freyer's mandatory life sentence for murder came with a non-parole period of 21 years.
Polish gardener caught smuggling plants in his underpants
A Polish gardener is facing prosecution for smuggling plants in his underpants into New Zealand.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) staff intercepted plant cuttings, a bulb, a tuber and seeds after an arriving air passenger was searched at Auckland airport on Saturday. MPI strip-searched the passenger after a biosecurity detector dog sniffed out the plants near the man’s groin.
A Customs drug dog had also indicated the man was carrying something in his pants. The man, a New Zealand resident, was wearing two pairs of underpants and the concealment included ivy from a castle in Poland, says Craig Hughes, MPI’s Northern Border Clearance Manager, Passengers and Mail. “He wanted the plants for his garden, saying he could not find them in New Zealand,” says Mr Hughes.
He says the case has been referred to MPI investigators and that the man is likely to be prosecuted under the Biosecurity Act. “We have zero tolerance towards this type of behaviour, which could endanger New Zealand’s primary industries and native plant life by introducing foreign pests and diseases.” If convicted, the man could face a fine of up to $100,000, or a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
There's an audio news report here.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) staff intercepted plant cuttings, a bulb, a tuber and seeds after an arriving air passenger was searched at Auckland airport on Saturday. MPI strip-searched the passenger after a biosecurity detector dog sniffed out the plants near the man’s groin.
A Customs drug dog had also indicated the man was carrying something in his pants. The man, a New Zealand resident, was wearing two pairs of underpants and the concealment included ivy from a castle in Poland, says Craig Hughes, MPI’s Northern Border Clearance Manager, Passengers and Mail. “He wanted the plants for his garden, saying he could not find them in New Zealand,” says Mr Hughes.
He says the case has been referred to MPI investigators and that the man is likely to be prosecuted under the Biosecurity Act. “We have zero tolerance towards this type of behaviour, which could endanger New Zealand’s primary industries and native plant life by introducing foreign pests and diseases.” If convicted, the man could face a fine of up to $100,000, or a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
There's an audio news report here.
Police appeal to reunite bush with its owner
Cleveland police are appealing to trace the owners of a Topiary bush which is believed to have been stolen from a front door or drive.
It is believed the garden item may have been taken from a property in the Foggy Furze area of Hartlepool.
A man and woman were charged with theft in relation to the incident.
The owner or anyone with any information regarding the theft is asked to contact officers.
It is believed the garden item may have been taken from a property in the Foggy Furze area of Hartlepool.
A man and woman were charged with theft in relation to the incident.
The owner or anyone with any information regarding the theft is asked to contact officers.
Man stuck in train toilet forced to tweet staff for help
A desperate rail passenger was forced to tweet rail staff for help after he got locked in the loo on a train to Orpington, south east London.
Steven Staples was travelling on the 7.38am service from London Blackfriars on Saturday morning when he found himself in a jam. The 38-year-old said: "I locked it but it wouldn't unlock again after, I tried a credit card, but didn't want to break it so turned to Twitter."
He tweeted: “@Se_Railway I'm stuck in a toilet - just pulling to elephant and castle, please help. Going to Orpington.” Thankfully Southeastern were quick to respond, finding out which service Mr Staples was trapped on so that they could send the driver to free him.
Despite railway staff promptly responding on social media Mr Staples was left holding his nose for 15 minutes before a little girl managed to open the door moments before the driver arrived.
Steven Staples was travelling on the 7.38am service from London Blackfriars on Saturday morning when he found himself in a jam. The 38-year-old said: "I locked it but it wouldn't unlock again after, I tried a credit card, but didn't want to break it so turned to Twitter."
He tweeted: “@Se_Railway I'm stuck in a toilet - just pulling to elephant and castle, please help. Going to Orpington.” Thankfully Southeastern were quick to respond, finding out which service Mr Staples was trapped on so that they could send the driver to free him.
Despite railway staff promptly responding on social media Mr Staples was left holding his nose for 15 minutes before a little girl managed to open the door moments before the driver arrived.
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