Saturday, July 04, 2015
Giant pig hot air balloon crashed after tangling with a cowboy-shaped one
A pig-shaped hot air balloon crashed into a tree and caught fire at a balloon festival in Utah, cutting the pilot’s face.
Paul Warner, a festival executive, said the licensed pilot of the fallen balloon also suffered minor facial burns.
He was treated at the scene and released. Various balloons entered in the festival were rising at a field near downtown Provo when the top of the pig crashed into the basket of a cowboy balloon.
The collision ripped a hole in the nylon fabric of the pig balloon and a piece of plastic caught fire as it descended. The fire was not extensive, said Christopher Liechty, a spokesman for Bank of American Fork, which sponsored the balloon representing Seymour, its piggy bank mascot.
YouTube link.
The pilot, Erwin Oertli, was the only person in the balloon and suffered minor burns from melted plastic that dripped on to his face, the bank said in a statement. “What saved my bacon was that the head of the pig held a lot of hot air and helped the balloon to descend at a safer rate,” Oertli said.
He was treated at the scene and released. Various balloons entered in the festival were rising at a field near downtown Provo when the top of the pig crashed into the basket of a cowboy balloon.
The collision ripped a hole in the nylon fabric of the pig balloon and a piece of plastic caught fire as it descended. The fire was not extensive, said Christopher Liechty, a spokesman for Bank of American Fork, which sponsored the balloon representing Seymour, its piggy bank mascot.
YouTube link.
The pilot, Erwin Oertli, was the only person in the balloon and suffered minor burns from melted plastic that dripped on to his face, the bank said in a statement. “What saved my bacon was that the head of the pig held a lot of hot air and helped the balloon to descend at a safer rate,” Oertli said.
Car crashed through roof of house
A car has flown off a road and smashed through the roof of a house in South Africa's coastal city Durban, emergency services firm ER24 says.
The driver said he drove over a ramp, and this led him to crash into the house in Kwamakhutha township, it said.
He escaped injury, while a person sleeping in a room next to the one where the car landed was also unhurt, ER24 added.
"It's really kind of miraculous," ER24 spokesman Pieter Rossouw said. South Africa has a high fatality rate from road accidents caused mainly by bad driving and alcohol abuse.
The driver said he drove over a ramp, and this led him to crash into the house in Kwamakhutha township, it said.
He escaped injury, while a person sleeping in a room next to the one where the car landed was also unhurt, ER24 added.
"It's really kind of miraculous," ER24 spokesman Pieter Rossouw said. South Africa has a high fatality rate from road accidents caused mainly by bad driving and alcohol abuse.
Search for 92-year-old woman called off after it was discovered she'd absconded with her lover
A search for a 92-year-old woman who vanished from a old people's home in Norway has been called off after it turned out she had absconded with her Swedish lover.
The management at Vilberg old people's home in Eidsvold, north of Oslo, alerted the local police when nurses discovered the 92-year-old’s walking frame abandoned in the car park.
She was later found to have driven to Stockholm along with her Swedish boyfriend, who at 87, is five years younger than her. “This is really a touching love story,” Janka Holstad, who runs the home, said. “Imagine not being able to go on a romantic holiday just because you’re past 90.
"The lady did nothing illegal, but she caused some uneasiness for us, because she never announced she was leaving.” The elderly lady has now spent ten days at her boyfriend's house just outside Stockholm. According to Holstad, she has maintained a relationship with the man since before she entered to the home. She plans to return to Vilberg at the weekend.
The management at Vilberg old people's home in Eidsvold, north of Oslo, alerted the local police when nurses discovered the 92-year-old’s walking frame abandoned in the car park.
She was later found to have driven to Stockholm along with her Swedish boyfriend, who at 87, is five years younger than her. “This is really a touching love story,” Janka Holstad, who runs the home, said. “Imagine not being able to go on a romantic holiday just because you’re past 90.
"The lady did nothing illegal, but she caused some uneasiness for us, because she never announced she was leaving.” The elderly lady has now spent ten days at her boyfriend's house just outside Stockholm. According to Holstad, she has maintained a relationship with the man since before she entered to the home. She plans to return to Vilberg at the weekend.
Noisy neighbour jailed for singing along with 'Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs'
A council tenant has been jailed for making his neighbours’ lives hell by belting out ‘Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs’.
Michael Thornton loved to bellow the tune, inspired by artist LS Lowry, which was a 1978 No.1 for folk group Brian and Michael.
After drinking, the 51-year-old would sing it at the top of his voice.
He would also invite friends back to his ground floor flat in Northfield, Birmingham, after the pubs had closed for rowdy gatherings where they would shout, swear and sing into the early hours. But Thornton was silenced by a 20-week jail term imposed at Birmingham Country Court after he broke an anti-social behaviour injunction (a civil court ASBO) requiring him to keep the peace. The city council also wants to kick him out of his property.
One relieved neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “It would go on and on and on, he would play it over and over and sing along himself. At least now we’ll have a few weeks of peace and quiet.” Another neighbour spoke of “late-night bawling, shouting and loud music” and said anyone who complained was bombarded with foul-mouthed abuse. They said the trouble had been going on for three years.
YouTube link.
Sgt David Lamerton, of Northfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Mr Thornton has persistently shown a flagrant disregard for the feelings of his neighbours. West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council worked together to get a court order against him. He chose to flout the order and now faces the consequences.” Sgt Lamerton said many noisy neighbour cases involved house, rap and hard rock music, and it was almost unheard of for a song like 'Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs' to feature in a case.
He would also invite friends back to his ground floor flat in Northfield, Birmingham, after the pubs had closed for rowdy gatherings where they would shout, swear and sing into the early hours. But Thornton was silenced by a 20-week jail term imposed at Birmingham Country Court after he broke an anti-social behaviour injunction (a civil court ASBO) requiring him to keep the peace. The city council also wants to kick him out of his property.
One relieved neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “It would go on and on and on, he would play it over and over and sing along himself. At least now we’ll have a few weeks of peace and quiet.” Another neighbour spoke of “late-night bawling, shouting and loud music” and said anyone who complained was bombarded with foul-mouthed abuse. They said the trouble had been going on for three years.
YouTube link.
Sgt David Lamerton, of Northfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Mr Thornton has persistently shown a flagrant disregard for the feelings of his neighbours. West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council worked together to get a court order against him. He chose to flout the order and now faces the consequences.” Sgt Lamerton said many noisy neighbour cases involved house, rap and hard rock music, and it was almost unheard of for a song like 'Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs' to feature in a case.
Appeal to find stolen van with 12-inch plastic testicles
A surfer has issued an appeal after his kitted-out van was stolen.
Jason Jackson, aged 34, is hoping to be reunited with his missing customised van, which he and friends have spent three years working on.
His "home away from home" was stolen during the short time that he took in the surf at Llangennith in Gower, south Wales. Instead of taking the keys, which he would not be able to carry in his wet suit, he placed them underneath the van. But when he returned from his dip, the van was gone.
The van is a white Citroen Relay long wheel base high top. It has orange chevrons on the back door and a 12-inch set of plastic testicles dangling off the back. Mr Jackson, who lives in Cockett, said: "I'm mortified because it is my only form of transport.
"There was more sentimental stuff in there than you can imagine." Inside, the van has a blue interior laid out as a settee and units. A South Wales Police spokesman said: "Police are investigating the theft of a white Citroen Relay van registration CN06 ZYG which was taken from the Hill End caravan park."
His "home away from home" was stolen during the short time that he took in the surf at Llangennith in Gower, south Wales. Instead of taking the keys, which he would not be able to carry in his wet suit, he placed them underneath the van. But when he returned from his dip, the van was gone.
The van is a white Citroen Relay long wheel base high top. It has orange chevrons on the back door and a 12-inch set of plastic testicles dangling off the back. Mr Jackson, who lives in Cockett, said: "I'm mortified because it is my only form of transport.
"There was more sentimental stuff in there than you can imagine." Inside, the van has a blue interior laid out as a settee and units. A South Wales Police spokesman said: "Police are investigating the theft of a white Citroen Relay van registration CN06 ZYG which was taken from the Hill End caravan park."
Ducklings freed from tarmac with slightly salted butter
Five ducklings discovered "stuck fast" to melting asphalt are recovering after rescuers used Lurpak® butter to free them.
Passers-by found the hot weather casualties at Goose Green in Ashill, Norfolk, on Wednesday.
Staff at the RSPCA centre at East Winch loosened the tar with butter before bathing the birds in washing-up liquid and warm water. Manager Alison Charles said: "Butter is an old fashioned remedy for removing tar and it really works.
"The weather was so hot that the road suface was melting. All five ducklings were so poorly when they came in we weren't sure they were going to make it. However, after treatment they are now eating, drinking and chirping away in our orphans' room," Ms Charles added.
Passers-by found the hot weather casualties at Goose Green in Ashill, Norfolk, on Wednesday.
Staff at the RSPCA centre at East Winch loosened the tar with butter before bathing the birds in washing-up liquid and warm water. Manager Alison Charles said: "Butter is an old fashioned remedy for removing tar and it really works.
"The weather was so hot that the road suface was melting. All five ducklings were so poorly when they came in we weren't sure they were going to make it. However, after treatment they are now eating, drinking and chirping away in our orphans' room," Ms Charles added.
Part of beach cordoned off after mystery hole that sent snails shooting into the air appeared
A large mystery hole which spurted "big plumes of water" and sent plants and snails shooting into the air has appeared on a beach.
The coastguard at Exmouth beach cordoned off the 15ft (4.6m) by 15ft hole on Thursday afternoon.
The hole, which was "bubbling" with water, has since been filled in by the incoming tide. East Devon District Council said it was trying to find out what caused the hole and a cordon remains at Orcombe Point. When the coastguard team arrived they said the surrounding sand was soft and fresh holes were appearing.
Kite surf instructor James Dart said: "I looked over and there were big plumes of water coming out of the beach it was all bubbling up much like a geyser, it was probably going about a foot above the beach - it was quite tremendous sight. I got closer and saw plant matter coming up and a few snails coming out too."
It is thought there could have been a chamber underneath the hole, about 10ft (3m) to 15ft (4.6m) deep. Council officials said engineers would "continue to monitor the situation over the weekend and between tides". They added: "The beach is very popular with dog walkers and bathers who are being advised to avoid the cordoned off area. Heavy rain yesterday may be the cause of the hole - a natural phenomena - to have opened up, but is still a bit of a mystery."
The hole, which was "bubbling" with water, has since been filled in by the incoming tide. East Devon District Council said it was trying to find out what caused the hole and a cordon remains at Orcombe Point. When the coastguard team arrived they said the surrounding sand was soft and fresh holes were appearing.
Kite surf instructor James Dart said: "I looked over and there were big plumes of water coming out of the beach it was all bubbling up much like a geyser, it was probably going about a foot above the beach - it was quite tremendous sight. I got closer and saw plant matter coming up and a few snails coming out too."
It is thought there could have been a chamber underneath the hole, about 10ft (3m) to 15ft (4.6m) deep. Council officials said engineers would "continue to monitor the situation over the weekend and between tides". They added: "The beach is very popular with dog walkers and bathers who are being advised to avoid the cordoned off area. Heavy rain yesterday may be the cause of the hole - a natural phenomena - to have opened up, but is still a bit of a mystery."
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