Moment woman is ATTACKED by dive-bombing buzzard terrorising town as primary school bans kids playing outside
DRAMATIC footage shows the moment a woman is attacked by a dive-bombing buzzard.
Sparking havoc in Havering, East London, the terrorising bird even spurred a village primary school to ban children from playing outside.
6
6
6
The video - which was caught on a door cam - depicts the shocking moment local Louise Whittle narrowly avoids being clipped by the swooping buzzard.
The bird-of-prey is seen flying about an inch away from the woman's head.
Still dressed in her dressing gown, the unsuspecting resident is seen ducking, before running away from the animal.
Havering Council has since advised students from Dame Tipping Primary School nearby to stay inside due to raised concerns about the buzzard.
Head teacher Stella McCarthy said the school was taking children to a nearby outdoor area instead.
She added that staff were trying to "embrace" the situation as a "learning experience" for the children.
She told the BBC: "We had to think about how to risk assess this... it's quite an unusual situation, having to risk assess a buzzard.
"We tried our nearer playground areas thinking they would be safe, but soon discovered that Brenda was quite attracted to children playing outside."
A bird of prey expert, Ross Hicking, has also visited the school to help educate the students about the buzzard's behaviour.
He brought with him a Chilean blue buzzard eagle called Guido.
According to Ross, the buzzard is likely acting aggressively because she has a nest nearby because most of the time they would tend to avoid people.
Another factor, he added, could be the suburban environment, which means the bird could be more comfortable around humans.
The council said: "Our health and safety team have provided detailed advice to the academy trust responsible for the school, including the use of legal deterrents and other controls.
"We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution."
Havering Council said the RSPCA had advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks.
The council has also suggested hiring a falconry expert who may be able to deter the aggressive bird.
But as buzzards are a protected species under UK law, "intervention options are very limited".
It comes after a man was attacked by a dive-bombing hawk in a quiet village leaving him bloodied and hospitalised earlier this year.
The Harris's hawk was captured on camera after a string of attacks in the sleepy Hertfordshire village of Flamstead.
Residents resorted to wearing helmets or hats to protect themselves from the dive-bombing bird of prey.
Jim Hewitt, 75, also from Flamstead, was left bloodied when it swooped on him as he went to get milk and a newspaper.
6
6
6
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
24 minutes ago
- The Guardian
All babies in England to get DNA test to assess risk of diseases within 10 years
Every baby in England is to have a DNA screening to avoid fatal diseases and receive personalised healthcare as part of the government's £650m investment in DNA technology, it has been reported. Within a decade, every newborn will undergo whole genome sequencing, which assesses the risk of hundreds of diseases and is expected to form part of the government's 10-year plan for the health service. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, told the Telegraph the advances in genomics would allow people to 'leapfrog' killer illnesses and receive 'personalised' health care. He said: 'The revolution in medical science means that we can transform the NHS over the coming decade, from a service which diagnoses and treats ill health to one that predicts and prevents it. 'Genomics presents us with the opportunity to leapfrog disease, so we're in front of it rather than reacting to it.' Streeting added: 'With the power of this new technology, patients will be able to receive personalised healthcare to prevent ill health before symptoms begin, reducing the pressure on NHS services and helping people live longer, healthier lives.' All new parents are now offered a blood spot test for their babies, normally when the child is five days old, to check whether they have any of nine rare but serious conditions. The newborn's heel is pricked to collect a few drops of blood on a card that is sent away to be tested. Along with a greater focus on prevention, the 10-year plan is expected to include Streeting's other 'shifts' in the NHS, from hospitals towards more community-focused care and from analogue to digital services. Last week the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced that the government would increase NHS funding by £29bn a year in real terms over the next three years. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Our 10-year health plan will be published soon and will set out details for a range of initiatives to advance the NHS and make it fit for the future.' In October, the NHS in England announced it was to screen 100,000 newborn babies for more than 200 genetic conditions in a world-first scheme aimed at bolstering early diagnosis and treatment.
Times
25 minutes ago
- Times
Military precision — the best luxury field watches
Field watches may signify rugged sophistication today, but their first wearers had rather more pressing concerns. Developed for use in the First World War, field watches helped troops and gun batteries synchronise their operations, lessening the risk of friendly fire during attacks. And it was far quicker for a soldier to check his wrist than to dig out a pocket watch — the timepiece of choice for men at that time. Although form is as important as functionality in modern field watches, the essential properties remain the same — they are durable, easy to read and easy to use. This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Referencing early-20th-century military pocket watches, the Terra Nova is a homage to vintage design. There's the tonneau case, which was first seen in 1906; the numerals, which have a retro look about them and, in a nod to today's improved technology, are actually Super-LumiNova blocks; and the railroad track around the outer edge of the dial that recalls field watches past. £2,850; This is a minimalist take on the field watch brief. There isn't even a date on it. It's classic Tudor in that respect — extraneous detail isn't the brand's style. The only concession to colour is the strap, and this woven version is a brand signature made by a traditional passementerie company that still practises the art of jacquard weaving. Sturdy as well as smart. £2,670; The Paris-based maker Serica has become synonymous with robust timepieces that also cut a dash sartorially. The Field Chronometer has all the details associated with field watches — luminescent hands and hour and minute markers, legibility, white indices — but adds panache by opting for California numbering (half Roman, half Arabic) in a case that will slip under a cuff. £848; Vertex was the only British brand among the 'Dirty Dozen' — the 12 companies tasked in 1943 to make watches for military use according to defence ministry specifications. It is from those details, including a black dial, white Arabic lume-filled numerals and luminescent hour and minute markers, railroad-style minutes and a small seconds, that our idea of how a field watch should look was formed. This model is a worthy successor. £2,500; Purists might question the inclusion of this watch but let's think of it as 'fashion field'. It still has easy-to-read luminescent numerals, a railtrack minute indication and there's the addition of a GMT function. It's named after the 19th-century British explorer Richard Lander and the Nigerian city he visited — although it's debatable whether he would have considered wearing this pink dial in the field. £1,265; This watch is named after the driest non-polar desert in the world, which is a stand-in for Mars in expedition simulations, and has been designed to withstand its conditions. It has an illumination system that guarantees 24/7 readability for up to 25 years, a stainless-steel case and water resistance to 200m. Though why you'd need that last attribute in the desert is anyone's guess. £1,339; The Seiko 5 line, launched in 1963, has become a byword for reliable automatics at affordable prices. It's not all function, however: this trench watch-inspired timepiece does have some flair. The contrast of the blue dial with the golden numerals makes a change from monochrome and the texture on the calfskin strap adds a little luxury, while the cursive on 'Automatic' contributes to the vintage vibe. £280; Hamilton gets extra kudos for having been worn by the US military after it supplied railroad watches to soldiers during the First World War. This latest update to its well-loved Khaki Field Auto features contrast dial finishing, a 24-hour track and anti-reflective coating on the sapphire crystal. It does come with a bracelet, but this luscious brown leather strap feels more on theme. £640;
Times
26 minutes ago
- Times
Time for change: watches that are worn anywhere but the wrist
While most watches today are worn on the wrist, originally they came in the shape of fobs — attached to a waistcoat or uniform by a chain or ribbon — or were hung on pins. Later they were put on wrist straps for convenience, a style that was common after the First World War. Now makers are relegating the telling of time to a secondary function. 'We're seeing watches evolve into expressions of personal style as consumers seek more distinctive accessories,' explains Ben Staniforth, of the pre-owned luxury timepiece retailer Watchfinder & Co. 'Worn on lapels as pendants or integrated into couture, they reflect a trend where fashion meets functionality.' This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Arsham Droplet watch, £76,000, If evidence is needed that this is entering mainstream culture, the actress Jenna Ortega rocking up at A$AP Rocky's Met Gala afterparty last month with an antique men's pocket watch by Heuer (known today as Tag Heuer) from c 1914 dangling from her tuxedo bodysuit should be proof enough. And the high echelons of watchmaking have cottoned on to this trend for self-expression too. Hermès debuted its Maillon Libre brooch watch in April. This gem of a timepiece can be pinned to a lapel or sleeve, or worn around the neck with a leather cord — and is a frontrunner for design ingenuity. Despite its established place in the serious fashion sphere, Chanel also knows how to have fun with its designs. The new Kiss Me necklace appropriately takes the form of the brand's cult lipstick. If that wasn't charmant enough, it slides open to reveal a hidden watch dial. Kiss Me necklace in yellow gold, golden beryls, rhodolites, onyx and diamonds, POA, Sixtie sautoir watch in rose gold, white opals and diamonds, POA, Also restringing its pearls is Piaget, which has taken inspiration from its archival necklace watches from the Sixties: the Sixtie sautoir has a lozenge watch dial as its focal point in a masterful melding of high jewellery and horology. And Hublot's long-standing collaboration with leading artists resulted in the release of a timepiece that sent ripples through the watch world last year. Designed by the visual artist Daniel Arsham, the Droplet is tethered to a chain and cased in sapphire glass, offering a clear view of the moving mechanical parts within. This cute kidney bean of a timepiece is as far removed from your grandad's gold pocket watch as you can get. Van Cleef & Arpels is a dab hand with watches that combine complex engineering with stellar gem setting. At first glance, its padlock-shaped Cadenas might look like a heavy-duty bracelet, but take a closer look and you'll find an angled watch dial set among a dazzling mix of gold, diamonds and sapphires. Panthère hinged bangle watch in yellow gold, lacquer, onyx and diamonds, POA, Sundial watch in steel, £128, Cartier is another high jeweller and watchmaker that excels at combining precious materials with covert details. Its new Panthère has Duchess of Windsor glamour in spades with its big-cat hinged bangle: cast in solid gold and set with precious stones, it also fits in a watch dial, revealed by turning your wrist a few degrees. But the most novel creation is by the young, dynamic German brand Nomos Glashütte. Its sundial watch, which can be worn as a ring or around your neck, has a machined hole that lets a beam of sunlight fall on the engraved numbers to tell the hours. It's useless at night, but it will certainly be a talking point during working hours.
