Latest news with #StevenWilliams
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- General
- Daily Record
Scots soldier who lost eye during training opens up on 'daunting' experience
Steven Williams, 42, from Edinburgh, was forced to leave the Army in 2011 after a sharp tree branch snapped back into his face during field training in Nairobi. A Scots soldier who lost an eye during a patrol in Kenya is hoping to inspire others by taking on a gruelling series of Kiltwalks. Steven Williams is raising awareness for veterans with sight loss after he was discharged from the army in 2011 after a branch snapped back in his face in Nairobi. At first, he shrugged it off as there was 'blood". However, by the morning, he was blind in one eye. After flying home to Edinburgh, he underwent 12 operations before doctors gave him the heartbreaking choice - undergo further treatment or remove his eye. He made the difficult decision to have the operation in May of 2011 and was soon informed he was 'no longer fit to serve', reports Edinburgh Live. Steven admits he soon felt he had lost 'his job and purpose, and felt completely lost.' He sought help from Sight Scotland Veterans, which he hailed as 'invaluable'. Now, he's taking part in four Kilt Walks this year in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee alongside his partner. They're looking to highlight the work of Sight Scotland Veterans. Recalling his time in the army, Steven said: 'I served ten years in the Army, starting with the Royal Scots. I did a couple of tours in Iraq and each one was completely different. "The first was intense combat, modern day warfare. The second was more about training the Iraqi Army to be self-sufficient and allow the British Armed Forces to leave. There were some hairy moments along the way, we got blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the back of a FV510 Warrior, an armoured vehicle, during one patrol down 'Route Irish' which is a 7.5mile stretch from the Green Zone to Baghdad's International Airport. "The FV510 Warrior was immobilised when an IED detonated at the front, striking the engine, if it hadn't, I wouldn't be here to tell the story. Our training automatically kicked in and we secured the site but thankfully there was no secondary fire." Steven heard that The Black Watch were seeking a 30-man platoon from Scottish regiments for an upcoming deployment in Afghanistan. Admitting that he was 'naively feeling invincible', he volunteered. Part of the training was in Kenya. He recalled: "After four weeks in the field near Nairobi, a branch snapped back during a patrol and struck me in the eye. There was no blood, and you couldn't really stop, so I kept going, but by morning I couldn't see. "I was CASEVAC (casualty evacuated) from the field and taken to hospital in Nairobi where they removed part of the thorn. I flew back with a field doctor having drops put in my eye every fifteen minutes during a ten-hour flight. 'Back in the UK, and I remember being in Heathrow and I was still wearing my dusty and dirty camouflage clothing, and the field doctor went into one of those fancy designer shops and bought some 'civvy' clothes. I went to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London to stabilise my eye and I was transferred to Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre for a week before returning to my unit in Edinburgh. I still had the eye, but I had no central vision." Doctors 'didn't know what to do' following dozens of treatments, and after two years of being unable to serve, Steven felt he was ready to leave the army. Although admits it was 'daunting'. He continued: "Things got extremely hard. I started to feel sorry for myself and I didn't know what to do. I essentially lost my eye, my job, my purpose, and I felt completely lost. "It was around this time I started to get help from Sight Scotland Veterans and my independent living worker in Midlothian was amazing. She supported not just me, but also my partner and our children. That meant the world, because when a veteran loses their sight, the whole family is affected. Until I had my eye removed, people didn't even understand that I was injured. It was invisible, and that made it even harder to deal with. "I was fitted with a prosthetic eye, but it was so uncomfortable, and I was told I would need yet another operation on my eye lids and I couldn't face it. So, I spoke with my family, and we all agreed that if I was OK with how I looked (without the prosthetic eye), I didn't need it." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Steven is not legally classified as sight-impaired, but says his sight loss affects him every day. He struggles walking downstairs, judging distances or noticing things from the side. He's also 'constantly worries' about bumping into things. Steven says he's spent ten years 'pretending he doesn't have sight loss'. He added: "Over time, I've tried to be a bit kinder to myself. The support I received from Sight Scotland Veterans was invaluable. "They encouraged me to get involved with the community again. I started by volunteering to coach my son's football team. That led me to the Lothian Veterans Centre where, after seven months of volunteering, I was offered a part-time job as an employability officer. "Eventually, I became the operations Manager for four years. It was a rewarding but demanding role, often supporting people in crisis such as facing job loss, homelessness, or struggling with their mental or physical health. "I was regularly contacted out of hours, even on Christmas Day, and often neglected my own wellbeing. All this time I wasn't dealing with my own sight loss, and my mental health began to suffer. Throughout this time Sight Scotland Veterans remained a constant support." Steven realised he 'needed a break', and began exploring mindfulness and yoga. He found a role with Sight Scotland Veterans, and began helping veterans rebuild their lives after the pandemic. Since then, he's started a new role as an independent living worker. He added: "I thoroughly enjoy helping veterans live as independently as possible and reconnect with their communities. "I know first-hand how vital this support is, especially for those experiencing sight loss for the first time or facing significant changes."
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Injured Edinburgh soldier on 'daunting' moment doctors 'didn't know what to do'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh soldier who lost his eye during a patrol in Kenya is determined to inspire others. Steven Williams, 42, was discharged from the army in 2011 after a branch snapped back in his face in Nairobi. He kept going as there was 'no blood', but couldn't see by morning. After returning to his unit in Edinburgh, he went through twelve operations - before doctors gave him the option of further treatments or removing his eye. He made the difficult decision to have the operation in May of 2011, and was told he was 'no longer fit to serve'. Steven admits feeling he had lost 'his job and purpose, and felt completely lost'. He started getting help from Sight Scotland Veterans, which he hailed as 'invaluable'. Now, he's taking on four Kilt Walks this year in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. Along with his partner, he's looking to highlight the work of Sight Scotland Veterans. Recalling his time in the army, Steven said: "'I served ten years in the Army, starting with the Royal Scots. I did a couple of tours in Iraq and each one was completely different. "The first was intense combat, modern day warfare. The second was more about training the Iraqi Army to be self-sufficient and allow the British Armed Forces to leave. There were some hairy moments along the way, we got blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the back of a FV510 Warrior, an armoured vehicle, during one patrol down 'Route Irish' which is a 7.5mile stretch from the Green Zone to Bagdad's Internation Airport. "The FV510 Warrior was immobilised when an IED detonated at the front, striking the engine, if it hadn't, I wouldn't be here to tell the story. Our training automatically kicked in and we secured the site but thankfully there was no secondary fire." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Steven heard that The Black Watch were seeking a 30-man platoon from Scottish regiments for an upcoming deployment in Afghanistan. Admitting that he was 'naively feeling invincible', he volunteered. Part of the training was in Kenya. He recalled: "After four weeks in the field near Nairobi, a branch snapped back during a patrol and struck me in the eye. There was no blood, and you couldn't really stop, so I kept going, but by morning I couldn't see. "I was CASEVAC (casualty evacuated) from the field and taken to hospital in Nairobi where they removed part of the thorn. I flew back with a field doctor having drops put in my eye every fifteen minutes during a ten-hour flight. 'Back in the UK, and I remember being in Heathrow and I was still wearing my dusty and dirty camouflage clothing, and the field doctor went into one of those fancy designer shops and bought some 'civvy' clothes. I went to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London to stabilise my eye and I was transferred to Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre for a week before returning to my unit in Edinburgh. I still had the eye, but I had no central vision." Doctors 'didn't know what to do' after a dozen treatments, and after two years of being unable to serve, Steven felt he was ready to leave the army. He admits it was 'daunting'. (Image: Sight Scotland Veterans) He continued: "Things got extremely hard. I started to feel sorry for myself and I didn't know what to do. I essentially lost my eye, my job, my purpose, and I felt completely lost. "It was around this time I started to get help from Sight Scotland Veterans and my independent living worker in Midlothian was amazing. She supported not just me, but also my partner and our children. That meant the world, because when a veteran loses their sight, the whole family is affected. Until I had my eye removed, people didn't even understand that I was injured. It was invisible, and that made it even harder to deal with. "I was fitted with a prosthetic eye, but it was so uncomfortable, and I was told I would need yet another operation on my eye lids and I couldn't face it. So, I spoke with my family, and we all agreed that if I was OK with how I looked (without the prosthetic eye), I didn't need it." While Steven isn't legally classified as sight-impaired, he says his sight loss affects him every single day. He finds it hard to walk downstairs, judge distances, or notice things from the side. He's also 'constantly worries' about bumping into things. Steven says he's spent ten years 'pretending he doesn't have sight loss'. He added: "Over time, I've tried to be a bit kinder to myself. The support I received from Sight Scotland Veterans was invaluable. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. "They encouraged me to get involved with the community again. I started by volunteering to coach my son's football team. That led me to the Lothian Veterans Centre where, after seven months of volunteering, I was offered a part-time job as an employability officer. "Eventually, I became the operations Manager for four years. It was a rewarding but demanding role, often supporting people in crisis such as facing job loss, homelessness, or struggling with their mental or physical health. "I was regularly contacted out of hours, even on Christmas Day, and often neglected my own wellbeing. All this time I wasn't dealing with my own sight loss, and my mental health began to suffer. Throughout this time Sight Scotland Veterans remained a constant support." Steven realised he 'needed a break', and began exploring mindfulness and yoga. He found a role with Sight Scotland Veterans, and began helping veterans rebuild their lives after the pandemic. Since then, he's started a new role as an independent living worker. He added: "I thoroughly enjoy helping veterans live as independently as possible and reconnect with their communities. "I know first-hand how vital this support is, especially for those experiencing sight loss for the first time or facing significant changes."
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Acworth police save life of man choking on water bottle cap using LifeVac device
A man having a medical emergency was saved by Acworth police using a LifeVac device on Tuesday morning. Police said it was the second time someone had been saved using the device, and it was even the same officer. According to the Acworth Police Department, officers were sent to New McEver Road where a man was choking on a water bottle cap. Police said the man, identified as Steven Williams, was driving when he started choking, but was able to pull over and call 911 for help. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Acworth Corporal Severtson was the first officer on the scene and 'recognizing the urgency of the situation, she quickly deployed her department issued LifeVac device." Using the LifeVac, she was able to get Williams' airway clear and he is expected to make a full recovery. TRENDING STORIES: College soccer player from Atlanta, son of former CFL star, found dead in his dorm room Man accused of depositing check meant for GA county commissioners into personal account Barrow County Schools superintendent condemns plan to cut funds for SRO program Channel 2 Action News previously reported when Severtson used her personal LifeVac while responding to a nursing home. The effective use of the device was what inspired Acworth police to equip all of their officers with one to be able to perform rescue suction in emergencies. Acworth police said this was the second successful use of the LifeVac device, which all officers were equipped with last year. Both rescues using the LifeVac were performed by Severtson, who saved an elderly patient's life in March 2024 using one. Police said 'the LifeVac Device is a portable airway clearance device designed to help remove an object when a person is choking,' using a one-way valve system to create suction and remove blockages. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alcoa Corporation Names Thomas J. Gorman as Board Chairman
PITTSBURGH, May 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA; ASX: AAI) (the "Company" or "Alcoa") announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has named Thomas J. Gorman as non-executive Chairman of the Board, effective today, May 8, 2025, immediately upon the conclusion of the Company's 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. Gorman has served as an independent director of the Board since May 2021, and succeeds Steven W. Williams in that position, who stepped down from the Board effective today after over eight years of service. Mr. Williams served as the Company's non-executive Chairman since January 2021 and as a director on the Board since Alcoa's launch as a public company in 2016. William (Bill) Oplinger, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and a director on the Board, thanked Mr. Williams, "On behalf of the Board, I sincerely thank Steve for his service and contributions to Alcoa as a director, and for his leadership as Chairman of the Board. Steve has provided significant guidance and insight during his tenure, and we look to build on this legacy in 2025 and beyond." Regarding Mr. Gorman's appointment, Bill Oplinger said, "Tom has brought over 35 years of global business knowledge to the Board, gained from his extensive experience with complex, international operations at industry-leading companies over the course of his career. The Company will continue to benefit from his leadership, operational, and strategic expertise and global perspective in his role as Chairman as we continue to pursue our strategic goals." Mr. Gorman most recently served as the Chair of the People and Compensation Committee as well as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board. He served as Chief Executive Officer, and held other executive roles, with Brambles Ltd., an Australian global supply chain logistics company, from 2008 until his retirement in 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Gorman held several senior executive positions over an extensive career at Ford Motor Company including as President of Ford Australia. Mr. Gorman said, "I am honored to be appointed as Chairman of the Alcoa Board. I look forward to continuing to work closely with my fellow directors, CEO Bill Oplinger, and the entire Alcoa leadership team to continue to advance the Company's position as the leading upstream aluminum company." About Alcoa Corporation Alcoa is a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina and aluminum products with a vision to reinvent the aluminum industry for a sustainable future. With a values-based approach that encompasses integrity, operating excellence, care for people and courageous leadership, our purpose is to Turn Raw Potential into Real Progress. Since developing the process that made aluminum an affordable and vital part of modern life, our talented Alcoans have developed breakthrough innovations and best practices that have led to greater efficiency, safety, sustainability and stronger communities wherever we operate. Dissemination of Company Information Alcoa intends to make future announcements regarding company developments and financial performance through its website, as well as through press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, conference calls, media broadcasts, and webcasts. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as "aim," "ambition," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "develop," "endeavors," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "goal," "intends," "may," "outlook," "plans," "potential," "projects," "reach," "seeks," "sees," "should," "targets," "will," "working," "would," or other words of similar meaning. All statements by Alcoa that reflect expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Although Alcoa believes that the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that these expectations will be attained, and it is possible that actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks and uncertainties. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements is contained in Alcoa's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Alcoa disclaims any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. View source version on Contacts Investor Contact:Yolande Media Contact:Courtney
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
POLICE NEWS: Two people injured in Sunday crash
GOSHEN — A crash on Sunday resulted in three people being hospitalized near Goshen. At 10:30 a.m., Gabrielle Scott, 18, of Elkhart, was traveling south on C.R. 21 and stopped at the intersection of C.R. 40 in a 2014 Buick Verano. Police say she continued south into the intersection into the path of a 2015 Mini Cooper Countryman driven by Steven Williams, 42, of Elkhart. Both vehicles left the roadway and came to rest in a field southeast of the intersection. A passenger in the Mini Cooper, Rachael Williams, 39, of Elkhart, complained of leg, back, and neck pain and a 13-year-old girl in the vehicle also complained of shoulder pain. The two were transported to Elkhart General Hospital for treatment. Scott was cited for failure to yield the right of way causing bodily injury. THEFT • A 23-year-old woman reported to Goshen police that between 7:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Friday that her license plate was stolen from the 100 block of Fifth Street. • A woman reported to Goshen police at 12:40 p.m. Friday that her wallet was stolen while at Walmart, 4024 Elkhart Road. ARRESTS • A 27-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 1:33 a.m. Saturday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with priors after a crash near West Pike Street and Indiana Avenue. • A 22-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 12:01 p.m. Saturday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after a crash near East Waverly Avenue and South Ninth Street. SEX CRIME Goshen police received a report at 1:37 p.m. Friday from the Department of Child Services of sexual misconduct with a minor. FRAUD An employee at 7-Eleven, 2220 Elkhart Rd., reported to Goshen police at 10:55 a.m. Friday finding a card skimmer on one of their devices.
