Latest news with #bravery
Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Telegraph
‘Unfairly sacked' police officer to fight dismissal
A decorated police officer who was sacked after arresting a teenage knifeman has said he will appeal against the decision. Pc Lorne Castle, 46, was dismissed by Dorset Police last month for using a disproportionate amount of force during the arrest of a 15-year-old boy in in Bournemouth in January last year. After tackling the masked 15-year-old suspect to the ground, he held him down and told him to 'stop screaming like a b----'. Mr Castle, a father of three, has said he wants his 'name cleared' and feels he has been treated 'unfairly'. The officer won a national bravery award after he saved an elderly woman from the River Avon in 2023, going against police regulations that dictated he should not enter the water. Body camera footage of the arrest of the knifeman shows Mr Castle restraining the teenager. A double-edged, eight-inch knife was found in the teenager's possession, and can be seen falling out of his pocket. The suspect was not injured during the arrest and was later detained for assault, receiving an out-of-court disposal for possession of the weapon. The Dorset Police Federation has announced that Mr Castle will lodge a formal appeal, which could take over a year. It said in a statement: 'Lorne continues to be overwhelmed by the many messages of support he has received from all sections of the community as well as from former and serving colleagues. He and his family have been extremely touched, and are very grateful to all those who have assisted them through this difficult time.' A spokesman added that members were now questioning how much force they should use while making an arrest in light of Mr Castle's treatment. He said he no longer felt comfortable in Bournemouth, where he has lived with his family for the past two decades, as a result of the publicity his case has received. 'I was sacked, left with no job, a family to look after and no job prospects,' he said. 'I want my name cleared. I feel that I have been treated really unfairly. I have been an exemplary officer for over 10 years.'
The Herald
a day ago
- The Herald
Father of six behind bars for life after brutal rape spree in Cape Town
Six women have been commended for their bravery testifying against a serial rapist who subjected them to harrowing ordeals at gunpoint, sometimes in a cemetery, in Delft, Cape Town. Father of six Lungile Buhlungu, 40, was sentenced by the high court in Cape Town on Wednesday to six life terms on six counts of rape and 50 years' imprisonment for his reign of terror between 2014 and 2019. The court also ordered correctional services to send Buhlungu for psychological evaluation to determine if he would benefit from psychological intervention available to the department for his sexual behaviour, and if so, to implement it. The six rape victims testified during an emotional trial in camera to protect their identity and avoid secondary victimisation, said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila. 'The first three women were raped in Delft on the evening of July 11 2014 after the accused and his accomplice, who were both armed, confronted them. They forced them at gunpoint into the bushes and took turns raping them.' The victims were released in the early hours of the next day. 'The accused raped the fourth victim on the evening of October 5 2017. She was attacked while walking home and woke up in hospital with a wound on the right side of her head and her right eye was red. She was found by a motorist lying naked at the local graveyard. She knows the accused as they lived in the same informal settlement in Delft. She had to leave the province to escape the traumatic environment,' said Ntabazalila. 'The o ther two women were raped on the evening of May 12 2018 when they were taken by a vehicle to the Delft graveyard and raped at gunpoint. The incident hurt them as their relationships have not been the same after their ordeal.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Moment Co-op worker grabs fleeing shoplifter by the THROAT to stop him making off with arms full of stolen items
Owen Scott Ethan Singh Published: Invalid Date, SHOCKING footage shows the moment a shop worker tackled a fleeing crook by grabbing him by the throat. Video captured at the scene shows a man in a black jacket running from a Co-op store as another female member of staff tries and fails to trip him. 4 4 4 The video which resurfaced recently - after it was filmed last year- shows a pony-tailed woman confronting the burglar in a Co-op in Edgeley, Manchester. It has now gone viral again after recirculating on social media. The woman was seen taking hold of the cowering crook by his neck and pushes him back into the store in Stockport. Footage then shows her forcefully slamming him against a wall and ordering him to drop his haul. She could be heard shouting at the baseball-cap wearing man: "Do you want me again!? Do you want me again!", as she ordered him to put down the stolen items. Two other members of staff then arrive on the scene to try and diffuse the tense situation. The footage has been widely shared on social media, with one person saying: 'We need more people like this.' Another added: 'This is how to deal with thieving scum.' A third added: 'She will probably lose her job for her bravery.' At the time, police had recorded record shopping levels during the previous year - over 430,104 offences had been recorded. Greggs will raise prices next week in hikes branded a 'theft tax', as Sun reporters again witnessed brazen thefts across UK That record was shattered in 2024 when police recorded a staggering 516,971 incidents. Yet only a fifth resulted in a charge while more than half of investigations ended with no suspect identified. The figures from the Office for National Statistics came after a Sun investigation exposed the scale of shoplifting from Greggs. The bakery was hit particularly hard during the surge of shoplifting. Greggs was forced to move several of its sandwiches and drinks behind counters, as they faced a theft every 20 minutes. According to Tom Ironside, a member of the British Retail Consortium, shoplifting is costing businesses over £2billion. 'While the ONS statistics show shoplifting at record levels, the figures severely underestimate the problem. 'They are equivalent to less than two incidents per shop per year. Shopkeepers will tell you they're lucky if a day goes by without a shoplifting incident.' The Co-op has been contacted for comment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Nurse gets ready to draw blood—what this 5-year-old says through tears leaves viewers in awe
Reece is five years old. He sits on the hospital bed with tears clinging to his lashes, his small frame stiff with fear. A nurse gently prepares the materials for yet another blood draw—one of many he's endured over the course of his cancer treatment. And then, through shaky sobs, Reece begins to speak: 'You're okay. You're brave. You can do this.' The words come out haltingly at first, like he's reminding himself how to breathe. His voice trembles, but it doesn't break. With a determined little fist pump, he adds, 'Heck yeah! Just do it. Yeah boy! That's what I'm talkin' about.' It's a moment that has struck millions online. Captured in a now-viral TikTok posted by his mom, Morgan Handley, Reece's pep talk delivers a powerful emotional gut punch wrapped in internet sweetness. For any parent who has watched their child face something painful, it's deeply familiar. This is bravery in real time: scared, tearful, but moving forward anyway. Reece's courage shines brighter when you understand the journey behind it. At just three years old, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer. (According to the National Cancer Institute, it accounts for about 25% of all childhood cancers in the United States and occurs most often in children aged 1 to 4 years.) Since then, blood draws like this one have become a biweekly ritual—a necessary, but often painful, part of his treatment. Related: How to raise our sons with a full emotional life—from vulnerability to strength The road hasn't been easy. According to Upworthy, his family has navigated the ups and downs of immunotherapy and the side effects that come with it, from rashes to the challenges steroids can bring. Despite this, Reece's resilience remains unshaken. His treatment is expected to conclude in July 2025, when he will ring the bell, a cherished milestone signaling the end of his cancer journey. But while the 'ringing the bell' moment is often celebrated as a victory, the path there is paved with days like this one. Blood draws, needle pokes, and medical tests aren't rare interruptions; they're routine for Reece and many families facing childhood cancer. Related: This mama's honest post about childhood cancer is going viral and it's heartbreaking What makes Reece's pep talk so powerful is how deeply it reflects the emotional tools he's internalized over time. His mantra captures the delicate balance between fear and determination that so many kids experience in hard quiet self-coaching is no accident. Morgan Handley, Reece's mom, shared with Upworthy that their family has long practiced pep talks and emotional encouragement, turning those words into a kind of armor. Over time, Reece has absorbed these scripts and rituals, learning to face pain with resilience. Experts in child development note that young children often internalize the emotional tone set by their caregivers. When parents model calm encouragement and use consistent emotional scripts—especially during repeated stress—it can help children feel more secure and build resilience over time. Reece's courage is, in many ways, a reflection of the love and steady guidance that surrounds him. Related: How to teach kids about cancer—from a Certified Child Life Specialist Watching your child face pain and fear is one of the hardest things a parent can endure. There is often no way to take the discomfort away—only to sit beside it, soften the edges, and help your child walk through it. Behind moments like Reece's are countless hours of emotional scaffolding. Parents like Morgan Handley are managing medications and appointments—and also nurturing resilience, one bedtime pep talk, one calming breath, one whispered 'you can do this' at a time. Related: A letter to new cancer moms They build emotional toolkits: mantras that ground, breathing exercises that regulate, stories that reframe fear. They validate their child's pain while gently offering strategies to move through it., even when their own hearts are breaking. Reece's pep talk may sound simple, but it carries the weight of this emotional labor. It's the echo of every time he's been told he's strong, brave, and not like his grows through practice and love—not something we're simply born with. The outpouring of love and support for Reece has been overwhelming. Commenters from all walks of life are cheering him on: Luv2laugh: 'I didn't see cancer right away! My son had stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma and was in heart failure, he was 16 and had a 10% chance and he is a healthy 22 today!! This guy is gonna be great!! What a great attitude!! Sending love and prayers!!' Dia D: 'How can I love him so much and never met him? Token8885: 'Please tell him he is the most bravest lil guy ever!! ' Biochemgeeek: 'A positive attitude goes such a long way in cancer treatment! So proud of this little dude!!!' Dani: 'What a beautiful little boy! Wishing him lots of blessings and hoping everything turns out great. He's a fighter, he's going to grow up to be an amazing man. ' Related: 6 simple ways to teach kids emotional intelligence (that you're probably already doing) Reece's story shows us how resilience can be quietly built day by day, with love, encouragement, and emotional support. For parents navigating difficult medical journeys with their children, it's a reminder that the scripts we teach, the mantras we share, and the patience we offer all become tools kids carry with them. Related: 4 ways to support challenging behavior in kids, from a Speech Language Pathologist
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Firefighters awarded prestigious honour for life-saving efforts after silo collapse
A veteran firefighter who jumped into action to help save several people after a grain silo collapsed last year in Georgian Bluffs was recognized with a prestigious award. Jay Gow, a 28-year firefighter with the Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services, received the Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner's Citation for Lifesaving. Gow is credited with the 'courageous and unconventional rescue of three men' after the silo collapsed at a workplace. "This is an incredible honour, and we are extremely proud of firefighter Gow and our colleagues in Georgian Bluffs for their quick thinking, bravery, and teamwork in what was a highly dangerous and unpredictable situation. Their actions exemplify the best of our emergency services and the strength of regional cooperation,' stated Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy. Along with Gow, two members of the Inter-Township Fire Department, Deputy Chief Andy Redmond and Fire Chief Jeff Gautreau, were also awarded for their efforts that day. 'The courage shown by all of our firefighters that day is nothing short of extraordinary. Jeff and Andy have been pillars of the Inter-Township Fire Department, and their leadership has helped shape a team that is ready to respond when it matters most,' added Georgian Bluffs Mayor Sue Carelton. The OPP Commissioner's Citation for Lifesaving is awarded to individuals who demonstrate acts of bravery and compassion in life-threatening situations.
