This hilarious video shows a dog pestering a giant STATUE to throw its ball - after mistaking the artwork for its owner
Image by: Lorraine Courty
This hilarious video shows a dog pestering a giant STATUE to throw its ball - after mistaking the artwork for its owner.
The cute clip shows rescue dog Ozzy wagging its tail and jumping around in anticipation of 'Big Fella' joining in with his game.
The six-year-old spaniel repeatedly barks at the 12-foot installation expecting a throw - but ends up disappointed.
The artwork is located in Silloth, Cumbria and was erected as request of a dying businessman who loved the scenic spot.
Ironically, it also depicts a pet dog - and a ball.
Owner Lorraine Courty, 60, said: "Ozzy always does that with benches. My sister taught him to do it.
"But he had never done it with the massive bench next to Big Fella before, and he hasn't done it since.
"The statue is enormous in real life. We were there a week after and he didn't even look at it. It was just one of those things.
"But that day I eventually took the ball away and he just took it back!
"Everyone has been going crazy about [the video]. Even the sculptor has seen it - he think it's fantastic."
Image by: Newsquest News and Star
Image by: Newsquest News and Star
The work of art was commissioned by businessman Peter Richardson and arranged to be positioned overlooking the sea close to where he lived in the event of his death.
Mr Richardson, who died in 2017 at the age 72, bequeathed the sculpture in his will as a gift to his hometown and the area where he would walk his own beloved dog.
Steel artist Ray Lonsdale took four months to assemble the sculpture, which was then unveiled on August 1, 2019.
The video was shot on December 22, 2019.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Meet the world's best-travelled BABY - after his mum and dad split their parental leave and used it to travel the globe
Image by: Samantha Farr
Meet the world's best-travelled BABY - after his mum and dad split their parental leave and used it to travel the globe.
Samantha Farr, 31, and husband Jonathan, 37, decided they were going to embark on their adventure when pregnant with George, now one.
The teachers started planning just two weeks after he arrived in January 2019 and saved up, before splitting Samantha's maternity leave.
Alongside older kids Archie, seven, and Teddy, three, they embarked on a three-month backpacking trip across eight countries and through twelve cities.
They walked parts of the Great Wall of China and paddled over the Great Barrier Reef, surfed the Gold Coast and roamed the deserts of Dubai.
They abandoned hopes of any sort of newborn routine, dealing with the sleepless nights in 19 different places, from hotels and tents to camper vans and hotels, rather than their home in Louth, Lincolnshire.
Now back in the UK, the adventurous family are already missing the freedom and would urge others to follow in their footsteps next year.
Samantha said: "It was the most amazing experience and the kids absolutely loved it, I don't regret it for one minute and we're already talking about planning another adventure.
"Even though the kids are so small, they honestly threw themselves into every adventure and loved every minute.
"They were climbing mountains, riding elephants, running around local markets, racing in tuk tuks - it was amazing and just the most rewarding experience.
"Our eldest son Archie started filming bits from our trips - he said he now wants to be like David Attenborough when he grows up.
"We did a lot of backpacking and stayed in all different kinds of accommodation, from a hotel one day, to a camper van the next and then sleeping in tents as well.
"We wanted to tick off a few bucket list places in our travels too, so we visited the Great Wall of China and showed the kids the Great Barrier Reef which was incredible."
Teachers Samantha and Jonathan have shared their passion for travel over the years and enjoyed many holidays before having children to Mexico, France and Majorca.
They married in 2009 before welcoming son Archie in October 2012, son Teddy in June 2016 and son George in January 2019.
After saving up money together, they split Samantha's maternity leave between them and embark on a three month adventure travelling the world with their children.
Mum Samantha said: "We'd been talking about travelling as a family for ages, and using our maternity leave to do so seemed the most logical decision.
"We saved up money to go travelling and actually thought about doing it with our second child Teddy but he was quite poorly when he was born so we decided not to.
"When I fell pregnant with George, we discussed it again and thought if we don't do it now, then we'll never do it!
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Despite their youngest only being five and a half months old when they departed from Stansted Airport in July 2019, the parents weren't worried.
The young family started their travels in Sri Lanka, then went on to Beijing, Tokyo, Bali, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and ending their three month holiday in Dubai.
Over their three month journey, the family travelled across eight different countries and snapped photographs at every opportunity.
From surfing in Australia to roaming the deserts of Dubai, Samantha and Jonathan's children have certainly experienced more than the average British child.
Returning to the UK in October 2019 with treasured memories and photographs to look back on, the family are already missing the freedom and itching to go travelling again.
The trip has made the family realise they are more suited to this way of living than the traditional life.
They are looking into how to incorporate their love for travelling into their daily lives more, and have just sold their home and are planning their next trip.
Samantha said: "It has been weird being back, I think we all miss travelling and we are thinking about giving up suburbia for life on the road permanently.
"We did make the decision for Archie to miss the first term of the school year to go travelling, which is controversial as we are teachers ourselves, but we did educate him as we travelled.
"We're looking at doing it for longer next time, possibly travelling around North and South America.
"Our boys absolutely loved it and Archie especially is totally up for more.
"We just wanted to show the kids that you don't have to follow the social norm of growing up, getting a job, moving into a house, settling down - there's so much more to do and see than that.
"We wanted our children to see that life is for the living and you can venture out of your comfort zone, and I think we've definitely done that."
Samantha shares her family's adventures on their Instagram account @wildandthreekids
Rock fan dad given surprise performance after unborn baby makes heavy metal sign during a baby scan
Image by: Tom Dowie
A rock fan dad was given a surprise performance after his unborn baby was seen making a heavy metal sign in the womb during a baby scan.
Tom Dowie, 29, and fiancée Caitlin Welsh, 28 were at their 19 week scan last month when their unborn baby gave them the 'sign of the horns'.
The cheeky baby appeared to be holding up its index and little finger while holding its other fingers - looking exactly like the heavy metal rock sign.
The couple said the sonographer allowed the couple to take a picture as she had not seen anything like it during her 20-year career.
The surprised pair from Glasgow, Scotland, are leaving the sex of their baby a surprise until the due date in March.
Self-employed businessman Tom, said: "The sonographer said she had been doing it for almost 20 years and had never seen anything like this.
"I'm an old school heavy metal fan so this really is quite something.
"I listen to old school bands like Slayer, Megadeth and Sylosis and Panthers.
"So I'm pretty chuffed he or she will take after their dad.
"At the last scan the baby was just flipping about.
"He or she was seemed very keen to just get out.
"We looked over at the screen and saw the hand.
"We were just really quite shocked."
Image by: Tom Dowie
Image by: Tom Dowie
The couple - who run beard grooming company Bedfordshire Beard Co together, had brought daughter Freya, 2, along with them at the scan on 2 November at private clinic Baby Stepps.
Caitlyn said: "Obviously when Tom blares out his heavy metal when we're working the baby seems to be enjoying it.
"We've shown Freya and she knows she's getting a little brother or sister.
"She doesn't really have much to say on the hand gesture but she knows we find it all rather funny.
"We were just so shocked when we saw it.
"We just had to get a photo as a keepsake.
"We're very excited to meet him or her."
Man in inflatable Zorb ball struggles to get to his feet for ten minutes after knockdown
Image by: Video Contributor
This is the hilarious moment a man was knocked to the floor and left unable to get up after he got trapped inside his inflatable zorb.
Onlookers captured the moment the man - said to be in his 20s - got stuck inside the blow-up ball, with his arms squished above his head.
He was barged to the floor and left unable to get up after he struggled to get to his feet, at Heatherton World of Activities, Pembrokeshire, in Wales.
Later the man can be seen re-positioning his legs in a bid to hoist himself back up.
A member of staff attempts to help the man by pulling up the Zorbing ball - but again fails miserably.
Moments later a member of the public races in to help tug on the inflatable ball and help the man up.
But as soon as he is helped back on his feet by the two men, he is barged into again and finds himself back on the floor.
An eyewitness said: "We were just in the queue and saw this guy who kept falling over.
"Because of his size he was unable to get his leg in the position to get himself back up.
"This happened for a good ten minutes.
"When he has his arms in the air he looked like a giraffe.
"It was just really funny."
Video by: Video Contributor 3982
Shocking pictures show 150-year-old church tower collapsed shortly before Sunday service
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Shocking pictures show the scale of devastation after a 150-year-old church was reduced to rubble when it suddenly collapsed on Sunday morning (19/1).
Emergency services were called to St John the Baptist Church in High Toynton, Lincs.,
after a historic tower, built in 1872, came down without warning.
Sniffer dogs were brought in by the fire service to search the rubble for bodies - but fortunately nobody was reported injured.
The Grade II-listed church would usually have been packed with parishioners but there was not a service on Sunday.
The remains of the church have been cordoned off by police while an online fundraiser has been set up to help raise £100,000 towards the cost of the repairs.
A structural engineer was inspecting the site this morning (Mon) with the Reverend Charles Patrick.
He said: "It’s obviously a great shock to see the devastation and a great gaping hole.
"The fire service did a thorough job and brought in dogs just to ensure nobody was found."
Horncastle Police tweeted: “We have been supporting the community of High Toynton with Horncastle firefighters after the collapse of the church tower.
“No injuries to report thankfully and we will be supporting the community with regular 24 hours checks of the site.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, Marc Jones, also tweeted: “What a terrible shock for the whole community.
“Glad that everyone is safe but what a sad sight to see.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
There has been a parish church at the site since the 13th century and the current building was constructed using mainly greenstone in 1872 by Ewan Christian.
The architect, who also restored Southwell Minster and Carlisle Cathedral, reused 12th-century fragments and Norman stone from the previous church erected in 1779.
High Toynton is known as a "doubly thankful" village - it is one of only 14 in the UK where all the men came back from both World Wars.
Included in the church is a bank of Living Memories, which includes a resident’s diary of 1939 to 1941.
Group administrator of Horncastle churches Debbie Knight said: “The Reverend is there this morning with the structural engineer.
“There was not a service yesterday and we believe the collapse happened in the morning.”
A JustGiving page has been set up by Robert Tomkinson, a villager who got married in the church, to raise money to rebuild the church tower.
Robert said: “On Sunday, January 19, the tower of St John the Baptist church in High Toynton collapsed, taking down almost 150 years of history.
"Thankfully no one was hurt.
“The rest of the building is still standing - but the challenge of rebuilding starts now and the village will need all the help it can get!
“We don’t know how much we will need at this stage but the final figure will no doubt be very high - all money raised here will go to the High Toynton Village Fund.
“The church is the heart of village life (and the only community building left after the bus stop!). It hosts church services and music nights throughout the year.
“If you have any connection to High Toynton - we need your help.
“There is so much history behind this wonderful building.
"There has been a church on this site since the 13th century and High Toynton is one of only 14 villages in the UK to be ‘doubly thankful’ - with everyone who fought in both World Wars returning home.
“This fundraising target will be updated once the full costs of rebuilding are known - but any money you can give will help.”
A Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Crews from Horncastle, Spilsby and Woodhall Spa went out to St John the Baptist's church following a call to Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue at 12.42pm.
"They used thermal imaging cameras to search for possible trapped people.
"Our Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and search dog from Sleaford then attended and carried out a full search, and no people were found. Crews left about 3.30pm."
Video by: Ashley Moran
Incredible video shows super rare volcanic lightning caused by the eruption of volcano in the Philippines
Image by: Karima Dhalani
This is the moment a killer volcano caused ultra rare volcanic lightning to fork across the sky in the Philippines.
More than 8,000 people were ordered to leave their homes last night (Sunday) after Taal volcano started to spew giant ash clouds, accompanied by rumbling and tremors.
The volcano has erupted more than 30 times over past 300 years, killing 6,000 people, and started become volatile again this weekend.
A 17-year-old local resident, whose family decided to stay in their home, shot this video from his balcony in Tagaytay city on Sunday.
It shows rare volcanic lightening - a long debated phenomenon which typically occurs at the start of an eruption.
Image by: Karima Dhalani
Image by: Karima Dhalani
He said: "It was around 6pm and me and my family just arrived home.
"We had a plan to leave but we decided to just return home.
"When we arrived I went to balcony to get a better view.
"I wanted to take a photo but instead took a video and that’s when the thunder struck."
The exact cause of volcanic lightning has been long has been debated.
Volcanic lightning is an electrical discharge caused by a volcanic eruption, rather than from an ordinary thunderstorm.
It is thought to be caused by colliding ash - and sometimes ice - which generating static energy in the volcanic plume, when the particles rub together.
Taal is the Philippines' second most active volcano and situated on an island in the middle of a lake.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A fitness fanatic who nearly died in a horror car crash has found love with the woman he was meant to go on a date with on the day he lost his limbs
Image by: Craig Towler
A fitness fanatic who nearly died in a horror car crash has found love with the woman he was meant to go on a date with - on the day he lost his limbs.
Craig Towler, 32, of Boulder, Colorado, was grabbing a cooler out of his trunk on the Fourth of July in 2016.
A car veered into a parked car, trapping him between the two vehicles and crushing both of his legs irreparably.
In the hospital, while doctors discussed his double amputations, Craig asked a friend to let his new love interest Amanda, 30, know that he wouldn’t be able to make the date they had planned for that evening.
The pair had only been seeing each other for three weeks, but Amanda rushed to Craig’s bedside and, three-and-a-half-years later they are still together.
He said: ''I looked down and I saw both my legs were disconnected,” he said. ''They were pretty much broken off with just skin holding the ligaments together.”
Craig, an events coordinator, added: “I honestly didn’t know what to expect but she was there immediately, no questions asked and I knew she would be the one for me.”
In the following months he endured nine surgeries and intensive physical therapy.
“Amanda was with me more days than not,” he said.
Eight months after his release from the hospital the couple moved in together.
Craig said: “Amanda was a big part of everything. We are extremely happy.”
As devastating as Craig’s incident was, he believes it brought him closer to Amanda.
He said: “It 100 percent helped to have a partner there in such a hard time…with so many emotions going on.
“It shows a lot about that person, to be so comforting for someone who is in that much distress.
“In that short period of time I quickly learned how selfless and kind she is, especially considering the shape I was in.”
Remembering the day of the accident is still traumatic for Craig.
He said: ”I was bleeding out so badly from the impact of the car bumper The impact was extremely concentrated on my legs.
"They were crushed and they were hanging there, but not fully gone.
"I didn't realize at the time what had happened, but I knew something had happened that was major.
"Some people came by and helped lay me flat on the ground."
Image by: Craig Towler
Image by: Craig Towler
Image by: Craig Towler
Image by: Craig Towler
Shockingly, Craig was still conscious and was able to speak.
"I instructed them how to tie tourniquets around my legs with belts or whatever they had to stop the bleeding,” he said.
Craig’s injuries were so severe that he had to be airlifted in a helicopter to the trauma center at Denver Health Medical Center.
"I was conscious the entire time and I remember everything until being sedated for the surgeries,” he said.
"I still have those memories and sometimes things trigger them.
Doctors told Craig that if they did not amputate his legs from the knee down, he would bleed to death.
“It was either life or limb,” Craig said.
“I was bleeding out so badly that I could have died.
"I remember telling the doctor: ‘You know what, just do what you have to do.’"
His right leg was amputated at the knee and his left leg was amputated below the knee.
But Craig was determined that he would not let the tragic accident dominate his life.
"When I was in ICU I made a very conscious decision,” he said.
"I was talking to my mom and I said I need to accept what had happened and that it was real.
“Only once I had that acceptance could I move forward.
"Though my path was a different one and a lot more challenging, I was still alive, and I decided to live."
Craig spent his 29th birthday, on July 20 2016, getting 87 staples removed from his legs.
In September 2016, just a little over a month after being released from the hospital, he went back to work.
Before he lost his legs, Craig was a sports enthusiast and regularly took part in 10k runs.
He and Amanda first met at their local gym, where she worked as a fitness trainer.
“It took a while for me to get the guts to talk to her. I actually would schedule my workouts around the time when she was working,” he admitted.
“I would say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ and finally I walked up to her. It was a slow process for me.
“I’m really happy that I finally did it.”
Before his horrific injuries Craig aimed to participate in BOLDERBoulder, a popular race that takes place every Memorial Day in Colorado.
Just ten months after his amputation, he completed the race in his wheelchair.
He has now participated in the race three times. He also kayaks, skis, hand-cycles and rope climbs, as well as working-out regularly in the gym.
He said: ”What has happened is now part of me, but I don't lose sight of what I was before and I've found a happy balance.”
Craig has since founded Amputee Concierge, a program offering people who have lost limbs advice, support and information on life as amputees. More information can be found at www.amputeeconcierge.org.
As for his relationship with Amanda, Craig said: “I definitely see a future. As with everything else, we take things day by day.”
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Lorry-mad four-year-old boy gets ultimate toy when his uncle builds huge remote controlled truck - he can actually ride in
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
A truck-mad four-year-old has been given the ultimate boys toy after his uncle built him a remote controlled LORRY he can ride around in.
Darren Buckler, 40, spent 12 hours over two days constructing the £600 replica of a Mercedes Actros HGV in his garage at home for nephew Hugene (corr).
The self-employed landscaper decided to build the vehicle as a Christmas present after Hugene spent five weeks in hospital with kidney disease in December.
The 24-volt battery-powered four-wheel drive lorry has a plank aluminium body and flashing safety lights and is big enough for a child to sit in and drive.
Darren says Hugene loves nothing more than travelling around his local park in the impressive toy, which has a top speed of 5mph and a battery life of over an hour.
He is now hoping to quit his job to make the models full-time after being inundated with orders when he posted a photo of the present on Facebook.
Former trucker Darren has so far made over £10,000 in less than a month selling ten lorries at £690 each and raffling five off at £15 a ticket.
The dad-of-three says there is currently a two-week waiting time on the trucks, which are 2ft wide, 4.5ft long and 4ft tall and are available in red, black, blue or white.
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Image by: Adam Hughes SWNS
Darren, who lives with partner Leanne Bradford, 37, in Walsall, West Mids., said: “Trucks have always been my hobby.
“I used to be a lorry driver. I have driven them for the last 20 years.
“I saw one of these toy lorries and thought ‘I could make a more realistic one of them' so I gave it a go for Hugene, who is my brother-in-laws son.
“It was to cheer him up really as he had just come out of Birmingham Children's Hospital with kidney disease, which is going to require further operations.
“We live in the same street and there’s a green area called the snicket where he can drive it. He absolutely loves it.
"I thought it would be a one-off but then I posted some photos of it on Facebook and I was inundated with requests for them. Its like the whole country wants one.
"I might pack my full time job in and try to set up myself as a business but at the moment I’m enjoying my hobby.
"I don't make much profit from them as they cost about £600 to build but I'm hoping to reduce the cost if I can buy the materials in bulk.
"I'm also going to raffle some off for charity as well, its not really about the money for me at the moment, I'm just enjoying making them for now.
“Everyone is interested in trucks round here so I've had a few orders locally as well as family and friends.
"But there are a lot of orders on Facebook. I can make them for kids to match their dad’s truck. I can’t build them quick enough at the moment."
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Ten-year-old boy dubbed 'human snake' because he suffers from rare skin condition - that causes him to SHED his skin every six weeks
Image by: Dinesh Dubey
These shocking photos show a ten-year-old boy who has been dubbed the 'human snake' - because a rare skin condition causes him to SHED his skin every month.
The youngster, known only as Jagannath, suffers from rare genetic skin condition lamellar ichthyosis, which causes the skin to grow too fast, dry out, and shed.
Jagannath's case is so severe that his skin sheds every four to six weeks.
He is forced to bathe every hour and smear himself with moisturiser every three hours to try to relieve the symptoms.
Shocking photos of the young boy, from the Ganjam district of eastern India, show his skin completely dried out and flaky, stretched over his body like scales.
His skin has become so tight that he is often left unable to walk properly, and needs a stick to help him stretch out his limbs.
Image by: Dinesh Dubey
Image by: Dinesh Dubey
Image by: Dinesh Dubey
Sadly, there is no cure for Jagannath's condition - and his father, Prabhakar Pradhan, who works as a labourer in a paddy field, can not afford the cost of his son's treatment.
He said: "My son has suffered this disease since childhood, and there is no cure for it.
"I do not have enough money to take him for a treatment and my heart breaks seeing him suffer with this cursed disease every day."
A dermatologist in the Indian district, who did not wish to be identified, said: "This disease is not treatable, although some doctors say there is a cure."
Dr Rakhesh, senior consultant dermatologist at Aster MIMS hospital in Kerala, India, said lamellar ichthyosis is one of the rarest congenital skin conditions.
There is currently no cure, but the condition can be treated with creams and some medications to prevent complications and improve quality of life.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Adorable five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy beamed from ear to ear after making her first independent journey to the car - thanks to her own little staircase
Image by: Leila Jackson
An adorable five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy beamed from ear to ear after she climbed into the car unaided for the first time - thanks to her own little set of steps.
Little Lilac Jackson has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy and used to rely on walking aids to move about and had to be carried into her car seat by her mum Leila.
But Lilac amazed her family and friends when she walked into class on her first day at primary school without any help following a major operation last year.
She has now mastered another 'first' when she hoisted herself into her car seat all by herself, after her mum bought her a tiny set of stairs.
Mum-of-three Leila, 37, was "heartbroken" when Lilac actually apologised when her mum hurt her back lifted her into the car seat during the school run last week.
But they were both all smiles as Lilac left the house in Cheltenham, Glos., walked down the pavement and clambered into the car.
Leila, who also has daughter Lulu, 13, and three-year-old Leo, said: "Last week my back decided it couldn’t take much more of the constant lifting Lilac in and out of the car.
"She is a tall five-year-old and getting heavier and heavier. She actually turned to me last week and said 'I'm sorry mummy' which just broke my heart.
"So for the sake of her dignity we had to come up with a solution. I asked other parents who have disabled children and they came up with ingenious ways to make life that little bit easier.
"That's where the idea of caravan steps came into play. Any parent of a special needs kid will agree when I say all the equipment cost the earth.
"So to have a little staircase which cost £19.99 has been an absolute game changer.
"When she sits down in her seat the smile on her face says it all. She's just absolutely delighted. She went into school and was telling the teacher and members of staff of her voyage.
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
"It gave her such a boost she even turned the classroom door handle by herself.
"I know it's something that anyone else wouldn't think twice about but to her it takes so much strength and it's such a mark of independence.
"It was just an absolute joy to see it happen."
The heartwarming video was shot on Monday (27).
Lilac was born in Princess Royal Hospital in Bromley, south east London, in October 2014.
Leila's waters had broken at 29 weeks, but it was not until the 34th week she was induced.
Within 24 hours of her birth, Lilac was blue-lighted across the city to King's College Hospital, where she was kept on life support for five days.
Her parents raised more than £100,000 to fund an operation to help her walk, and she was filmed last year walking into school unaided on her first day of reception in September.
Leila said: "I think the next goal will be for her to get up from the floor by herself. It takes a lot of strength for her to do that.
"If she keeps progressing in the way that she is, we're hoping that there'll be no need for sticks, and they can sit in the garage and gather dust."
Video by: Leila Jackson
