Gate expectations for stars of Countryfile
Presenters of the show at Blenheim Palace yesterday and star John Craven, inset, takes a selfie outside the Craven Arms A BRITISH tourist fought a desperate battle to try to stop Cambridge University student Alana Cutland throwing herself from a plane over Madagascar, police said yesterday.
Fellow passenger Ruth Johnson, 51, held on to Ms Cutland’s legs when she forced open the door.
Local police chief Sinola Nomenjahary said: “After 10 minutes of flight, Alana undid her seatbelt and unlocked the right door of the plane and tried to get out.
“Ms Johnson fought for five minutes trying to hold her but when she was exhausted and out of breath she let go. Alana then intentionally fell from an aircraft at 1,130 metres (3,700ft) above sea level.”
The pilot of the Cessna light aircraft also grabbed Alana’s leg and tried to manoeuvre the plane in a desperate bid to prevent her from hurling herself out.
Police photographs recreating Ms Cutland’s final moments on July 25 show the pilot and a passenger grasping hold of the victim’s leg. John Craven, Tom Heap, Joe Crowley, Charlotte Smith and Ellie Harrison were all on hand to meet fans at the event, designed to show the “best of British countryside”.
Long-serving presenter Craven appeared delighted as he posed for pictures in front of the pub named in his honour, the Craven Arms.
However, speaking before the event the grandfather-offive warned that the UK needs to take better care of its farmers and be more selfsufficient ahead of Brexit.
Craven, who recently celebrated 30 years as a presenter on the programme, insisted: “It’s vital we step up our level of self-sufficiency and improve our exports.
He added that currently just 60 per cent of the food on our tables comes from the UK.