Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Deadliest border’ hero: Deaths can be stopped
Firefighter’s rallying cry for migrants
In 2016, we had rescue boats… in 2017, they took those boats away
A FIREFIGHTER who has helped save 8,000 migrants at sea has slammed the Government for creating the “world’s deadliest border”.
Brendan Woodhouse, 45, who volunteers onboard the Sea-watch3 in the Mediterranean, said he has seen hundreds die during his 10 missions.
In one rescue, the dad-of-two swam towards a baby floating face-down in the water and resuscitated her.
More recently, he rescued 38 people – including two pregnant women – who were seconds from death after their boat sank.
There had been 55 people onboard the boat when it set off from Libya. At least one man slipped under the water before rescuers could reach him, while others were screaming for help.
Brendan spoke out after receiving the Solidarity medal from the Fire Brigades Union. The volunteer, of Matlock, Derbys, said: “I’ve seen hundreds die. It’s been brutal.
“I attended a shipwreck a few weeks ago, and there was a boy called Samuel. He’s one of the ones who died. 24,000 people have died out there… but it’s not by accident, it’s orchestrated by governments, including this one. “When I first started doing this in 2016, we had rescue boats. In 2017 they changed the policy and took those boats away. Our border is the deadliest in the world and we’ve made it happen.” The army medical reservist added: “Nobody should have to risk their lives, in unseaworthy boats with no life jackets, for a journey that I can simply find a flight for online. “Our borders simply aren’t worth sacrificing our principles for. We would not allow this to happen if the people drowning were white.”
The FBU also gave a medal to former shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell.
Tam Mcfarlane, Fire Brigades Union national officer, said: “Solidarity is at the heart of our union. Brendan and John personify solidarity. They have worked tirelessly to help build a better world.”
Money, money, money Monday
Good news! I may not have won this week’s bumper Euromillions jackpot, but I have come up with a plan to earn a whopping £50million.
Yep, here goes. Please post, email, phone, tweet, Facebook or Instagram me your thoughts on what you’d like to see on the BBC to my contact details above.
I’ll make a graph or two and hey presto, I’ll be rich enough to hang out with Elon Musk.
Yep, the news that the BBC is spending a whopping £50million/the cost of half an Eastenders’ set/the equivalent of 50 years of Gary Lineker’s salary on a professional study to find out what people like to watch has been seen as a little galling by some – especially when, for three million or so, the answer will be the recently cancelled Holby City.
Quite why a survey costs so much is a bit of a headscratcher.
Yet, unfortunately, it’s not like the Beeb has any other possible way it could convey a message to millions of people, to every family across the land, just at the flick of a switch...
So, alas, it seems the world’s biggest broadcaster will just have to shell out the cash.
Tough watch Tuesday
Forget Everton v Liverpool – we’re finally getting to see the biggest rivalry in football thrash it out once and for all. Coleen Rooney v Rebekah Vardy. The pair’s eagerly awaited libel trial kicked off on Tuesday, with barristers on both sides putting in a strong performance, each scoring a series of early goals against the other.
(Wayne could do with such talent at Derby County).
But we’re only at half time in the two-week case, so it’s not yet clear which of the WAGS’ attack dogs will end up with their tail between their legs.
What we do know, however, is that there’s already one giant loser in this sad scenario. It’s... Rebekah Vardy’s account! No, sorry, wrong dramatic reveal. ( That’s from Coleen’s orignal post.) It’s... us. As unlike the ongoing Johnny Depp and Amber
Heard trial that’s on TV in all its ugly glory, the only way to watch the Wagatha Christie Chronicles is from the public gallery. And that’s just not the same.
For Lady Justice may be legally blind, but if you turned up to the gallery in PJS with beers and a bucket of popcorn? Well, then, even she would raise an eyebrow.
Who-ray for Docs Wednesday
Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa was so nervous about his new job, he spoke to the doctor – and got a second opinion from another.
But don’t worry, the Beeb’s new Time Lord isn’t suffering any medical hiccups.
Ncuti had actually just had a “priceless” consultation with departing Doctor Jodie Whittaker and fan fave David Tennant, as he’d been “cacking himself” since landing the part.
Being such a big show, it’s no surprise those involved feel like they have the weight of the world – or universe – on their shoulders. And while it’s
They’ve spent 12 gruelling weeks trying to reach the peak of Olympic fitness.
Most went teetotal, all trained six hours a day, and many battled painful injuries.
But when it all came down to the five live episodes of ITV’S The Games this week, which celeb and what extraordinary sporting feat do you think made the biggest splash with fans? Yep, Ryan Thomas’ unfortunate – and cheeky - wardrobe malfunctions.
First the Corrie star’s trunks failed to withstand the water pressure in the synchronised diving round – and while it was indeed evening, it was no normal moon that got caught on camera.
That was followed by another half moon on Thursday – when he got a cheeky tear in his Lycra shorts during a cycling race.
But after spending months getting in shape, the sartorial slip-ups (or in the first case, slip down) didn’t seem to strike too much of a bum note with dad-of-two (and one on the way) Ryan.
Just last year the 37-year-old admitted he was “finding any excuse to have a drink”. So it’s inspiring to see he’s now focusing on a different type of six-pack.
heartwarming to hear they have a doctor-led support network, it also got me thinking. Imagine if there was a real support group – a Time Lords (Not-so) Anonymous – but in the actual Whoverse?
You can just picture those in the “share circle” now: a washed-up Cyberman on eight cans of WD40 a day, an American dalek having to choose between an unwanted pregnancy and a backstreet extermination, a Weeping Angel hooked on anti-depressants, and poor K9, now a stray on the streets, performing tricks for cash.
The Masked Singer Thursday
It’s the big Eurovision final in Turin this weekend, with Ukraine odds-on favourite and UK’S Sam Ryder third behind hosts Italy, at the time of going to press.
Yet the big mystery fans are really getting their teeth stuck into is whether or not there’s a secret second Brit in the competition – in the shape of early Noughties’ boy-bander Ben Adams. There’s been a fur (ahem) amount of speculation the A1 star and
new dad, who now lives in Oslo, is one half of Norway’s Subwoolfer, the wacky duo in yellow wolf masks, behind novelty banger Give That Wolf A Banana. (Fun fact: according to Google, wolves do actually like fruit.)
The tasteful lyrics include: “Before that wolf eats my grandma, give that wolf a banana,” and “Did I ever tell you that I really like your teeth?”
Bizarrely, in A1’s heyday, it was babyfaced Ben’s cheeky chappy smile that actually made him the favourite of both teens and grannies.
But if he is the man behind the wolf, the latter certainly won’t be wanting to see those pearly whites again.
Final thought Friday
Friday was all about the final of ITV’S The Games. But there was also another shocker in showbiz land: Apparently Katie Price will not be asked to do the new I’m A Celeb All Stars, despite other legends being offered big bucks to go to South Africa.
I can’t possibly, even remotely begin to fathom why they’d ever think the recentlyconvicted Onlyfans model was problematic. But to be honest she’s possibly dodged a bullet. Gillian Mckeith did make the shortlist.