Paras face battle with the Taliban
‘OUR BOY ATE ONLY BREAD FOR A DECADE’
A SCHOOLBOY who lived off bread and yoghurts for 10 years is finally beating his phobia – with hypnosis.
Ashton Fisher, 12, defied all attempts for a decade to make him eat other sorts of food.
In desperation mum Cara, 49, and dad James, 52, turned to psychologist Felix Economakis.
He used hypnotherapy to treat Ashton after diagnosing an Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. The football-mad schoolboy has since managed to try his first roast dinner, along with crisps and ham sarnies.
Civil servant Cara said: “It is still early days but things are looking good as Felix has given him the confidence to try new things. He gets through a loaf a day but he is now willing to have ham sandwiches after seeing Felix.
“He has also tried a roast dinner, Pringles and chicken nuggets. Ashton looked so proud of himself for trying something new.”
Cara believes her son’s phobia stems from when he had reflux as a baby. She added: “I don’t think he’d be here today if we didn’t have white bread and strawberry and banana yoghurts.”
The family, from Thetford, Norfolk, are sharing Ashton’s story to raise awareness of his disorder.
BRITISH troops rescuing UK nationals from Afghanistan could be drawn into battle with the Taliban.
It is feared insurgents could send in suicide bombers to disrupt the airlift operation, and missiles may be fired on the airport where vital aviation fuel is running low.
A senior UK intelligence source said: “There is a serious intelligence concern that the Taliban will use their artillery against the airfield which they captured from the Afghan National Army. The situation is very complex and is changing by the hour.
“We are not a huge force but the blokes are ready to fight if needed and that could be face-to-face in the streets, where the force will need to evacuate people.”
Yesterday, Taliban fighters were just seven miles from capital Kabul.
The first British troops arrived in the city yesterday morning along with a US Marine battalion. The main task force of paras were due to arrive in the early hours of today, to help set up a protection zone around the evacuation operation.
The source said: “We need to form a buffer zone away from the airfield where we can filter those entitled. “That could be a flashpoint for trouble. If we have disgruntled Afghans their anger could soon spread. I fear this is going to get ugly. “The logistics situation is a concern. Fuel is running out at the airport. That may force us to fly fuel in, adding a delay.” Troops were briefed at Merville Barracks in Colchester about risks including drone attacks. Commanders want to avoid fighting but paras are deploying with anti-tank weapons and grenade launchers. Former Army head Lord Dannatt said the refugee crisis was a “tragedy in the making”, adding: “It’s OK to extract our British citizens. What about mounting a humanitarian operation in Kabul to look after refugees?”