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Brit tourist, 42, ‘nearly burnt alive' in five-star Egypt resort after electric shock ran through his teeth fillings

Brit tourist, 42, ‘nearly burnt alive' in five-star Egypt resort after electric shock ran through his teeth fillings

The Sun05-05-2025
A BRIT holidaymaker was "nearly burnt alive" in his hotel room in Egypt when an electric shock zapped through his fillings.
Steve Ellis, 42, was on a ten night getaway at the Coral Sea Imperial Sensatori hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, when he was jolted so hard he flew out of bed, he said.
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The unsuspecting tourist put his hand on the bed-side light and was violently "thrown to the floor".
He says that he was electrocuted for for around 15 seconds, and has been told by doctors that he "nearly burnt alive".
The current apparently ran through his teeth fillings, leaving him with a ring-shaped burn.
Steve said: "I've got fillings in my mouth so the electric was going up there - it burnt my mouth.
"If I wasn't able to get myself off the lamp, then I would have burnt alive. I'm pretty lucky.
"A child could have touched the lamp and then they wouldn't have been so lucky."
Steve says that he was getting out bed when he touched the bedside light with his left hand, which delivered the shock.
His left hand got stuck to the light, so he tried to push it away with his right hand - but that got stuck as well.
Steve, a dad-of-one, was then flung onto the floor and forced to shout for help as he was alone in the room.
He was checked over by the hotel's doctor and visited the holiday rep, who he says "wasn't that bothered" by the incident.
Shocking moment Brit tourists in Thai 'Sin City' fight locals in road rage brawl
Steve, of Gloucester, said: "We said we wanted to make a report and he questioned it.
"He turned to my partner and wanted her to lie and say that she saw the incident, when she didn't.
"I turned to him and nearly walked out - they said it would look better for the paperwork if we lied.
"I wasn't going to lie on a document because that could come back to us."
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Steve says that he didn't use the lamp before the incident but later noticed that there were wires sticking out of it.
He said: "There were wires sticking out of the lamp.
"But you wouldn't have noticed it until it happened."
Straight after the incident, which happened in January this year, Steve was left with a ring-shaped burn around his mouth.
He also had blood tests and an electrocardiogram (ECG) scan to check the electrical activity of his heart.
Steve says that his hands "feel like they are burning and tingling" constantly, so he is struggling to work as a kitchen fitter.
He said: "My hands feel like they are burning and tingling every day.
"My shoulder is in agony hurts when I lift things as well.
"I get half-way through the day and I'm in so much pain.
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Desperate world of Vegas tunnels where 2,000 vagrants live in squats powered by car batteries & smoke ‘Black Death' drug
Desperate world of Vegas tunnels where 2,000 vagrants live in squats powered by car batteries & smoke ‘Black Death' drug

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Desperate world of Vegas tunnels where 2,000 vagrants live in squats powered by car batteries & smoke ‘Black Death' drug

Terrifying armed 'knuckleheads' roam around looking to steal while drug addicts are 'dropping like flies' after taking 'killer pills' DESPERATE SOULS Desperate world of Vegas tunnels where 2,000 vagrants live in squats powered by car batteries & smoke 'Black Death' drug Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BENEATH the glittering hotels and neon-lit casinos of Las Vegas, miles of pitch-black tunnels reeking of urine, excrement and chemicals hide America's dirty secret. On the surface, a city of capitalism, wealth and greed visited by thousands of Brit tourists every year, where affluent punters gamble away millions before tucking into gold-leaf coated steaks. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 22 A dark reality lies beneath the glamour of Las Vegas Credit: Getty 22 An entrance to the tunnels, seen below Caesar's Palace Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Makeshift homes have been fashioned from trash in the tunnels Credit: Michael Anthony 22 In the subterranean world that thousands call home, drug abuse is rife Credit: Michael Anthony But away from the slots, super cars and showbiz glamour lies a reality so much darker and more sinister than any visitor could imagine. Welcome to the infamous Vegas tunnels, a subterranean world that thousands call home, but where drug abuse and the threat of death rule supreme. In one of these storm drains, too dark even for a phone torch, lives ex-waitress Fortune, 48, in a tunnel only accessible via a four sq ft hole. Caesar's Palace may be just yards above, but luck is not on Fortune's side as she struggles to survive or even to just stay hydrated as summer temperatures soar above 40 degrees celsius. 'We are a dime a dozen down here,' she says. 'I am not trying to minimise my situation, but America doesn't want the world to see us.' A step towards the light reveals black lesions, scars and wounds that weep over her gaunt, pale face. Hip issues and unemployment led Fortune to become addicted to prescription pills, which then spiralled into homelessness. She tells how her two children, who she raised in the city, failed to rescue her from seven years on the streets. "They know how I live. They don't talk to me anymore.' she says. Horror moment gunman opens fire outside Bellagio Casino leaving two dead after 'argument on social media' 'I didn't raise them to be friends with a crazy woman who does drugs in the wash [the name for the tunnels]. 'I'm embarrassed to be here. It f***ing sucks. But I feel safer in these tunnels than anywhere else in this city." Maintaining her sense of humour, she adds: 'It could be worse, I could be insane by now - instead of only half insane.' Behind her a gruff male voice moans: 'Come back and do this s***.' The conversation ends and she heads into the darkness. 'I am a realist. My drugs are waiting,' she says. Subterranean city 22 Las Vegas tunnels where homeless people live Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Graffiti covers the walls while people's belongings are strewn across the tunnels Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Kyle, originally from California, has been homeless for three years Credit: Michael Anthony Fortune is just one of at least 2,000 people living in the 600 miles of tunnels, while about 8,000 people in total are homeless in the Sin City area. The city's homelessness crisis is already at a 13-year high and the latest census recorded a 20 per cent increase in just a year, with many predicting this will rise further as a result of a rise in the cost of living. Nevada also has the worst unemployment rate in the US - almost six per cent - and a shortage of low income housing, according to Jamie Sorenson, the director of Social Service for Clark County. Many beg on sidewalks, rummage through bins, steal from tourists or grab abandoned booze or food from Strip spots. Police and security often evict these 'desperate souls' within moments of spotting them at work, fearing it will blight tourists' enjoyment in the entertainment capital of the world. For the bathroom there is always a porta-potty on construction sites, gas stations, and local parks are open 24/7. You can pee outside, and go in a bag for anything else Kyle Dressed in clean clothes from a mission charity, Kyle still found living close to casinos to be useful. 'You don't have to go too far to find food, drink, steal, or panhandle near casinos - the shelters and charities hand out food and water," he says. Appliance repairman Kyle, 27, originally from Orange County, California, has been homeless for three years after splitting up with his fiancée. He says: 'For the bathroom there is always a porta-potty on construction sites, gas stations, and local parks are open 24/7. You can pee outside, and go in a bag for anything else.' Smiling, he adds: 'I have no faith in the government in doing anything. 'I prefer it out here because shelters have open sleeping bays which feel more sketchy, as so many of us were crammed together I didn't feel safe.' Makeshift homes 22 Abandoned bikes provide easy transport Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Brandon has lived on the streets since he was eight years old Credit: Michael Anthony Throughout the tunnels people collect abandoned furniture, appliances and trash to furnish their homes. Car batteries are wired up to air fryers for cooking, while buckets next to washing up liquid make for a laundry area. Discarded bikes, scooters, shopping carts and wheelchairs, meanwhile, offer transport options. Outside a tunnel near the Aria Casino, a disregarded solar panel connects to a makeshift apartment where it powers lights, a socket for phone charging and even a small electric skillet. Scruffy-haired and sunburned Brandon, 41, admits: 'I have pretty much accepted that I am always going to be on the streets, because I've lived like this since I was eight years old. I have pretty much accepted that I am always going to be on the streets, because I've lived like this since I was eight years old Brandon 'I was married for seven years, and she stayed with me in the tunnels, but we split. " Originally from Riverside, California, Brandon earns cash selling items on the Strip and by being a street entertainer. He even once found fame online for being 'the man who you could kick in the nuts for $20' - but police and casino security teams have now barred him from pavements and casinos. 'I was supporting my wife with that, but they didn't like the attention. We had a business license to do it, but then we lost it,' he adds. 'Now if I try to do that, they are on me quick and make me leave.' Silent suffering 22 TT and Knuckles have fashioned a makeshift living room Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Car batteries are wired up to appliances to provide lighting and power Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Some of the tunnels even have rudimentary cooking facilities Credit: Michael Anthony Inside, TT, 31, and friend Knuckles, 36, sit on chairs inside their 'living room'. An upset TT is back in the tunnel for a third time after recently being legally evicted from her apartment over 'some problems'. 'It feels like Hell,' she said, admitting that after spending her youth in foster care there were never any 'lessons how to navigate life'. But one tunnel couple, Crystal and Michael, boast of being 'settled and happy' after dragging all their possessions 75ft inside their tunnel. With a blue pipe by her side, 32-year-old Crystal from South Carolina proudly showed off her private chamber - a mattress dropped alongside piles of clothes, belongings and even a giant stuffed bunny. F*** the government. They don't want to do sh** for us Crystal Meanwhile ex-tourist attraction supervisor Michael, 46, who lost his house because of 'bad financial decisions', believes that 'people living like us don't want no bother'. But like others, he was sceptical of how the government could help. 'They want us off the streets, but don't want to help or pay anything to help us get in homes or get jobs,' he says. Crystal adds: 'F*** the government. They don't want to do s*** for us. If you don't got money they are not interested [sic].' Armed raiders 22 Crystal, 32, is originally from South Carolina Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Crystal lives in a private room consisting of a mattress and her belongings Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Michael was sceptical of how much the government could help Credit: Michael Anthony A few hundred metres away live former landscape gardeners Tim and Eva Marie, both 49. Living in a makeshift home constructed from tents and plywood, they paint a far darker picture. 'Safety is a big issue,' says Tim. 'Knuckleheads come through here all the time trying to steal stuff with weapons - batons, knives, guns. 'The police do not respond at all. Self-policing is what we have to do... My issue is the drug addicts hitting on my wife, because she is not as tough as she thinks.' Eva agrees, adding: 'It is not easy out here, but we have each other. The police do not respond at all. Self-policing is what we have to do... My issue is the drug addicts hitting on my wife, because she is not as tough as she thinks Tim 'We have some sense of community, but there are people who suffer from mental health issues and can be dangerous. 'We try to keep to ourselves, to stay away from the drama - the fentanyl users, we try to keep those people at arm's lengths.' The use of narcotics among those living underground is a major concern for law enforcement, and signs of drug abuse are rife. Blow torches for cooking crack, meth pipes, and bongs litter the floors, as do butane torches. Lidocaine and antiseptic burn spray canisters strewn showed clear signs of 'huffing" - a wide spread trend where users feel a muscle spasming high from inhaling ethyl chloride, which can be lethal. 22 Tim and Eva have built a house out of tents and plywood Credit: Michael Anthony 22 The couple have been forced to defend themselves against thieves Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Drug paraphernalia can be found littered throughout the tunnels Credit: Michael Anthony Fentanyl, which can cost as little as $5 (£3.70) a pill, has killed at least two dozen homeless in the last few weeks. Other street drugs like meth, heroin and crack cocaine are often laced with deadly synthetic opioids. Nearly 75,000 people in the US died of fentanyl overdoses in 2023 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but figures for mixed narcotic deaths are not recorded. According to a police officer we speak to, the dealers - known as 'D men' - offer low prices to encourage higher usage, addiction and "guaranteed repeat customers'. People are dropping like flies. Fentanyl is in everything now Donica Martinez Though the tunnels may seem a world away from the casinos up above, the tactics used are much the same. Cocaine prices start at a couple of dollars, while $10 (£7.50) lands an addict a tenth of a gram of black tar heroin - and stumping up for more can get you freebies. As many as 80 per cent of the homeless are estimated to have addiction issues. Drugs provide an escape for those living in the tunnels, who are often also battling traumas associated with things like domestic violence, prostitution, criminal records, family woes or financial issues. 'Not everybody in tunnels are there because they do drugs,' says Donica Martinez, a case worker for non-profit organisation Shine a Light, which helps people living there. 22 Donica Martinez used to live in the tunnels but now works for a charity Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Dealers offer low drug prices to get customers hooked Credit: Michael Anthony 22 Around 80 per cent of those living in the tunnels are addicted to drugs Credit: Michael Anthony 'It is the majority, but others are there because they got fired, divorced, lost their house, had financial issues or split with family. 'Something like that 80 per cent of Americans are one pay cheque, life disaster or major medical bill away from being homeless.' The 44-year-old is in a better place than others to understand the reality of tunnel life. Just three years ago Donica was addicted to heroin and living underground as a prostitute. You want to numb and get as high as possible to forget about the garbage you've been through Donica Martinez Her seven years of homelessness were spent running from her violent pimp and ex-boyfriend, and then ending up in jail without access to her two children. 'People are dropping like flies. Fentanyl is in everything now," she says. 'There was a batch of black tar heroin mixed in fentanyl, which we called 'Black Death' because of the amount of people overdosing. 'You want to numb and get as high as possible to forget about the garbage you've been through.' But the battle to help those in need has been made more difficult due to cuts imposed at state level and by President Trump. He recently signed an executive order to make it easier for cities to remove homeless people from the streets - part of an initiative to "end crime and disorder on America's streets". Charities warned of a bleak outlook, with many expecting their funding to be cut by as much as a third. "The people who have mental health disorders, the people who have substance use disorders, they shouldn't be on the streets, and we need to get them out,' says Dave Marlon of non-profit Vegas Stronger. "If you're, at the same time, cutting the coverage for this and saying, 'Everybody needs to get help,' something's got to give.'

Brave girl, 9, ‘tried to fight off Brit granddad, 62, as he attempted to drown her mum, 33, in pool in row over will'
Brave girl, 9, ‘tried to fight off Brit granddad, 62, as he attempted to drown her mum, 33, in pool in row over will'

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Brave girl, 9, ‘tried to fight off Brit granddad, 62, as he attempted to drown her mum, 33, in pool in row over will'

He allegedly only let his daughter-in-law go when neighbours called the cops POOL HORROR Brave girl, 9, 'tried to fight off Brit granddad, 62, as he attempted to drown her mum, 33, in pool in row over will' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NINE-year-old girl was allegedly forced to fight off her grandad to stop him drowning her mum in a pool on their American holiday. Mark Gibbon, 62, from Buckinghamshire, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly holding his daughter-in-law, Jasmine Wyld's, head under water during a row over his will. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Mark Gibbon, 62, has been charged with the attempted murder of his daughter-in-law 5 Jasmine Wyld, 33, a hairdresser, allegedly had to scream to neighbours to call 911 Credit: Facebook 5 Jasmine's nine-year-old daughter is said to have jumped into the pool to intervene Credit: Facebook The family was on holiday at the Solterra Resort in Devenport, near Disney World, Florida, when the feud broke out. Gibbon, from Beaconsfield, and Jasmine, a 33-year-old hairdresser, began arguing over the "stipulations of his will", according to US police. He pushed Jasmine's head "under the water and held her down multiple times", according to the arrest affidavit. She told cops that she "could not breathe and believed that she was going to drown," according to Polk's County Sheriff's Office. read more in world news MIRACLE FIND Journalist found alive but seriously injured after 5 DAYS 'lost in wilderness' According to deputies, Jasmine said she had to "fight Mark in order to get away from him and from under the water but he kept pushing her back under". It was then that her nine-year-old daughter saw what was going on and leapt into the water to her mother's defence She tried desperately to intervene, but Gibbon allegedly kept pushing her away. Gibbon faces one count of attempted murder and two counts of battery. In the midst of it, Jasmine spotted some neighbours, two sisters, and screamed at them to call 911. Gibbon is said to have stopped only when the sisters said they were calling the sheriff's office. Moment drunk Brit pensioner, 66, is left with broken arm after getting into fight with Thai bar girl & being thrown to ground Deputies arrived on scene and took Gibbon into custody. He allegedly admitted to pushing Jasmine underwater, but insisted he hadn't been trying to drown her. He claimed they had been drinking, began arguing and that she slapped him - which triggered the fight, reports Law & Crime. Jasmine reportedly suffered scratches from the clash. 5 The scrap is alleged to have happened in a pool at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, seen here 5 The family was staying near Disney World Florida Credit: Alamy Cops confirmed they responded to reports of a disturbance in a pool at around 5:20pm local time. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said: "It's great that Polk County draws visitors from all across the world, but we expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us, just as we expect our lifelong residents to do the same." "Because Mr Gibbon couldn't control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated." Gibbon was arrested and taken to Polk County Jail, where he was charged with attempted second-degree murder and battery. He is next due in court on September 9. Gibbon is a lighting technician, who runs his own firm called MRG Lighting. He has worked on music videos for Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Paloma Faith, according to his website, as well as on film and TV sets. He is also listed as the only director of Sage Hairdressing.

Brit shares worrying trend on Spanish island that all holidaymakers should be wary of
Brit shares worrying trend on Spanish island that all holidaymakers should be wary of

Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Brit shares worrying trend on Spanish island that all holidaymakers should be wary of

Alex McGugan, who moved from Britain to Ibiza 13 years ago, has highlighted the alarming increase in deaths amongst British tourists from balcony falls in 2025 A British man in Ibiza has highlighted a worrying trend on the Spanish island and issued advice to all those planning holidays in the region. Alex MacGugan took to TikTok to share a video in which he claimed the problem is occurring "every single year" and will "continue to happen" in the future. ‌ His alarming warning concerns balcony falls in the tourist hotspot. In a clip posted this week, he said: "There's been a lot of stuff in the news recently, especially at the big branded hotels about people who have tragically lost their life. That incident has happened again twice in the last three days but you won't have heard much about it as it wasn't at these hotels." ‌ Alex went on to urge others not to mess around by balconies - something he has always adhered to in his 13 years living on the island. ‌ "Stop climbing over teammates or birds' balconies just because you don't want to use the door," he advised. WARNING – explicit language in TikTok video below, viewer discretion advised ‌ Offering his thoughts on why Ibiza has seen such an increase in balcony falls, Alex theorised that the "only thing" he could put it down to is an apparent huge increase in sales of balloons and canisters. "They're a cancer to this island," he argued. "I know you want to have fun and I probably sound like a prude, but they are ruining this island. It's the only thing I can think of as to why people are passing out and falling off balconies." Alex closed with a message to potential visitors: "Please try and be a little bit more careful and safe. Your family and friends are going to miss you and it's a waste of life." ‌ Indeed, last month, two young men died after falling from the balcony at Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio. Scottish ice hockey player, Gary Kelly, 19, was visiting the island when he fell from the third floor on July 21. It followed the death of another Brit, Evan Thomson, who lost his life after falling from his sixth-floor balcony at the same hotel while celebrating his 26th birthday with friends two weeks prior. In April, meanwhile, a 33-year-old British woman died at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel, whilst a 19-year-old Italian tourist of Turkish origin plunged to her death from the fourth-floor at the same hotel in the same month. And last year it was reported by the Mirror that numerous 'balloon men' are giving clubbers a hits of nitrous oxide, known as 'nos' or 'laughing gas' for just €5 a go. Spain has banned the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational use, warning it can cause suffocation, hallucinations and even cardiac arrest. But San Antonio's streets are full of groups of drunk and high Britons openly taking it. A police officer told the Mirror at the time they are almost powerless to stop street dealing. "We arrest some people 20 times, but they go to court and then you see them in the same place again, doing the same thing," he said.

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