Runner collapses and dies after race in front of partner
A 35-year-old runner collapsed and died just moments after crossing the finish line of a five-mile race.
Mattia Sella was seen leaning against a barrier, seemingly to catch his breath, shortly after 9pm on Wednesday. Moments later, he fell unconscious.
Witnesses thought he had fainted from exhaustion or suffered a drop in blood sugar. But it quickly became clear the situation was far more serious. It comes after a man died after his wife ran him over in a car park in a 'tragic accident '.
Mattia was found unresponsive and not breathing by on-site medics and volunteers who rushed to his aid. They immediately began resuscitation attempts and were joined minutes later by paramedics from a nearby hospital.
Mum left 16 month old home alone to die when she went on holiday
Despite about 40 minutes of CPR, Mattia's heart never restarted. He is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest.
The tragedy occurred during the 11th edition of the CorrinConca annual fun run in Thiene, in Italy's Vicenza province.
It happened in front of numerous witnesses, including Mattia's partner, who was left in shock.
His mother and brother arrived shortly after receiving the devastating news.
Mattia did not appear to have any known health issues.
Thiene mayor Giampi Michelusi said: "I remember him as a good lad, polite and kind. It's truly a terrible tragedy."
It comes just months after a tragic turn of events unfolded at the Movistar Madrid Half Marathon, where a 35-year-old man died of cardiac arrest. Another young participant, aged 20, also suffered a cardiac arrest.
The older runner was reportedly just 500 metres from completing the half marathon on Paseo de Recoletos when he collapsed. Spanish media sources referred to information from Emergencies Madrid, which said the man was transferred to La Paz hospital "without a pulse."
At the scene, a Samur-Proteccioon Civil nurse at Cibeles tried in vain to resuscitate the man. The half marathon's organisers have extended their "deepest condolences" while refraining from releasing further information about the deceased.
It's understood he was later pronounced dead despite efforts to save him. The younger runner received immediate attention on Paseo de Recoletos from a doctor spectator and two security personnel. After successful resuscitation at the scene, he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Hospital Cliinico.
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Scottish Sun
10 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
The £5 street pills wreaking havoc in seaside town voted happiest place to live as pubs replaced by bedsits for addicts
One problem area has a crime rate that's three times the national average 'JEKYLL & HYDE' The £5 street pills wreaking havoc in seaside town voted happiest place to live as pubs replaced by bedsits for addicts Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITH its long sandy beach and iconic historic 'Spanish City' complex offering up first class dining and a champagne bar, it doesn't seem absurd that this north east town was dubbed one of the UK's happiest places to live. But baffled locals have branded the accolade "a load of rubbish", claiming the 'Jekyll and Hyde' seaside resort is overrun with drug addicts and alcoholics. 17 Residents have complained that the north east town is being engulfed by anti-social behaviour Credit: NNP 17 A man is seen clutching cans of lager in the morning on the streets of Whitley Bay, where locals say drunks are a problem Credit: NNP 17 Victoria says the town has a lot of potential if investment was spread more evenly across it Credit: NNP 17 Locals claim pregabalin is being used by addicts across the town, sold illegally for £5 a hit Credit: Alamy Whitley Bay, in North Tyneside, was ranked third out of 70 areas in 2024 in an online survey which cited its impressive coastline and independent shops and bars. But locals say there is a stark divide between its hipster high street lined with boutiques and fancy restaurants, and scruffy rundown terraces full of bedsits. Residents who live in the east of the town - also named best place to live in the North of England in 2023 by The Sunday Times - told The Sun they're sick of being woken up by drunks in the middle of the night. They also claim the streets have been flooded with pregabalin - a highly addictive prescription-only medication which can induce feelings of euphoria and relaxation, being flogged illegally for £5 a pill - earning the town the nickname 'Pregab City'. While the famous Spanish City Plaza complex, immortalised in the Dire Straits song Tunnel of Love, underwent an impressive renovation in 2018 and is now home to a fine dining restaurant and champagne bar, other areas of the town are struggling. Residents believe many are unable to afford the expensive offerings at the iconic domed building, which housed a down-to-earth funfair, amusement arcade and bingo hall up until the 2000s. Now a cod and chips at the venue will set you back £13.95. South Parade, which leads from the town down to the seafront, used to be lined with bars and nightclubs and was a hive of activity on bank holidays and weekends. But now the street is a shadow of its former self and has just one club - the rundown-looking Havana. Other nightlife hotspots have been replaced by halfway houses, bedsits and B&Bs, many of which are reportedly occupied by alcoholics and drug addicts. We live in UK's 'worst' seaside town – tourists say it's rundown and crime is a problem but here's why locals love it Meanwhile the crime rate in the immediate area is three times as high as the national average. Victoria Knibbs lives in a flat in the area with her boyfriend and dog Sunny. The 29-year-old team manager said: "Whitley Bay has the potential to be a lovely place. There are really nice cafes and bars on one side of the town, but it's still very run-down on the other. "We look out onto our street and there is always shouting. People shout up and down from the windows and there's a constant police presence at one of the B&Bs. We've been woken up at 4am with people shouting drunk in the street and on stuff Victoria Knibbs "Every weekend there are police or ambulances down there. Every day you'll have people on the street corners rolling around. "I was walking to the Metro station the other day and there was a guy trying to pick up his friend off the floor. "They had both fallen over and were moving at the slowest pace. It doesn't bother me, but you will see this as soon as you leave the house. "We've been woken up at 4am with people shouting drunk in the street and on stuff." 'Jekyll and Hyde' town 17 The Spanish City complex saw huge investment in 2018, including the addition of a fine dining restaurant and champagne bar Credit: NNP 17 Locals say some areas have seen limited investment compared to others Credit: NNP Just around the corner from Victoria, one couple are seen hurrying down a back alley, as the man downs a can of lager before 11am. The woman with him is still in her pyjamas as they wander out of sight. Victoria, who says the town is divided in two, added: "Whitley Bay was voted as this lovely place to live, but if people want to visit there's no good hotels to stay at. "There are nice spots, but that's the seafront, it isn't Whitley Bay itself. "I love my flat and the landlord is fine, but the pubs around here bring in a certain clientele. "The places in this town are either run-down and cheap, or they charge you £20 for a glass of water. It's split into two halves." They've spent millions on the sea front and the Spanish City but the investment should have been spread Anonymous resident Victoria claimed there is "no reason" for her to go to Spanish City as there's "nothing for families with kids and dogs". "It was built to make it look, how amazing is this place, but you go and there's not much there. In my whole life I've probably been inside three or four times," she said. "Since we've been living here there have been lots of places we wanted to try but they end up closing down. "I would love to shop independent and go local, but there's not the investment." High accolades 17 The Spanish City was immortalised in a Dire Straits song Credit: NNP 17 The town's seaside location was given as a reason for it being a great place to live Credit: NNP Army veteran Dave Kelly is originally from Northampton but has lived in Whitley Bay for over 20 years. The 52-year-old is fed up of what he sees on a daily basis, telling The Sun: "You see homeless people and alcoholics all of the time. "It's mainly young adults who are off their faces on Pregabalin. Whitley Bay is known to be 'Pregab City'. "The town looks great on paper, especially with all of the investment that got put into the seaside. "It sounds great when you talk about lovely beaches etc., but it's only that part. There is nothing spoken about regarding the town centre. You see homeless people and alcoholics all of the time. It's mainly young adults who are off their faces on Pregabalin. Whitley Bay is known to be 'Pregab City' Dave Kelly "I live opposite Spanish City and you get travellers coming down there. Just the other week the travellers cut the gates off a park but they just got moved on. "You get lots of p***heads in the centre, too. The other day we got a group who came along and took the leftover tobacco from ashtrays on the outside tables of pubs and were making roll-ups in front of everyone." In the 2024 survey from FurnitureBox of the happiest places to live in the UK, only Stratford-upon-Avon and Harrogate were ranked higher than Whitley Bay. The town was also named Best Place to Live in the North and Northeast in the 2023 Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. The paper described the town's high street, Park View, as "one of the best independent shopping streets in the country, with its artisan bakery, brunch spots and microbrewery, as well as more traditional outlets such as the shoe-repairer and the butcher." What is Pregabalin? Pregabalin is a prescription-only medicine which has flooded the black market, selling for up to £5 a pill. The white or orange tablets induce feelings of euphoria and relaxation, but can be highly addictive and even deadly when consumed alongside other drugs, such as opioids. Dan Brocksopp works as a young persons team leader at PROPS, a recovery service which aims to improve the lives of families affected by alcohol and drug use in Newcastle and North Tyneside. He said: "Substance misuse, alcohol and drugs, is becoming an ever- increasing problem. With pregabalin, people who are using it should only be getting it through their GP or hospitals. "It's finding its way into the wrong hands, and then it's getting distributed through the local communities. "Not a lot of people know the risks associated with pregabs as they've bought it off the street. When a drug is prescribed, the doctor takes into account the patient's age and size and tolerance. "That obviously doesn't happen when it's taken illegally. "We are concerned that pregabs are becoming an ever-growing issue alongside other drugs including alcohol. "Pregabs are being intercepted as they travel through hospitals and GP surgeries. People are getting them prescribed and then selling them on to make a little bit of money. "They are mainly used to treat epilepsy, anxiety and nerve pain. If someone is presenting themselves to a GP with those conditions, they can be prescribed them. "With any drug there is a street value. People can make money from them. With epilepsy you'd have to be diagnosed, there would have to be proof of that. "But high levels of anxiety are hard to prove, so people are presenting with these issues, and realising they can get pregabs. They then distribute them and sell them. "Like any drug it Pregabs can suppress thoughts and feelings and reduce anxiety. It can also suppress physical pain, and that's what it is prescribed for in terms of nerve damage." Dan added: "Mixed with other drugs, pregabs become highly dangerous. "In terms of anti-social behaviour, what we do find is that people tend to act erratically when they are taking illicit substances. "When the effects of the drug wear off, it can increase insomnia, pain and anxiety. You might be in discomfort which could cause you to make decisions you otherwise wouldn't when out in the community. "Because pregabs are prescription-only drugs you can sell them for up to £5 tablet, and a lot more inside prisons. "But also vulnerable people who are actually prescribed pregabs for a genuine medical problem are exploited and the drugs are taken from these people to sell." 'Misspent millions' 17 Residents feel that even things like the state of the roads is ignored Credit: NNP 17 Locals claim drugs and alcohol are causing havoc for the town Credit: NNP One man, who wanted to remain anonymous, added: "Being named as one of the best places to live is a load of rubbish. It's definitely going downhill. "This place is all second-hand shops and all of the banks are closing down. "You see loads of homeless people unfortunately. "Even little things like the roads. If you look at them you will see lots of potholes. Being named as one of the best places to live is a load of rubbish. It's definitely going downhill Anonymous resident "They've spent millions on the seafront and the Spanish City, but the investment should have been spread. "That investment hasn't exactly brought lots of jobs here, only for council workers and contractors from down south. "If you look at South Shields, you can cycle from there to Newcastle on the new cycle paths they put in. "But you couldn't do that on this side of the river, and we're closer to the city than South Shields." Rising crime rates 17 Whitley Bay's North Parade area battles high crime rates Credit: NNP 17 The high street is struggling with many shops and hotels closed and boarded up Credit: NNP According to Street Check data, the crime rate in and around North Parade is classed as high, with 288 reported crimes per 1,000 people. The national average is 88. In Whitley Bay as a whole the figure is much lower, at 89 crimes per 1,000 people. Leslie, 70, who didn't want to give her surname, said: "There are a lot of druggies in the guesthouses. "They have changed a lot of the accommodation to halfway houses where the people are coming off drugs or drink. "But they're not clean because I know people who live on them. There are a lot of druggies in the guesthouses. They have changed a lot of the accommodation to halfway houses where the people are coming off drugs or drink Leslie "There's no way of policing people using drugs, so it's an issue. Who looks after these people?" She added: "There are nice parts. Park View, the high street, is good, but there are parts that let the place down. "Even the pavements are bad. I saw an old lady fall over the other day because it's all uneven and she stumbled and fell. "There needs to be better investment for things like that." Around the corner three young men in tracksuits holding a crate of lager are seen hurrying across the street and into a flat, locking the door behind them. Hotel hell 17 Brian tuned to begging after his benefits were stopped Credit: NNP Brian Place found himself begging on the streets after his benefits were stopped. The 45-year-old, who lives in a nearby residential home, said: "It is a bit bad around here. The people who get put in the hotels cause trouble. "It was voted as the best place to live but those people haven't seen the streets or the shopping bits. "I do think it has started to clam down with the drunks, but it has been bad." One woman walking her dog through the town who didn't want to be named added: "The people in the hotels gather in clusters. It was voted as the best place to live but those people haven't seen the streets or the shopping bits Brian Place "You often see them outside Home Bargains with the police outside. "We used to have lots of pubs and clubs, but at least they were making money. "We have the Dome, which do good meals, but it's very expensive. "The stuff they have spent the money on doesn't appeal to everyone. "If you walk along the streets you can tell where the nice stuff is, for the people with money. "Then you come into the centre and it's Home Bargains and charity shops." Tackling anti-social behaviour 17 Local police say they take all the crimes seriously and will respond Credit: NNP Northumbria Police's Chief Inspector David Morrison, of North Tyneside Area Command, said: "We take every crime reported to us seriously and carry out a number of initiatives across the year to ensure Whitley Bay remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone. "During the summer months this includes Operation Coastwatch, which involves extra patrols, preventative work on the transport network to disrupt and stop any disorder before it reaches communities, and beach wardens to monitor coastal activity. "In the first six months of this year alone we saw a 19 per cent fall in the number of reported anti-social behaviour incidents in the town, compared with the same period in 2024. "We are not complacent, however, and are aiming to build on these excellent results. "Alongside our partner organisations, including North Tyneside Council, we carry out regular high-visibility patrols to identify any issues and act upon them. "We remain absolutely committed to tackling all forms of criminality in the community and anyone living in the area who has concerns should contact us so that we take the appropriate action. "Anyone found responsible for criminal behaviour will be dealt with to the full extent of the law." Rejuvenation hopes 17 The town used to be popular for people to spend a day or night out Credit: NNP 17 Parts of the town have seen huge investment but other areas have been left behind Credit: NNP Peter Mennell, Director of Housing at North Tyneside Council, said: "Whitley Bay has undergone a major transformation in recent years, with significant investment from the Council and private sector partners helping to breathe new life into the town. "The seafront has been revitalised, local businesses are thriving, and the town consistently ranks among the best places to shop — a real sign of the pride and happiness people feel here. "In the first six months of this year, reports of anti-social behaviour in Whitley Bay have fallen by 19 per cent, reflecting the positive impact of regular patrols and joint initiatives such as Operation Coastwatch. "Our work with Northumbria Police and partners ensures a strong, visible presence throughout the town, and we're committed to building on this success. "Our Community Protection Team and Northumbria Police work closely with residents and businesses to keep Whitley Bay safe and welcoming. "We encourage people to come and talk to us at community consultations and events — because working together is how we'll continue to tackle any issues and make the town an even better place to live, work and visit."
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Hols hotspot retreat busted for giving tourists Amazonian TOAD POISON for ‘mystical astral journeys' from at-home lab
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Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Dad died after eating half-cooked chicken during luxury Canary Island break
Dad died after eating half-cooked chicken during luxury Canary Island break Leslie Green was struck down with salmonella during the holiday to celebrate his 70th birthday, an inquest found Julie and Leslie both fell ill on the holiday (Image: Irwin Mitchell© SWNS) A dad who travelled to the Canary Islands to celebrate his 70th birthday died after eating half-cooked chicken. Leslie Green took ill with food poisoning while staying at a luxury 4-star resort. He developed salmonella while staying at the Occidental Jandia Playa resort in Fuerteventura where he had been enjoying a sunshine break with his family to mark the milestone birthday. But during the second week of the £2,300 holiday he took ill. He was admitted to a Spanish hospital where he developed complications, including sepsis and kidney failure. The grandad, of Little Lever, Bolton, Greater Manchester, died in hospital around four weeks later from multi-organ failure. An inquest has now found his death was as a result of food poisoning contracted as a result of eating the partially cooked chicken on holiday. Leslie Green on their holiday in the Canary Islands, before he fell ill (Image: Irwin Mitchell© SWNS) His wife, Julie, who he had been married to for 38 years, was also left seriously ill after she too got salmonella on the day of her 60th birthday and spent a week in hospital. She told how the two had only eaten from the buffet in the hotel during their holiday. An inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court concluded Leslie died of multi-organ failure as a result of sepsis, caused by salmonella. Speaking after the hearing, Julie said: 'It's almost impossible to find the words to describe the last few months and trying to come to terms with Leslie's death. 'Leslie was such a loving and caring husband and dad. He was my best friend and life without him will never be the same. I still struggle to comprehend how we went on holiday, but Leslie didn't come home. "Leslie was the head of our family and someone everyone looked to for help and guidance. There's now a gaping hole in our family that can never be filled. 'I'd do anything not to be in this position and for Leslie to be in our lives, but I know that's not possible. Listening to the evidence has been difficult but it was something I was determined to do to honour Leslie's memory. 'I just hope that by speaking out I can prevent anyone else suffering like Leslie did. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.' Julie and Leslie had gone to the Canary Islands for a luxury break (Image: Irwin Mitchell© SWNS) Leslie, a retired newspaper delivery driver for the Manchester Evening News, fell ill on October 9 last year. His symptoms included diarrhoea, which led to dehydration. Julie told how the two had been concerned about a carbonara sauce they ate one day which was was lukewarm. She said she found her chicken undercooked during another meal. She also claimed she didn't see any staff washing their hands and newly cooked food would be mixed with food that had been stood. Leslie was seen by the in-resort doctor on October 12 and taken by ambulance to the local clinic to be given fluids. His condition did not improve, and he was admitted to hospital the following day. He suffered complications including kidney failure, pneumonia and sepsis – which is where the body attacks itself in response to an infection. He was placed into an induced coma however he continued to deteriorate. Eventually doctors said they could do no more for him. Leslie, who was 70 in July 2024, died hours after his life-support machine was switched off on November 4. His body was repatriated a week later. Jennifer Hodgson, an international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Julie, said: 'Julie and the rest of her family remain devastated by Leslie's death and the circumstances surrounding it. Understandably they've had a number of concerns about how Leslie contracted his infection. "Sadly, the inquest has validated their concerns, hearing worrying evidence. What happened to Leslie vividly highlights the impact of salmonella and why it, and other gastric illnesses, should never be downplayed. 'While nothing can make up for the ordeal Julie and her family have been through, it's now vital that lessons are learned to improve hygiene for other holidaymakers in the future. We continue to support Julie at this distressing time.' Article continues below The Occidental Jandia Playa was approached for comment.
