Latest news with #CSIP
Sky News
04-08-2025
- Science
- Sky News
A real-world CSI for sea life: The lab investigating deaths we're all complicit in
It's like real-world CSI, but for sea life. Lying dead on a cold steel slab at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is a harbour porpoise, the UK's smallest - but arguably cutest - marine mammal. It's about to be dissected to establish how it died. If there are crimes investigated in this lab, they're the kind we're all complicit in. Dolphins drowned in fishermen's nets; whales deranged by military sonar and driven ashore; porpoises killed by the blunt-force trauma of a speedboat's prow; a few however die due to the most insidious and increasingly abundant scourge at sea: plastic. ZSL biologist Rob Deaville holds up a few metres of tangled rope and fishing line that he removed from the tail of a minke whale that washed up dead in East Yorkshire in 2020. The mess of nylon and polyester, encrusted in goose barnacles, had cut almost halfway through the whale's flukes (the lobes that form a tail), rendering them useless. Unable to dive and therefore feed, the whale starved. "A four-kilogram mass of rope effectively killed a 10-tonne whale," says Mr Deaville. "It's a really horrendous way for that animal to go." The Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), which Mr Deaville leads, has been running for 30 years. It has recorded more than 20,000 strandings of whales, dolphins, seals and sharks. The 4,500 necropsies they have performed give biologists a rare opportunity to learn more about these elusive animal's lives. Biologists can also learn more about the threats the animals face, whether it's shifting predators and prey linked to climate change, disease outbreaks, chemical pollution or plastics. Large entanglements like the one that killed the minke whale are pretty rare in UK waters, says Mr Deaville. But he worries that as plastic continues to be dumped in the ocean, it will end up more like the enclosed and litter-filled Mediterranean Sea where plastic-related deaths are common. "In a way, the Med is a warning sign," says Mr Deaville. The necropsy of the harbour porpoise is a hard watch. A sad end for this diminutive relative of the dolphin, so far from its natural element, being sliced apart in the name of science. But the gruesome - and smelly - work reveals crucial data and often a cause of death. Our poor harbour porpoise, it turns out, wasn't the victim of plastic pollution, but a violent assault. Examining its ribcage, Mr Deaville points out the split blubber and broken ribs characteristic of a fatal blow from the beak of a bottlenose dolphin. For reasons as-yet unknown to science, dolphins often attack and kill their smaller cousins. However, samples of tissues and stomach contents from this and thousands of other animals contain evidence of environmental contaminants, including microplastics, the most insidious form of plastic pollution. A recent study by ZSL and the University of Exeter on the stomach contents of whales and dolphins stranded on UK shores found microplastics in the stomachs of all of them. Other studies have found even smaller "nanoplastic" particles in nearly every tissue of sea mammals, from blubber to brain. There's no clear evidence of harm, but microplastics can release toxic chemical additives used in plastic manufacturing, and also act as surfaces on which bacterial "biofilms" grow with unknown affects. Professor Heather Koldewey, a marine biologist at ZSL, says: "We've got these little balls of toxicity that are now floating around the ocean, being ingested by a range of species from the bottom to the top of the food chain. "What we're really starting to unpick now, is what impact is that having." The hard and pretty gruesome work being done here has never been more crucial. Delegates are this week heading to the United Nations in Geneva to resume negotiations towards a Global Plastics Treaty. It's an attempt to try and reduce the unnecessary use of plastic, ensure more recycling and bring an end to the practice of using our seas as a dumping ground for plastic waste. "An ambitious treaty has to start at the production end of plastic," says Prof Koldewey. "When it gets in the ocean [it] is almost impossible to deal with. "If you're thinking about something like a microplastic or a nanoplastic, the same size or smaller than plankton, how can you possibly clean that up out of the ocean?" Scientists hardly need more evidence to prove plastic is a problem. But the work of CSIP and other researchers shows they're only beginning to understand the impact of the mess we've already made. And its one that may persist for centuries. That fact alone, should persuade the world to act faster.
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Tragedy at Parc: How prison failings led to the death of a 25-year-old inmate
'Alarming' drug access, breached protocols, and a system in crisis THE DEATH of a young prisoner at HMP Parc has laid bare a catalogue of failings inside Wales' largest private jail, with damning reports from the prisons watchdog and inspectors exposing shocking levels of drug availability, neglected mental health needs, and breached safety procedures. Lewis Rhys Thomas Petryszyn, 25, from Pontardawe, was found dead in his cell on the afternoon of April 15, 2022. His death, confirmed by a coroner last month to be the result of inhaling a 'bad batch' of the synthetic drug spice, followed what the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has called a series of missed opportunities and breaches of protocol by staff at the troubled Bridgend facility, which is operated by security giant G4S. An inquest at Pontypridd Coroner's Court concluded that Mr Petryszyn died from drug inhalation after ingesting spice, an illegal psychoactive substance known to cause hallucinations, erratic behaviour, and in some cases, death. A dangerous pattern Mr Petryszyn was jailed in 2021 for trafficking Class A drugs and intentionally wounding a man outside Swansea's Fiction nightclub. He was moved to HMP Parc shortly after sentencing. Inside the jail, staff soon suspected he was involved in distributing psychoactive substances (PS). In April 2022, officers found a 'debt list' in his cell and intelligence suggesting he was bullying and assaulting vulnerable prisoners over drug-related debts. However, despite this, prison staff failed to properly apply the Challenge Support Intervention Plan (CSIP) – a national protocol designed to manage violent or high-risk prisoners. On April 13, just two days before his death, Mr Petryszyn was moved to a different unit due to concerns he posed a threat to others, yet again, no formal CSIP plan was created. Breach of protocol – a lost chance to save him? At 1:40pm on April 15, a prison officer delivered disciplinary hearing paperwork to Mr Petryszyn's cell. Instead of following local policy and handing it to him in person, the officer simply slid the document under the door. He looked through the observation panel and assumed both Mr Petryszyn and his cellmate were asleep. Forty-five minutes later, a different officer arrived to deliver a prison shop order and found Mr Petryszyn slumped on the floor, unresponsive, while his cellmate sat on the bed 'staring into space'. A post-mortem later confirmed the presence of two psychoactive substances—ADB-BUTINACA and MDMB-4en-PINACA—as well as olanzapine, a powerful antipsychotic that he had not been prescribed, and mirtazapine, one of two antidepressants he had been given inappropriately. The ombudsman said the officer's failure to check on him directly may have robbed staff of a chance to save his life, writing: 'This meant that staff missed a possible opportunity to provide emergency medical care to Mr Petryszyn sooner.' Drug strategy outdated, inspections damning The report also found that Parc's drug strategy was out of date, despite widespread evidence that prisoners were able to easily obtain both illicit substances and diverted prescription medication. One day before his death, staff smelled spice coming from Mr Petryszyn's new cell—eight days after the last known batch was confiscated. This, the ombudsman said, was clear evidence that the flow of drugs in the prison was virtually unchecked. A separate unannounced inspection of HMP Parc earlier this year found drugs were discovered on over 900 occasions in 2024 alone, and revealed that cell windows could be opened from the inside, enabling prisoners to receive drugs via drones. Seventeen inmates died at HMP Parc in 2024. According to G4S, at least five deaths were drug-related. Inspectors warned of 'a spate of tragic deaths', linking the failures directly to G4S being awarded a fresh 10-year contract to run the prison, despite a significant decline in safety standards since 2022. Mental health failings Mr Petryszyn, who disclosed childhood trauma and PTSD symptoms to a prison GP in October 2021, was prescribed fluoxetine, later paired with mirtazapine. The ombudsman criticised this combination, noting that only a specialist doctor should have prescribed two antidepressants of that class concurrently. Worse still, when Mr Petryszyn was seen by mental health staff again in February 2022, they failed to consider the PTSD diagnosis noted earlier. This failure, alongside inappropriate prescribing by a non-clinical pharmacist, highlighted serious gaps in Parc's mental health provision. Official response In a formal action plan, HMP Parc has now accepted all recommendations made by the ombudsman. G4S claims it has updated its drug reduction strategy, issued new training for staff on medication supervision and CSIP procedures, and reinforced policies on in-person delivery of official documents. But critics say these reforms come too late. Twelve inmates died at Parc in the two years leading up to Mr Petryszyn's death—with further deaths since—and the pattern of staff misconduct, drug access, and medical negligence appears to continue. A system under pressure Acting Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Kimberley Bingham said: 'While we are satisfied that prison staff submitted intelligence reports and acted on them by conducting searches and drug tests, we remain seriously concerned about the availability of psychoactive substances at Parc.' She added that both prescribed and illicit drugs must be tackled, and that failure to deliver paperwork correctly may have cost Mr Petryszyn his life. With the coroner's conclusion now delivered and yet another critical inspection on the record, the question remains: how many more lives will be lost before systemic change is delivered at HMP Parc?
Rhyl Journal
22-04-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiastic for chirk Wrexham, and visit new quay cardigan bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at new quay cardigan bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. An image capturing the attack (Image: Skye Williams) "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of new quays favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another 4 dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this is a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about 5 mins, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately a dead infant common dolphin. (Image: Holly Williams) "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never seen witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime. "Whilst on realisation of what was happening, it can be deemed cruel, it was amazing to see such a rare spectacle, as I'm sure many sea life enthusiasts who have spent years watching these fantastic animals have never seen something like this."
North Wales Chronicle
22-04-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiastic for chirk Wrexham, and visit new quay cardigan bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at new quay cardigan bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. An image capturing the attack (Image: Skye Williams) "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of new quays favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another 4 dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this is a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about 5 mins, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately a dead infant common dolphin. (Image: Holly Williams) "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never seen witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime. "Whilst on realisation of what was happening, it can be deemed cruel, it was amazing to see such a rare spectacle, as I'm sure many sea life enthusiasts who have spent years watching these fantastic animals have never seen something like this."
Powys County Times
21-04-2025
- Powys County Times
Wrexham spotter witnesses bottlenose dolphin attack
A WITNESS of an 'extremely rare' bottlenose dolphin attack has spoken out about her rare experience at Ceredigion. Spotting enthusiast Holly Williams from Wrexham was one of 12 passengers who witnessed a common dolphin juvenile being killed by four bottlenose dolphins while out on an organised trip from New Quay. The incident which took place last week (April 17) left the group in shock, with experts describing it as a rare encounter. Matthew Westfield from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) explained that climate change encourages more of the species to be out, while a bottlenose may hunt them as a form of "play." Holly, 38, said: "I'm a huge dolphin spotting enthusiast from Chirk, Wrexham, and visit New Quay, Cardigan Bay with my partner Adam jones (36) and our children. "Between 6-7 times a year, we enjoy all the wildlife there, but particularly the bottlenose dolphins who are residents at New Quay, Cardigan Bay. We use the company Dolphin Spotting Boat trip, which we see as our extended family. "While this time taking my extended family on a private boat trip on what began as a normal boat trip along the coast, we spotted one of New Quay's favourite bottlenose dolphins "Ghost" she was traveling with another dolphin at a good speed and in the distance we could see another four dolphins which looked like they were playing breeching out of the water but on closer inspection we seen them fling something out of the water. "We first thought they had a salmon, then thought this was a porpoise (known as porcicide). The attack was all over in about five minutes, and the dolphins immediately just swam away. My son saw something in the water, unfortunately, a dead infant common dolphin. "This is extremely rare to witness, although we are aware this does happen, and porcicide has been witnessed before, but it's never been witnessed with a common dolphin. "Although this was upsetting to witness, there was nothing we or the crew on board could have done to save the calf. Nature can be so cruel sometimes, but as a family, we are aware that these beautiful animals aren't always as friendly as they seem. MOST READ "We had the most amazing crew on board who contacted their boss, the Seawatch Foundation, and the CSIP, where the decision was made to retrieve the body so it can be studied. "A huge credit must go to Sarah (wildlife guide) and the skipper on board who were both compassionate and respect to us as passengers and to the calf they recovered and nothing was done without our consent. "This will be something that will stay with me forever and something we will probably never witness again in our lifetime.
