Latest news with #Colin
Metro
21 hours ago
- Metro
'I survived the Tunisia terror attack by swimming out to sea'
Colin Bidwell was never a religious man, but he prayed three times on June 26, 2015. It had taken him a few days to settle into his sunshine break in Sousse, Tunisia, with his wife Chris, but as he sprawled on a sun lounger in front of the ocean on his penultimate day, he finally felt thoroughly relaxed. Then, at around noon, terrorist Seifeddine Rezgui stormed the beach armed with an automatic rifle that he'd hidden in a beach umbrella and opened fire. 'I remember vividly an hour before it happened, I looked out directly at the ocean and thought to myself: 'This is the life. This is wonderful.' I'm a bit of a fidgety person; I'm not the best at lying down and relaxing, but I was trying hard that holiday to zone out,' the painter and decorator from Windlesham, Surrey, tells Metro. 'You'd never think it was going to happen.' At first, Colin thought the 'pops' he heard were fireworks, until he saw his terrified wife heading towards the hotel, urging him to run. He felt the bullets ricochet off the sand as he sprinted to hide behind an upturned boat. 'It was pure shock, right to the core. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. There was the gunfire going on, and I thought that was it. That he was coming down, finishing everybody off. I prayed for my life, and then I looked up and saw the sea in front of me. 'I thought: 'I could die here, or I could die running'. So I ran down the beach and swam out as far as I could,' Colin, 60, recalls. When he thought it was safe, he stopped and started to tread water. 'Then I got tired, and the panic set in. That's when I prayed again. I don't know how I did it, but I pointed my toe and found a rock sticking up. I managed to get my breath. And then luckily, [local man] Mohammed saw me and picked me up in the boat. He told me I'd been bitten by a fish.' The bleeding was in fact where Colin had been grazed twice by Rezgui's bullets, but the adrenaline had blanked out the pain. Mohammed dropped him off at a nearby hotel where he thought he'd be safe. 'I knew the area. So I thought I'd go from the hotel to a mobile police station at the end of the road. But I jumped over a wall and there he was.' Rezgui had left the beach and was inland, having entered the nearby five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel and shooting at anyone who crossed his path. Colin lowered himself behind the wall so he wouldn't be seen, and then he heard a commotion as another local came to his rescue. Moncef Mayel, who lived nearby, was watching everything from a nearby balcony and started throwing ceramic tiles down to distract Rezgui. Moments later, it would all be over. Police opened fire, and the 23-year-old attacker was shot dead. Rezgui had killed 38 tourists, 30 of them from the UK. It was the greatest British loss of life in a terror attack since the London bombings in 2005. ISIS later claimed responsibility. As soon as he could, Colin headed down to the beach to see if any of the bodies, now covered with beach towels, belonged to Chris – making his final prayer that he would find her alive. 'Then I saw her in the hotel, in her yellow bikini. We ran to each other and held each other. It was an amazing thing because we'd survived. 'I'm not a deeply religious guy, but I'm now a great believer in the power of prayer. I prayed that day three times, and I survived,' he explains. Colin doesn't like to talk about the attack, partly because it is traumatic but mainly because he is acutely aware that while the pair of them made it out alive, many others didn't. The couple returned to the UK, where they suffered from the aftereffects. Chris would repeatedly check that the doors were closed and locked. Sometimes she struggled to leave the house, panicking in the car, and to this day, she has to know where the exits are when they go to a restaurant. Meanwhile, Colin would unexpectedly taste salt in his mouth – perhaps as a result of the panic while treading water – and they were both jumpy around Fireworks Night. 'Your awareness is dialled up to 11. You think everybody around you could be a threat. You don't feel safe. You never think something like this is going to happen to you, and when it does, you can't help but think it's going to happen again,'he says. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video As the impact of the trauma started to subside, Colin was eager to make sense of what he'd been through, so he decided to go to the local mosque. 'I was a stereotypical guy who worked on construction sites. I was very ignorant when it came to other religions. When I went to the mosque, I was watching people with backpacks and thinking: 'Is he going in there with that?' I didn't cope well with it.' But after meeting the Imam and his wife, Colin learned that the attack wasn't religious, but political. 'I came to understand that you can take things literally in the Quran that can be completely misinterpreted. And I learned that understanding more about people's faiths might help to stop something like this happening again.' A year after the attack, Colin made the difficult decision to return to Sousse to thank Mohammed, Moncef and the hotel staff who had helped, and to find peace. 'Both my grandfathers, who were in World War II, played a huge part in my life. One was in Dunkirk, and the other was behind the lines in Burma. I remember both of them saying that they wished they had gone back sooner – that they could cope better afterwards. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but one of the best things I've ever done, because it was healing,' he explains. Following the attack, Colin found a deep appreciation of life and became more in touch with himself. He had what he described as a 'spiritual awakening' and decided that, as he had been spared, he wanted to be the best person he could be. When he was approached by the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, a think tank that aims to conquer extremism, and was asked to talk to people who were being radicalised, he jumped at the chance. 'We're all here for a purpose, and I think mine was just to become a better person. If we all have a bit of that, there'd be a lot more peace in the world,' he adds. 'It was around the time when there were a lot of beheadings being put out on social media, and the Institute found that if you reached out early to some of these people that were either posting this or were the contributors to the original filming, they would think more carefully about what they would do next. 'I would try to talk to these people over Facebook, and over time, I started making headway. There were a couple that I spoke to over quite a long period of time, and I think I made a difference. I was doing a couple of hours every night, telling people that I was a survivor and challenging their beliefs.' More Trending Ten years since the attack, Colin has made his peace with the human world, but has a way to go with the natural world. He used to love the ocean, but after fearing he might drown at sea during the attack, he has yet to return to the waves. He holidays on the Isle of Wight, or if he goes abroad, the couple stay in villas inland. 'Recovering from the trauma is an ongoing process,' he explains. 'You learn to live with it. You can't let it bring you down or live your life in fear. I will go out and swim like I used to. I know I'm going to make my peace with it, sooner or later.' Surviving the Tunisia Beach Attack is out now on Prime Video, produced by Yeti Television. MORE: The jacket potato's unstoppable rise – and the Preston brothers leading the revolution MORE: I couldn't train my deaf puppy so I taught him sign language MORE: I live in a 'murder house' – this is what it's really like
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kinky Romance ‘Pillion' Starring Alexander Skarsgard, Harry Melling Sells to Multiple Territories
Cornerstone has closed a slew of new territorial deals for Harry Lighton's Cannes official selection Pillion after the film sold to A24 for the U.S. market. The kinky romancer that launched at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section has been sold to Weltkino (Germany, Austria), iWonder (Italy), Praasens (Switzerland), MCF (the territory formerly known as Yugoslavia), Gutek (Poland), Lusomondo (Portugal), New Cinema (Israel) and Diamond for Latin America. More from The Hollywood Reporter BBC Studios Acquires Unscripted Production Company Mothership TV 'The Real Housewives of London,' NBCU Reality Streamer Hayu's First Original, Unveils Cast Andrew Tate and Brother Tristan Charged With 21 U.K. Crimes, Including Rape and Human Trafficking Described as a 'funny, filthy romance,' Pillion sees Skarsgard play Ray, an 'impossibly handsome leader of a bike gang' who takes on Colin (Melling), a weedy wallflower, to be his new submissive. Ray uproots Colin from his dreary suburban life and introduces him to a community of kinky, queer bikers. But as Colin dives deeper into Ray's world, he begins to question whether the life of a 24/7 submissive is really for him. Lighton, who makes his feature directorial debut with the film, won the Un Certain Regard Award for best screenplay in Cannes. After the festival's market, Cornerstone also sold Pillion to Transformers (Japan), Challan (South Korea) and Swallow Wings (Taiwan). Besides the A24 deal for the U.S., Picturehouse will release Pillion in the U.K. and September Film will handle the Benelux release. Lighton, BAFTA-nominated for his 2017 short Wren Boys, directed Pillion from his own script which is loosely inspired by Adam Mars-Jones' 2019 novel Box Hill. Element Pictures, a Fremantle company, produced Pillion with financing from BBC Film and the BFI in association with Fremantle, Picturehouse and September Film. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
The Courier
3 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
Carnoustie chip shop for sale as owner decides to retire
A fish and chip shop in Carnoustie is to be put on the market after its owner decided to retire. Colin Cooper has run Carnoustie Chippie on the High Street for more than 30 years. He told The Courier it is time to put his feet up and relax. Colin said: 'I've had the shop for 31 years, but I don't run it anymore. I have a manager and he is now of retirement age as well. 'The shop is going on the market due to him retiring and I am retiring too.' Colin moved to Carnoustie from London 45 years ago and owned a couple of businesses in the town before the Chippie. He said: 'It's been a privilege. At the time, there were only two fish and chip shops in Carnoustie. Local residents really took to us. 'We're situated next door to the Co-op. 'We have been in a very privileged position to have served residents at that end of Carnoustie.' Listings for the chip shop will become available on Monday. Colin hopes a new owner will be in place by August. He said: 'I'm pretty sure it will continue as a fish and chip shop. 'It will be up to the owners to decide to keep the name, that will be their choice. 'I'd like it to continue as a chippie because, for that end of Carnoustie, it's well needed without a doubt.' Customers have raved about the chip shop on Google, with one person calling it 'the best' in Carnoustie and Monifieth. Colin said: 'Being in the shop for 31 years, I consider it to be a long time. 'People have come from far and near. 'We were very popular when Carnoustie had The Open Championship last (in 2018). To celebrate we sold fried salmon which was really popular. 'We've been here a long time and we'll miss the people, who I know as regular customers. I hope they'll miss us too. 'I'm definitely going to be putting my feet up, so to speak.'
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Tributes pour in after death of 'iconic' Irish journalist
If memory serves us right, his first HP commission was reviewing Status Quo at the Antrim Forum. After which, there really was no turning back… His death was announced by his brother Colin, who says: 'It is with a very heavy heart that I have to share the news that my brother Barry died unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of yesterday morning, Monday 26th May at his home in Spain. This has come as a terrible shock to our family and especially to Lola, Frankie and Mary. We all loved Barry very much, and I shared a close bond with him, which is evident in the photo of us together recently at one of his favourite restaurants (Barry is on the right). He will be very much missed by us all.' Born in Belfast, Barry moved down south during the 1970s to study at Trinity whilst also playing with hometown punk band Shock Treatment, and from there headed to London where his byline regularly appeared in Melody Maker. During his tenure in King's Reach Tower, he was a tireless champion of The Pogues and infamously fell foul of Kevin Rowland, who didn't appreciate one of his features. Appointed editor of Smash Hits in 1986, he oversaw the doubling of the title's circulation to 800,000 and then did a similarly stellar job as the man in charge at the film magazine, Empire. Both of these were published by EMAP, who in 1984 handed Barry a Managing Director role. After launching Heat magazine in 1999 and also steering the likes of Q and Mojo in the right direction, he became CEO of EMAP Elan, whose other titles included Elle, Red and The Face. From there, he presided over the 2008 relaunch of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport and, from 2009, ran his own media consultancy, returned to frontline journalistic duties with The Word and became CEO of the Professional Publishers Association. In 2018, Barry was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Magazines Ireland and also hosted a publishing seminar in Dublin, where much wisdom was imparted. In 2024, Shock Treatment reconvened and recorded an album, Exclusive Photos, that recaptured all of that old punk magic. Barry McIlheney, the founding editor of Empire Magazine, has sadly died at the age of editor, publisher, broadcaster, and Shock Treatment punk rocker McIlheney served as Empire editor from 1989-1992. We will miss him greatly. Read our tribute:…
Edinburgh Live
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh man fears new permit parking would mean he 'can't run volunteer group'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A devoted Edinburgh local fears plans to introduce permit parking in his neighbourhood means he won't be able to afford his volunteer group. Colin Cornwall set up Keep Porty Tidy around five years ago with the aim of litter picking. After some time he moved onto weeding before taking it upon himself to remove the graffiti plaguing the town. However transport chiefs are now consulting plans to introduce Controlled Parking Zones in Porty between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Sunday. Existing CPZs across the city have seen yellow lines and parking places installed - credited with reducing traffic emissions and improving streets. The 69-year-old worried he won't be able to carry on his services due to the everyday costs he already faces. He argues the parking measures are unnecessary. Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Colin said: "I don't get any sponsorships or support from businesses for what I do. I pay for the running of it all including the insurance, tax and petrol. "I was worried because my wife just retired last week so it was an income less for us which was adding to the burden of it all. I didn't think I would be able to carry this on and run the van. "The news came out about the proposed car parking zones and there was a huge outcry of people against the measures. "We have a lovely beach so people flood to Portobello when the sun shines. But if you ask Porty residents - and I have lived here all my life - there isn't a problem for 10 months of the year. "It's only in the height of the summer months that there is a hike in tourists. People here know it will be busy and the parking spaces will be taken but then it stops in the colder months. I just think the measures are a step too far." Thankfully Colin has now managed to raise £2000 through a GoFundMe thanks to the support from locals. He added: "It's amazing how much support I have got in a matter of days - I was lost for words. I didn't think there was that much generosity and I have had so many people sending words of support. "It looks like I can hopefully keep going but there was a real risk for my van and it is still concerning." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. The consultation for the parking measures closed on May 23 and responses are now being analysed and reported back to elected members. At a public meeting on Tuesday May 20, Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: 'We are seeking views on the CPZ, positive, negative, and neutral. But we reiterated a number of times that the way to engage with the consultation is through the formal process. "To date there have been 1,300 comments and every single one of these comments will be responded to as part of the report that goes to committee. Officers will bring a suite of proposals, which the committee will vote on.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox You can donate to Colin's fundraiser here.
