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Metro
4 days ago
- General
- Metro
Two children fall 40ft from bouncy castle after it's launched skywards by wind
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This is the moment two children narrowly escaped death, falling from a bouncy castle when high winds blew it forty feet up into the air. During a fundraising day at a school in Johannesburg, South Africa, an unexpected gust made the inflatable take off. Eye-witnesses screamed in at Laerskool Protearif Primary School as the multi-coloured castle spiralled up high into the sky. A bouncy castle attendant looked on as one child, unable to hold on, fell from about 25 feet, before a group of parents formed a human crash pad. Despite their efforts, the child was still seriously injured, but the parents had to react instantly as a second child lost their grip and plummeted too. The parents managed to break the second child's fall, but both were badly hurt and were rushed to the hospital, where one was said to have a fractured skull and the other a broken arm. It is not known if any other children were on board and managed to cling on inside the bouncy castle, which landed about 50 feet from where it took off. The fundraising event had been attended by over 1000 parents, pupils and friends. School headmaster Deon Lourens declined to comment, but a statement on the school's Facebook site confirmed two students were rushed to the nearest A&E. It revealed that one child, thought to be the one with the broken arm, was released the same day, and the other, with a fractured skull, was released three days later. The statement read that both children were receiving trauma counselling, but added: 'It is with great gratitude that we are happy to share the very good news with you. 'The necessary trauma counselling was given to both children, as well as to their co-learners, who experienced the event and thank you all for standing together. We thank you very much for everyone's positive support, help and prayers.' An eyewitness with two pupils at the school, who asked not to be named, said: 'When they fell, I thought they were dead. I was watching from a food stall with my girls when I heard screaming and turned around and just saw this blue, green and red thing shooting up to the heavens. 'Then there was a huge scream when the first child and then another fell out, but of all the places they could have landed, it was right over a group of parents below. 'They reached up their arms to try to catch the falling children and undoubtedly saved their lives or saved them from much worse injuries by cushioning them. More Trending 'It was not a very windy day, but it seemed this huge gust just came from nowhere, and it was said the bouncy castle had not been secured to the ground,' she added. It is unclear from the footage whether any ropes, tethers or anchoring mechanisms were being used, though it's required by law. The school's principal, Deon Lourens, declined to comment, and his deputy, Lauren van der Merwe, said the matter had been referred to the Department of Education. A school spokesman added: 'There is a full and transparent investigation underway into what happened and it would be inappropriate to comment until that is concluded.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Oscar Pistorius pictured at first sporting event since being released from prison MORE: Girl sold to 'healer' by her mum for £800 for her 'light eyes and skin' MORE: Trump ambushes South African president with white genocide claims in tense meeting
The National
09-04-2025
- Health
- The National
Abu Dhabi Global Health Week: Longevity and AI-powered care in focus at major gathering
International efforts to extend life expectancy, champion personalised medical care and unleash the power of artificial intelligence in health care will be put under the microscope at a major Abu Dhabi conference taking place next week. The second annual Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW) – which runs from April 15 to 17 – is expected to attract 15,000 visitors, 1,900 delegates and 200 speakers from 90 countries in a quest to harness emerging technology and medical advances to enhance patient care. The science of longevity, precision health, the resilience and sustainability of health systems, digital health and AI, and investment in life sciences will be explored during the high-profile summit, being staged at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The event will serve as a critical gathering place for the world to come together to address pressing health care challenges. Dr Asma Al Mannaei, executive director of the health sciences sector at the Department of Health, set out the UAE's vision to help people live not only longer but healthier lives. 'Longevity is actually our aim and a target priority for us,' Dr Al Mannaei told The National. 'What do we mean by longevity? It's not only living longer – it's also living healthier and happier. So longevity is the ultimate aim of what we are trying to drive within health care and it is one of our priorities.' 'There are different mechanisms and different ways we can make an impact. It starts with prevention, it starts with behavioural changes, and it can expand to the application of interventions using advanced technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning to encourage healthy living – which is what we aim for in our community.' 'I believe Abu Dhabi is pioneering and we are actually at the right time to take forward these breakthrough advancements that are happening worldwide – provided by an evidence-based approach," he added. "All our decisions and initiatives are based on solid information and scientific data.' Celebrating innovation The three-day conference will recognise the contributions of innovators seeking to drive progress in the health care sector. The winners of the ADGHW Innovation Awards will be announced at the event and will share a $200,000 prize fund. Meanwhile, the winners of the Smart Health Hackathon, which took place between April 4 and 7, will also be revealed. The challenge featured rising entrepreneurs and innovators competing to develop cutting-edge solutions for specific health and well-being challenges. Additionally, the Health Leaders Roundtable, to be held on April 16, will bring together global leaders to focus on the crucial need for decisive and collaborative efforts to boost health care. The Start-up Zone will serve as a hub for collaboration and innovation, designed to provide health start-ups with the resources, visibility and networking opportunities required to bring their ideas to life. Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, undersecretary of Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, told of the significance of the event in boosting health care services and improving patient care. 'Longevity and personalised medicine are at the heart of this year's event – chosen for their potential to transform not only individual health, but also the well-being of entire communities," said Dr Al Ghaithi. "To realise this potential, Abu Dhabi Global Health Week is driving global collaboration, aligning priorities and advancing solutions that are built to last." "The ADGHW Innovation Awards are a reflection of that commitment – recognising pioneering health advancements from around the world, empowering the next generation of innovators and fostering a collaborative ecosystem that drives progress in global health.'
CBS News
14-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Watch Live: Senate advances GOP measure to avert shutdown as Democrats fume over choice
Washington — The Senate voted Friday to advance a Republican-led stopgap measure to keep the government funded ahead of a midnight deadline, following days of consternation from Senate Democrats over an uncomfortable choice — to allow the GOP bill to pass or let the government shut down. In a 62 to 38 vote, 10 Democrats joined with all but one Republican to move forward on the measure in a key step toward passage. The Friday afternoon vote ended debate, and after reaching a time agreement, the vote on final passage is expected later in the evening. The vote came after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer initially signaled that his caucus would fight back against the partisan measure to keep the government funded through September. But instead he reluctantly pledged on Thursday to advance it, delivering one of the Democratic votes necessary to propel it to passage. He warned of the larger threat a shutdown would pose for the American people. "For sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option," the New York Democrat said, calling the bill "deeply partisan" and urging that "it doesn't address far too many of this country's needs." "But I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option." After his remarks Thursday night, Schumer wouldn't say whether other Democrats would join him in voting to advance the measure, telling reporters that "each is making his or her own decision." But Schumer's support for the continuing resolution gave other Democrats political cover to do the same, diminishing the threat of a shutdown. Ultimately, Schumer was joined by Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Gary Peters of Michigan, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole Republican to oppose advancing the measure. On Tuesday, the House passed the measure, which increases defense spending while decreasing non-defense spending below 2024 levels. Republicans have praised additional funding in the measure for programs like nutrition assistance for women, infants and children, while Democrats have railed against cuts to medical research and housing programs — and more than $1 billion in cuts to D.C.'s local government spending. Just one House Democrat joined the Republican majority in support of the measure. And while the House requires only a simple majority, a 60-vote threshold is required to invoke cloture and advance the measure in the Senate, meaning needed the support of Democrats to get to a vote on final passage. Still, the party had been split on how to proceed. Democrats widely oppose the House-passed measure and have expressed frustration with the spending reductions, and they warn that it would give the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency even more latitude to carry out cost-slashing efforts. Democrats had been pushing for a 30-day continuing resolution that had little chance of earning enough support for passage. And with the House having already left town, the option would almost certainly have resulted in a funding lapse. But some progressives have suggested that the shorter option was more favorable, letting the onus for a government shutdown fall on Republicans, arguing that it would have further illuminated the chaos that has ensued in the federal bureaucracy and beyond under the Trump administration and DOGE. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez told reporters Thursday night that Schumer's move to back the continuing resolution — known as a CR — was a "huge slap in the face," adding that there is a "wide sense of betrayal" among the party. "What voting for the CR does is that it codifies the chaos and the reckless cuts that Elon Musk has been pursuing," Ocasio-Cortez said. "The robbing of our federal government in order to finance tax cuts for billionaires, is what is happening, and that is what Senate Democrats will be empowering if they vote for the CR." Schumer told reporters following his floor remarks that Democrats should keep the attention on their message — that Republicans are hurting the middle class — rather than on what the Trump administration could pursue during a shutdown. Schumer said the message is "beginning to work." President Trump congratulated Schumer Friday morning for "doing the right thing," saying in a post on Truth Social that it took "courage." The minority leader first informed Senate Democrats that he planned to vote to advance the GOP funding measure during a closed-door meeting Thursday afternoon, a source familiar told CBS News. As the meeting let out, frustrations appeared high among Senate Democrats, and a number of them — including many who hail from battleground states — quickly released statements on social media announcing they would vote "no" on the House-passed continuing resolution. Besides Schumer, only Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, had pledged to support the continuing resolution heading into the day on Friday. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada became the third Democrat to pledge to support the measure to avert a shutdown ahead of the vote. "I'm hopeful that enough Democrats will reject their party's threat of shutting down the government to get this bill passed today," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Friday morning. Democrats continued to rail against their options on Friday morning. Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democratic appropriator who had been engaged in bipartisan talks to fund the government, said the choice between a shutdown and letting the GOP bill pass "has always been a false choice." She accused Republicans of pulling out of bipartisan negotiations and sending "a deeply partisan bill here to the Senate today." "Democrats did not have an ounce of input into writing this bill," Murray said. "In my time in Congress, never, ever has one party written partisan full-year appropriations bills for all of government and expected the other party to go along without any input." Murray said the Senate could still pass the short-term funding measure that she introduced earlier this week, saying House Republicans could get on a plane to come back and vote. Meanwhile, House Democratic leaders returned to the Capitol Friday to express their opposition to the continuing resolution, calling this an "unprecedented situation and an unprecedented disaster" for the American people. "We've been very clear: we strongly oppose the reckless Republican spending bill," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.
