Latest news with #NORTHERNECHO
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia O'Connor: The life of County Durham's boxing superstar who was taken too soon
Tributes have been paid to County Durham's brightest boxing star Georgia O'Connor - who has this week tragically died following a brave battle with cancer. Kayleigh Fraser takes a look back at how a young athlete who dared to dream took gold for her country and made a distinctive mark in the boxing world. "My hope is to one day fight at the Olympics for Great Britain", confessed hopeful 12-year-old Georgia O'Connor during an interview with The Northern Echo in 2012. Just two years after taking up boxing, she was already tipped to be a future Olympian. Stood in the ring at West Durham Boxing Academy, the pre-teen from Waterhouses, who was looking to take part in her first fight - as she and her coaches was pushing for more female representation in boxing. Georgia O'Connor pictured in 2012. But, this was not the first time we had heard of this budding young athlete who would just years later join Team GB, take commonwealth gold. Her journey was still just beginning. John O'Connor, Georgia's father, started her boxing - sparring with pads in the garage of their home - when she was just five. "The way society is going, I thought she ought to be able to look after herself and it snowballed from there," says John, who had three fights as an amateur boxer. "She still has her dolls but she'd rather be out training three or four times a week, or out on the streets with the other kids. She's a little national treasure." Georgia O'Connor in 2007. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) By 2007, Georgia was nicknamed the Little Battleaxe - in a sport a little different to boxing. In fact, Georgia was making a name for herself in Chungdokwan, a full-contact Olympic sport affiliated to the British Taekwondo Council. At that point, she had won all but four of her 28 fights. "For a kid that age she's amazing," said Graham Thompson, one of her instructors. "You meet her and she's a bonny little girl who's really nice and polite but believe me she can be pretty mean." In 2008, Georgia won the Most promising new talent accolade at The Northern Echo's Local Heroes awards. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) In 2008, Georgia won the "Most promising new talent" accolade at The Northern Echo's Local Heroes awards - and by 2009, she had won her second successive British taekwondo championship. At the British championships in Manchester, 2009, her gold medal in the pee-wee class - 11 and under - was presented by Sarah Stephenson, who won taekwondo bronze in the Beijing Olympics. In 2010, Georgia, who was very quickly climbing the ranks, took home a third title. But, this is where she took a different path. Her love for sport remained, but little did she know, her journey into boxing would see her soar to new heights she only could have dreamed of. Georgia O'Connor pictured in 2016. Having won the National Championships in 2015, she was invited for a trial with England Boxing and won a place on the national elite junior squad, based in Sheffield. In 2016, she defended her National Championship title, became Junior 70kg National champion, and was promoted to England Boxing's Excel Talent Squad, as one of only six females on the team. She then became a silver medallist at the Junior and Youth European Championships in Turkey, and by 2017 was preparing to represent Team GB at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas. Georgia O'Connor pictured with her gold medal in 2017. Thanks to her hard work, dedication and pride for boxing, she took gold at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games and silver at the 2017 Youth World Championships. By 2021, Georgia had turned pro - and ended up winning all three of her fights in the ring, but in 2024, her life changed forever. At just 24, in October 2024, she was handed her biggest fight yet - she was diagnosed with cancer branded "incurable" by doctors. Georgia receiving treatment in hospital. (Image: VICKI WILLIAMS) To help fund alternative treatment not on the NHS, a GoFundMe page was set up by Georgia's mum Vicki Williams in February who wrote her "beautiful and brave" daughter is a "fighter". Thousands was raised thanks to the fundraiser. Vicki wrote: "Our beautiful, brave, and determined daughter, Georgia, has just been given the fight of her life. At only 24, she has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. But Georgia does not accept this. "If you know Georgia, you know she is a fighter—always has been, always will be. As a boxer, she has spent many years pushing herself beyond limits, proving that strength isn't just physical—it's in the heart, in the mind, in the refusal to give up. This is just another fight, and she is determined to win." In an emotional message to her thousands of followers on Instagram in February, she vowed "to kick the absolute sh*t out of this cancer". Georgia O'Connor in hospital. (Image: VICKI WILLIAMS) "Then, I will do everything in my power to go on to help as many people as I can who have been in this same awful position where your entire life is at stake, before you've even had a chance to live it. I promise that," she added. "She wants to use this battle not just to save her own life but to inspire others, to raise awareness, and to show the world that 'incurable' does not mean impossible." In the months that followed, branded a "rollercoaster", Georgia went through treatment, was diagnosed with sepsis and married the "love of her life" Adriano on May 9. Just under two weeks later, on May 22, she passed away - and her death has brought on tributes from across the sport world and from family and friends. Georgia's former club, Brandon Boxing Club, have also issued an emotional tribute. They wrote: "Everyone at the club is absolutely gutted to hear the sad news that Georgia has lost her battle. "Social media is flooded with tributes to an extremely talented and popular young lady who touched so many lives. "Our thoughts are with John, Vicky and all her family, R.I.P Georgia." Recommended: Brandon Boxing Club held event for Georgia O'Connor Champion Durham boxer, 24, diagnosed with rare cancer North-East glory in national boxing finals Fellow boxer Joe Laws took to social media and said she was the "strongest person he knew". He wrote: "Heartbroken G, I love you man bro. Strongest person I know, always put a smile on my face. "Listen life is short kids - rest easy Georgia you beautiful soul."
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tragic dad and daughter deaths at Darlington home blaze sparks coroner report
The tragic deaths of a pensioner and his daughter following a 990C Darlington house blaze has sparked a report from a coroner over preventing future deaths. Philip Cheesman, 79, and his daughter Loraine, 54, died in May 2023 after a 'fierce' inferno ravaged their Woodland Terrace home in the early hours. An inquest into their deaths, held last month, found that their hoarding and "executive dysfunction" made a 'more than minimal' contribution to the fire. Coroner Crispin Oliver has now written a prevention of future deaths report, saying there is a risk that future deaths could take place unless action is taken. As previously reported, both Mr Cheesman and his daughter were injured in the blaze just before 5am on May 13, but could not be saved. The blaze ravaged the Darlington home (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Mr Cheesman, a retired taxi driver, was rescued from the front room but sadly passed away hours later at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. Cyprus-born former seamstress Ms Cheesman, who had a history of arthritis, diabetes and osteoporosis, was found dead in her first floor bedroom. The inquest, which ruled their deaths as accidental, heard how the pair were known to the fire service as being at high risk of a fire due to their "cluttered" hoarder home. The report now raises concerns over how "consideration of executive dysfunction can be incorporated into the assessment of mental capacity". It states: 'During the course of the evidence I heard from social workers and safeguarding professionals than in relation to assessing whether 'the point' had been reached in relation to an adult suffering from hoarding disorder and executive dysfunction there was no specific guidance and that such guidance would in future be welcome. The aftermath of the fire (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) 'Currently they are constrained by existing guidance for assessing mental capacity, which does not directly recognise executive dysfunction, or for assessing whether the adult's behaviour constitutes a potentially chargeable criminal or regulatory offence, for example in relation to public nuisance, health hazard, or anti social behaviour, rather than the root cause of the behaviour – a mental disorder or disorders. 'So, the matter of concern consists of this request – for guidance to be provided as to how to incorporate consideration of executive dysfunction into the assessment of mental capacity and how to assess when the point when external intervention can be triggered has been reached.' According to experts, who gave evidence during the inquest, a safeguarding referral was made in July 2022 over concerns about the pair's living conditions. However, the probe was closed after some improvements in the house had been seen. Mr Cheesman, who used a wheelchair and stairlift, and his daughter, who used sticks, had significant mobility issues, giving them a "reduced chance of escaping the fire". Police parked at the scene (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) The coroner described the case as one of 'significant hoarding and dysfunction', with both having the mental capacity to make decisions but not the executive decision to control behaviour. The court heard that Mr Cheesman took over caring for his daughter after his wife's sudden death in 1995, and that their hoarding had "fluctuated" over the years before the fatal fire. But Mr Oliver said a fire investigation report, done several days after the fire by Lee Aspery, fire investigation manager for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, put the level of clutter in the living room as eight out of 10. Ms Cheesman's bedroom was then rated nine out of 10. While it was noted that the fire "could have happened at any other property", the significant rubbish, including toasters and other furniture, meant the blaze was a 'superflash' due to ventilation through the front windows and a dog flap. Read More: Car ploughs into Yarm School entrance destroying wall Father and daughter died in Woodland Terrace, Darlington fire Police update on Darlington 'arson attack' on Durham Road Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. . The court then heard that the pair were recipients of social care from Heritage Healthcare and Careline, provided by Darlington Council, who visited the property multiple times a day. On May 9, just four days before the fire, a carer says they found "green and slimy" out-of-date food in their fridge, which was escalated to Careline but was not escalated to the council for safeguarding as it understood the home's conditions were 'not so bad'. The recipient of the report is redacted, but the inquest previously heard that Mr Oliver would write to the Secretary of State for Health regarding the prevention of future deaths report.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kevin Keegan's former home with tennis court and pool 'sold subject to contract'
The former rural residence of football legend Kevin Keegan, which was recently listed for sale at £2.25 million, has now been sold subject to contract. The Georgian home, located within the exclusive Wynyard Park gated community in Billingham, Teesside, is set within 5.4 acres of landscaped gardens. The property, once owned by former Newcastle United owner Sir John Hall, became Keegan's residence in 1992 when he was appointed manager of the club. Kevin Keegan (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) During his tenure, Keegan led Newcastle to promotion in his first season and secured a second-place finish in the Premiership in 1995-96, cementing his legacy as one of the club's most iconic figures. Listed by Jackson Stops estate agents, the substantial home offers an array of luxury features. The Georgian property, which was expanded during Keegan's time and has undergone further extensions since, now spans almost 10,000 square feet, providing generous living and entertainment spaces. The house boasts a grand reception hall, a kitchen/breakfast room, a spacious lounge, a formal dining room, a study, and an elegant orangery. A wine cellar and an indoor swimming pool complete the ground floor's impressive amenities. The Billingham property (Image: JACKSON STOPS) Upstairs, the first floor houses the master bedroom suite with a dressing room and en-suite bathroom, along with four additional bedrooms. The home includes a total of five bathrooms and features a games room equipped with a bar and balcony, making it an ideal space for entertaining. The outdoor facilities are equally remarkable. The extensive grounds feature a tennis court, a kitchen garden, and a wildlife pond. Additionally, a detached garage block provides further accommodation with a studio or home office space above. Recommended reading: Darlington mum calls for more awareness on bone cancer after son's tragic death Houses evacuated after car drives into front of property as police investigate Plans to 'stabilise' Grade II County Durham church building approved This sale highlights the continued desirability of homes in the sought-after Wynyard Park area, known for its exclusivity and 24-hour security. The impressive Georgian property, offering both privacy and luxury, has now found a prospective new owner, subject to contract. Property Highlights: Exclusive and private location Stunning Georgian country house Landscaped grounds spanning 5.4 acres Immaculately maintained accommodation Three principal reception rooms and a large living kitchen Five bedrooms and five bathrooms Expansive games room and leisure wing Detached garage block with a studio above
