Latest news with #RobBell
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Derby man 'lucky to be alive' after US building site fall
Rob Bell had been working at a construction site in the US when he fell 25ft from a building three years construction engineer from Chaddesden, Derby, was lucky to survive the accident, which left him with seven broken ribs and a fractured head injury caused a series of strokes followed by up to 25 seizures a told the BBC he was left feeling suicidal after initially failing to receive the right help from the NHS - but his situation improved with the help of a specialist team in Derbyshire that the government hopes to replicate 53-year-old credits the team with helping him to rebuild his life - and he has set his sights on one day regaining the ability to walk. Rob's accident happened in 2022 when a forklift truck driver knocked the pallet of one of the supporting legs from a structure he was working on, causing it to extensive injuries saw him suffer three strokes in the space of five days - one of which made his heart temporarily stop - and he spent three months in hospital in the US followed by a further seven months in hospital back in the was later diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) which gives him life-altering symptoms including paralysis and occasional blindness. Rob said the medication he received to help control multiple seizures a day severely impacted his memory and ability to recognise his 10 grandchildren, as well as sending him spiralling into injuries also saw him having to spend around £500 a week on taxis travelling to use public toilets for over a year, because his own toilet at home was not accessible for his new a result of the drain on his finances, he ended up skipping meals and having to rely on foodbanks, further adding to his mental health struggles. "After I got out the hospital and I was on the just wanted to give me more medication, and I said, I don't want more medication," he said."I was basically on the clouds, they were drugging me up that much. That was not the life I wanted."I even told my family, if nothing's done, I'm not going into a new year the way I am, I'm just going to take my own life."During this desperate time, he was repeatedly admitted into emergency mental health care. But things began to change when Rob was eventually referred by his GP to the NHS's Team Up Complex Care Team in Derbyshire, The team is a few years old and focuses predominantly on care for people unable to leave their received help with physio, GP visits, and tailoring his medication with a pharmacist, which reduced his tablets from 70 a day to team, which is run by Primary Healthcare Derby Limited on behalf of Derby and Derbyshire NHS Integrated Care Board, also assisted in finding him a suitable new accessible home. The government's 10-year plan for the NHS includes plans for "pioneering neighbourhood health teams [which] focus on patients with multiple long-term conditions and more complex issues".It has cited the Derbyshire team as an example of what it is trying to achieve and "bringing the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS". While critics have highlighted that care closer to home will not necessarily save the health service money, the Derbyshire ICB says last year this team prevented 900 admissions to the emergency department and 500 non-elective admissions by sending specialists out into the community. "The complex needs team spent time listening to Rob to understand his difficulties, and then involved a wider multi-disciplinary team to develop a plan to support him", said Dr Ruth Lenehan, Rob's GP in the complex care team."This plan then enabled him to get the right help to address his many complicated medical and social problems."The team is currently working through the detail on how further expansion of the initiative might work. Since receiving the help, Rob says he can finally focus on "living" again."I'm living now, I'm not existing. It's a massive difference. I've been to my daughter's plays, the simple things", he while Rob has been told he is unlikely to walk again, he intends to keep trying."They say it's highly unlikely but I say, well - I'm going to do my best," he you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, help is available via BBC Action Line.
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Studios unlocks The Vault for Olympic Channel
BBC Studios Documentary Unit has been commissioned by Olympic Channel to produce The Vault: Treasures of the Olympics, a major 10-part series which explores the incredible stories behind many of the amazing artefacts held in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Presenters, Olympian Jeanette Kwakye (BBC Sport, The Martin Lewis Money Show) and engineering expert/presenter Rob Bell (Britannia: Secrets of the Royal Yacht, Rob Bell's Engineering Reborn and Building the Impossible), are given unprecedented access to The Olympic Museum, where they hear from the Museum's curators and many of the Olympic legends behind the stories. The first five episodes will be released 31 July on to help mark the one-year anniversary of the Paris Summer Games. The second half of the series will be released later in the autumn and will feature stories inspired by the Winter Olympics, ahead of Milano-Cortina 2026. Each episode features an interview with a true Olympic legend. The summer episodes include the incredible story behind how German weight-lifter Matthias Steiner won gold just months after losing his wife in a tragic accident; how diving gold medallist Greg Louganis overcame his HIV diagnosis to win gold; the incredible come-back of British rower Helen Glover; how current Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred became the first medallist ever from St Lucia and how Rebeca Andrade overcame two major injuries before surpassing the undefeated Simone Biles in Paris last Summer. In the second part of the Season, we hear from incredible guests Gabriella Papadakis, Martin Fourcade, Fanny Smith, Aksel Lund Svindal and 'Eddie the Eagle' Edwards. The series will also show some of the rarest artefacts held in the Museum collection: • The letter from the Mayor of Tokyo welcoming the 1940 Games, later to be cancelled due to the outbreak of the Second World War. • The winning kit of the reigning 100m Olympic Champion, Julien Alfred. • The exquisitely preserved gold medal rowing boat from the 1924 Games Kostas Karvelas, General Manager Olympic Channel Services said: 'We are thrilled to bring these incredible stories to life and seamlessly blend the rich treasures of the Olympic Museum with the remarkable achievements of Olympians.' Rowland Stone, Executive Producer said: 'It's a privilege to be part of such a thrilling and evocative retelling of Olympic history, realised in such a compelling and contemporary way. We're delighted to make such a fitting tribute to the world's greatest sports event'. 'Opening the doors to our most treasured Olympic artefacts and entrusting them to world-class storytellers was a perfect match', said The Olympic Museum Associate Director Yasmin Meichtry. Jeanette Kwayke said: 'The Olympics has a rich and varied history, so it was fascinating to be able to go behind the scenes in the museum and see some of their rarest treasures. I was also honoured to meet some of my fellow Olympians and hear the truly unique stories behind their journey to the games.' Rob Bell said: 'Most of my hugely enjoyable documentary work centres on engineering and history. And that's not by chance; I love to explore the whats whys and hows of the world. But possibly my biggest obsession of all is sport. And so to be let loose inside the Olympic Museum to film The Vault was one of the most exciting and fascinating experiences I've had in this career. The stories we cover are full of curiosity, wonder and emotion (with a dash of engineering and a healthy dollop of history thrown in for good measure) and the curators we had the privilege of speaking to are so incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their work - not to mention a lot of fun. It was a real honour to spend time with them and revel in this unique access to a world most people don't get to see. When and wherever on the planet the Olympic Games are held, they always provide a little bit of magic and having filmed this series, I now feel a little closer to that magic and I'd be amazed if viewers of The Vault didn't feel the same after watching it.' The Vault has been produced exclusively for Olympic Channel by BBC Studios Documentary Unit. The Vault: Treasures of the Olympics will be freely available worldwide on from 31 July. Olympic Channel is the IOC's global content studio and premium content media destination, accessible through It showcases original programming, live coverage of Olympic-related sports events, and a 24/7 linear feed. With over 100 original productions, some honoured with prestigious awards including Sports Emmys and Webbys, Olympic Channel offers original series and films, iconic moments and behind-the-scenes documentaries, athlete exclusive profiles, and coverage of Olympic-related sports and events. About BBC Studios BBC Studios is the main commercial arm of BBC Commercial Ltd and generated revenues of £2.1 billion in the last year and profits of over £200 million for a fourth consecutive year. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the content studio, which produces, invests and distributes TV and audio globally and media & streaming, with BBC branded channels, services including UKTV, and BritBox International and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. The business made almost 3,300 hours of award-winning British programmes last year for a wide range of UK and global broadcasters and platforms. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, and includes world-famous brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC Studios | Website | Press Office | X | LinkedIn | Instagram |
RNZ News
30-07-2025
- Science
- RNZ News
Just how strong can an earthquake get?
Magnitudes are on a logarithmic scale, which means that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude. Photo: 123RF Wednesday's magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of far eastern Russia is one of the largest in years, raising fears of a tsunami around the Pacific. It was the strongest quake since 2011, when a magnitude 9 megaquake struck northeast Japan, killing nearly 20,000 people. If it holds, it might be one of the 10 largest earthquakes ever recorded. Magnitudes are the size of the earthquake, usually based on the amplitude of seismic waves recorded on seismometres. Magnitudes are on a logarithmic scale, which means that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude. A magnitude can be adjusted once more seismic readings come in - the Russia earthquake was originally listed as magnitude 8, but upgraded to 8.8. Other factors can influence how severe an earthquake is, including its location and depth. The Christchurch earthquake that killed 185 people in February 2011 was magnitude 6.2, but struck a densely populated centre. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that left more than 225,000 people dead was triggered by a quake with a magnitude of 9.2 to 9.3. Damage from the Myanmar quake earlier in 2025. Photo: AFP/ Xinhua - Myo Kyaw Soe The largest earthquake reliably recorded was a magnitude 9.5 off the coast of Chile in 1960. The subsequent tsunami traveled across the world and caused coastal evacuations around New Zealand . The effects were observed at more than 120 locations, GeoNet reported. "The most affected locations occurred along the whole eastern seaboard from Cape Reinga to west of Bluff and to Stewart Island, but the tsunami was also observed at locations on the west coast of the North Island including Ahipara in Northland, and notably as far south as Whanganui and Paremata, but not at New Plymouth, Foxton, or Himatangi Beach." It triggered the setup of the formal tsunami warning system in 1965, NIWA researcher Rob Bell told the East Coast Lab . "Our tsunami warning system was virtually non-existent. Following the event, negotiations to connect New Zealand to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre and a formalised warning system were concluded in 1965," Bell said. "It struck New Zealand blind," distinguished professor of disaster management David Johnston told RNZ last year . "It hit most of the east coast of the North and South Islands, inundating properties in Napier, Gisborne, and Lyttelton [and] caused considerable damage. "No loss of life, but a higher tide would most likely have led to multiple fatalities." The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial. Photo: RNZ / SIMON ROGERS By the way, there has never been a magnitude 10 earthquake ever recorded, and there probably never will be. "No fault long enough to generate a magnitude 10 earthquake is known to exist, and if it did, it would extend around most of the planet," the US Geological Survey says . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Innovative company's futuristic camper van could change the way we vacation: 'Just a more efficient way of traveling'
Camping is already one of the most sustainable ways to go on vacation, but designers in the Netherlands have taken things a step further. BBC travel reporter Rob Bell had the opportunity to tour the world's first solar-powered campervan, Stella Vita, created by Solar Team Eindhoven. This campervan is completely powered by solar and able to recharge without the need to plug into EV charging stations, making road trips and adventures truly limitless. Conceptualized in 2020, Stella Vita is a self-sustaining house on wheels, featuring a shower, a toilet, a cooking area, a sleeping area, and a raisable solar roof with extended panels for additional solar surface. "The vehicle generates enough solar energy to drive, shower, watch TV, charge your laptop, and make coffee," the company wrote in a Facebook post about the innovative campervan. As long as it's a nice, sunny day, the car will recharge while you drive or stop to grab coffee or lunch, ensuring you always have enough range to get to where you're going. This constant charging helps overcome the fear that some have that their EV will run out of range on long-distance travel, also known as range anxiety. "So how many kilometers can it go, maximum?" Bell asked. "Roughly, on a sunny day in the Netherlands, it's around 750 kilometers (466 miles)," Bob from the Stella Vita team answered. This is an impressive range, even surpassing that of new electric vans. An electric vehicle's maximum range is determined, in part, by a vehicle's battery health. As an electric vehicle (EV) endures regular wear and tear, the battery loses efficiency, and performance can suffer. If you were to install home solar panels, which of these factors would be your primary motivation? Energy independence Lower power bills Helping the planet No chance I ever go solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Monitoring your battery health can give you a good idea about your vehicle's maximum range, as well as your used EV's projected value. Data on the used EV market found that used EV sales increased 63% from 2023 to 2024, highlighting the consumer desire to find affordable ways to join the clean energy movement. A used EV is not only better for the environment than conventional gas-powered cars due to zero tailpipe pollution, but EVs also provide car owners with savings on routine maintenance and fuel costs. Due to fewer moving parts and an electric engine, EVs do not require traditional oil or other fluid changes, and they do not require fueling up — just recharging. Although they are still mostly conceptual, solar EVs, like the Stella Vita solar campervan, do not need constant plug-ins for recharging, which would make owning an EV even better. But EV owners can still take advantage of the benefits that solar offers. Charging your EV at home with solar is cheaper than using public charging stations or relying on the electric grid. With government incentives available for solar panels, you could enjoy even more savings with EV ownership and installing solar at your home. EnergySage offers a free tool to help homeowners compare quotes from vetted local solar installers, which can save homeowners up to $10,000 on new projects. Solar EVs, like Stella Vita, could change the future of transportation and traveling. "This is even more self-sustainable, even more self-reliant, and just a more efficient way of traveling," the Stella Vita team said. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- BBC News
Uncovering a hangar full of rare historic campervans
Travel Show reporter Rob Bell travels to Perth in Scotland, to take a spin in one of the world's earliest motor homes, a 1935 Pontiac motor home. This video is from The Travel Show, the BBC's flagship travel programme.
