Latest news with #Romford
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tragic true story of 'the other Harry Potter' whose life changed forever after a catastrophic injury on set
A stunt double for Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe has opened up about the horrific injury he sustained on set 16 years ago which left him paralysed from the neck down. At 25 years old, David Holmes was working on film sets after becoming a trained gymnast; having overcome years of childhood bullying to live out his dream. He was at the height of his career and working on one of the biggest film franchises in the world when his life changed in an instant following an on-set accident. David, now 44, from Romford, was rehearsing a fight scene for The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 film in 2009 when he fell and plummeted to the ground, hearing the sound of his own neck snapping as he reached the ground. Medics rushed around him but the damage had already been done, with David left paralysed from the chest down bar some limited movements in his arms and hands. Now he has detailed his dismay at the horrendous injury that wrecked his career, calling it 'the gift that keeps on taking'. Despite the catastrophic consequences of his injuries he is ever the optimist, and said he believes that being alive in itself is a 'gift'. Appearing as a guests on Mamamia's No Filter podcast, he opened up about his gratitude for the Harry Potter franchise and how the injury it left him with has changed his outlook on life. David was first cast as the 'second Harry' when he was just 17-years-old, his small frame making him the ideal stunt man for 11-year-old Daniel Radcliffe. Throughout his nearly decade-long tenure working on the iconic film set, he was more than just a second Harry. 'I'm the Hermione when the troll smashes through the bathroom doors. I'm the Ron sitting on the back of the horses he gets hit with on the chest piece. I'm the Malfoy in the Quidditch match, flying off of his broom,' he recalled. But his fearless streak would soon to come to end. During a routine stunt filming The Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the wire attaching him to a harness and pulley system, suddenly snapped, causing David to plummet to the ground. He was paralysed instantly. He was initially taken to A&E at Watford General Hospital but transferred to a specialist spinal injury centre when the extent of his injuries became apparent. He spent several months in hospital and has since undergone years of treatment and surgeries. 'My spinal cord separated at the C 67 vertebrae just at the bottom of your at the bottom of your neck before your thorax starts,' he said. He recalled how the accident 16 years ago made him 'vulnerable' and 'needy' after being 'stripped back' to how he was as a toddler. 'People needed to feed me, people needed to dress me, wash me, you name it, and then gruelling rehabilitation,' he remembered in painstaking detail. Several cast members remained by his side, visiting David in hospital and showing their support. 'They were young to have to see me like that, with wires in me and stuff hanging out my nose,' he said in the podcast. 'For me being brave for them on camera all those years... they got the opportunity to flip that and be brave for me.' David and Daniel's bond is one that still endures today, with the two having collaborated in filming a documentary on the former stunt master titled The Boy Who Lived. In 2020, the pair also recorded a podcast series, Cunning Stunts, about stunt double acting. Daniel took time out a busy filming schedule to visit his stunt double in hospital, a gesture David has never forgotten, describing his as 'a great human being that will sacrifice his life to make sure other people stay employed.' Now 16-years on snap that changed the trajectory of his life for ever, David is able to look on his injury with optimism. 'What's worse than breaking your neck is the pain in your loved one's eyes,' he said. 'Life is hard, broken neck or not. I learned that lesson at 25, and it made me make peace with the fact it teaches you gratitude. I am here today, now. Where am I going to be in 10 years' time, in my body? I can't tell you… it forces me to be here now to take in the day.' Being paralysed from the waist down comes with it's complications, from which David doesn't shy away - and he's always able to see the funny side. 'I can't have control of my bowel routine,' he said. 'So that means I've had more hands up my a** than the cast of The Muppets.' 'I've cr**ped myself everywhere — top of mountains, film premieres, you name it … it never gets easier. But if you can find the joy and humour after it, it gets a little bit more digestible. So I always just laugh at myself.' Elsewhere in the interview, he discussed his relationship with his partner Rosie, a C-4 quadriplegic he met while renting her property in Spain. 'We don't connect over our injuries,' he said. 'We connect over our love for each other and our shared experience of being loved by great families and friends and committed care teams.' 'Our shared life experience when we go on holiday together, it means more because we have to work harder for it. And every orgasm that we both give each other, it means more because we're having an orgasm below our level of injury, something that most people say is unachievable.' He said he was 'grateful' for the life that the two are able to share, adding that they were enjoying having the best sex of their lives together. David also holds immense gratitude for having shared in the Harry Potter experience, praising the franchise for how it has helped others through difficult times. 'There are kids in conflict zones right now, petrified… their parents put Harry Potter on a phone in front of them, and it helps them escape their reality,' he said. 'There are people struggling with mental health issues right now that are always like turning to those films to help them get through a tough time. I'm very, very grateful that I was able to contribute to that fact for tons and tons of people.' 'I get to share my perspective, and hopefully someone goes, 'That's helped me today',' he said. 'We get one chance in life. The best thing is sharing, to share the experience of being a dumb monkey on a rock, spinning through space with a load of other dumb monkeys on a rock.' 'There'll be a generation of people behind me that have a spinal cord injury that will be like that lost little boy that I was in hospital feeling like hope is all gone. And then maybe, just maybe, they might find my journey and my story, and it might give them hope.'
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I hated my wrinkled skin, so I spent £4k to have the top layer BURNT OFF & look 20 years younger
WATCHING the views come in on her TikTok videos, Sharon Vickery can't help but feel smug. 'There's no way that's the same woman', cry her followers after seeing the astonishing results of her anti-aging treatment. 7 But what is even more astonishing is that Sharon hasn't been anywhere near a needle. She says she has achieved the same youthful glow as Kris Jenner without going under the knife after revealing the £4,250 laser treatment that took 20 years off her appearance. Kris Jenner sparked rumours of a secret facelift recently when public outings left fans stunned by her seemingly ageless appearance. Sharon wanted to find a way to reduce the deep wrinkles that had rapidly worsened since her 40s. The mum-of-three tried everything to tackle it, including Botox, fillers, skin boosters and microneedling – but nothing worked. As a last-ditch effort, she stumbled upon a special kind of laser treatment that promised to overhaul her skin in just one procedure. Sharon was desperate for a solution so although she felt dubious – especially given the £4,000 price tag – she decided to give it a try. 'Why have a facelift when you can get the same results with this?' the 55-year-old, who hails from Romford, says. 'I believe people should be able to do whatever they want at whatever age if it makes them feel happy and confident. 'Definitely try this before getting a facelift – my doctor said the same. I'm 50 next year & don't have a single wrinkle thanks to a product from Boots or TikTok shop - I've never had Botox 'Kris Jenner can afford the best plastic surgeon and most of us are not in a position to do that.' Sharon decided to try it out after disliking her ageing looks. 'I hated the skin on my face for many years,' she admits. 'I had many lines on my forehead, upper lip, smile lines, age spots and wrinkled skin all over. 'I always compared myself to other people my age who had not aged at the same rate as me. 'Over the years I have tried every treatment you can think of Botox, fillers, PRP, threads, microneedling, skin boosters, RF machines. 'Anything that promised results, I tried – but nothing ever lasted. 'I never posted close-up photos of my face to avoid the lines showing. 7 7 'My confidence was very low and I became obsessed with how bad my face looked.' While doing her own research, she found a clinic in London that offered CO2 ablative laser treatment. The procedure removes the top layer of damaged, wrinkled skin to help fresh skin grow. Sharon paid the £4,250 to go ahead with the treatment on 12 April. And while she admits that the recovery in the past month has been rough, the mum can't believe the results. Sharon, who works as an operations manager for a cleaning services company, says: 'I never really wanted to go down the facelift route. 'I knew people that had gotten great results but some also not so good, so I didn't want to go under the knife. 'I had many consultations and after a few, one person suggested CO2 fractional laser. 'When I investigated, I thought the downtime and recovery was too long and a bit scary. 'But I continued to research because I was totally unhappy with the wrinkled skin. 'This is when I fell upon fully CO2 ablative laser, which said you only needed one treatment. 'At this point, I was nearing 55 so I took the plunge. 'At the end of the day, my skin was making me miserable, so I had to take the leap. 'The procedure itself was mainly pain-free due to the numbing gel but the first week was pretty tough going.' Sharon posted her recovery on TikTok as a way of giving herself something else to focus on. She says: 'Days two to five were the worst with seeping skin as it was sticking to my pillow and I had difficulty sleeping. 'It was also stinging whenever I washed. Why is turmeric good for anti-ageing? A study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that turmeric and curcumin may help prevent DNA damage and aid in DNA repair. This is promising news for disease prevention and slowing the ageing process. It also: Boosts Collagen Production: Collagen is a protein that maintains the skin's elasticity and firmness. As we age, collagen production decreases, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin. Turmeric helps stimulate collagen synthesis, thereby promoting firmer and more youthful skin. Improves Skin Health: Turmeric has been shown to improve various skin conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties help soothe the skin, reduce redness, and promote a clearer complexion. 'Each day and week came with different challenges with the healing – but by week four, everything had settled. 'I am now five weeks on and can say the treatment was definitely worth the difficult recovery.' Stunned viewers TikTok viewers can't believe the mum's transformation – with one of her videos racking up a whopping 1.8 million views. One said: 'Wow! Looking fantastic, it's taken about 20 years off you. Another added: 'No way that's the same person,' while another said: 'You look 20 years younger!' Sharon has described the reaction online and in person as 'amazing'. 'They all can't believe the difference and it's given me a boost,' she says. 'Most people are saying I look up to 20 years younger. I didn't do this to look younger, but for my skin to look fresh – but obviously the looking younger comments are great.' While some online sceptics accused her of using filters or secretly getting a facelift, Sharon says she brushes off the negativity with a laugh. She adds: 'There definitely have been some non-believers on TikTok saying I have had a facelift or I have filters on. 'But for the most part, everyone has been really supportive and really happy for me which is lovely. 'I get lots of questions and lots of interest in the procedure because of the amazing results. 'A lot of people have told me to grow old gracefully, but I would rather grow old disgracefully. 'I also get a lot of comments telling me to sort my teeth out, or asking why I didn't get my neck and chest done, too. Some people just have no tact.' Now, she's encouraging others to consider the treatment too. 'I feel super happy with the result,' says Sharon. 'I don't have to worry about wrinkles in pictures anymore. It's definitely improved my confidence. 'I would definitely recommend this to others. 'Yes, it is tough for the first week and challenging for a couple more weeks but well worth it. 'If it makes you feel good, then why not? I have no regrets and wish I did it sooner.' 7 7
The Independent
02-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
School forced to ban children from playground as dive-bombing buzzard terrorises village
A dive-bombing buzzard has forced a village primary school to ban children from going outside following a spate of attacks. The bird of prey has been attacking villagers in Havering-atte-Bower, near Romford, Essex, since Easter weekend, according to residents. Dame Tipping Primary School said 'nothing can be done' but to keep pupils inside due to the animal being a protected species. Resident Nikki Dix, 37, said she was 'dead shocked' after the bird left scratch marks on her head while she was walking through a park in March. 'He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head,' she said. Footage showed the buzzard swooping down on Louise Whittle, a parent of a pupil at the school, as it appeared to aim for her head. She said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people. But it's been a great learning experience for the children. 'They have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done. The school has been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out.' However, she worried that "the birds are being prioritised over the children" and voiced her hope "hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal". Headteacher Ms McCarthy said: 'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional board games, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.' A Havering Council spokesperson said: "The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received. "Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time. "We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution." In March, a rogue hawk caused mayhem in a Hertfordshire village after it began a campaign of violence, targeted mainly at tall men. The bird, which is usually native to Brazil, Argentina and Chile, was responsible for over 20 attacks after a 'sudden change in behaviour'. The Harris hawk was sighted several times in the historic parish village of Flamstead, with professionals and local falconers recruited in an attempt to bring the bird under control. Speaking to The Times, Roy Lambden, 68, said he was out walking when he 'felt a whack' on his head, and soon realised he was bleeding. 'It was only from the corner of my eye that I realised it was a bird because I saw it fly away. I was one of the first to be hit by it,' he said. 'Since then, around 20 people I know have been attacked. Lots of bleeding heads — my friend who is bald has got two scars from it.' The hawk was captured in April by a falconer, who said it had been carrying out the attacks because it was 'hormonal'.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who is Johnny Fisher? Fight record, stats, next bout, and more
Johnny Fisher returns to the ring this weekend when he faces Dave Allen for a second time, but who is the man they call the 'Romford Bull'? The unbeaten heavyweight garnered notoriety at the end of 2024 for his controversial victory over Allen – and his internet sensation father 'Big John'. But 26-year-old Fisher is a fighter first-and-foremost, a heavyweight with big ambitions on the world stage. Who is Johnny Fisher? Born and raised in Romford, Essex, Fisher was a keen sportsman as he grew up. Not only did he start boxing in his early teens, but his physique and strength translated well to rugby. Fisher briefly drifted away from the sweet science, but returned to boxing whilst studying history at Exeter University. Whilst at uni, he sparred with Joe Joyce, partly reigniting his love for the sport. He turned professional in 2021, securing a first-round stoppage against Matt Gordon at Wembley Arena. Fisher currently trains under the watchful eye of Mark Tibbs at the Origin Gym in Essex. What is Johnny Fisher's record? Fisher remains unbeaten since starting his professional career in 2021, with 13 wins from 13 bouts. Impressively, Fisher has won 11 of those fights by way of knockout, including a run of seven straight stoppages until his split decision win over Dave Allen last time out. After his debut in February 2021, Fisher racked up experience. He fought a further three times in 2021, before settling into a rhythm of three fights a year in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Aside from his victory against Allen, Fisher had respectable wins over Dmytro Bezus and Alen Babic, who had respectively records of 10-1 and 12-1 at the time. Fisher's bout with Bezus was staged in Las Vegas, with the 'Romford Bull' fighting on the undercard of Conor Benn's victory against Peter Dobson alongside stablemates George Liddard and Jimmy Sains. When is Johnny Fisher's next fight? Johnny Fisher returns to action this weekend, when he headlines a card at the Copperbox Arena, London, live on DAZN. He faces fellow Brit Dave Allen in a rematch, following Fisher's somewhat controversial victory against the Yorkshireman in Saudi Arabia last year. Knocked down by Allen, Fisher did well to recover, but many fans felt that the Romford Bull was beaten by his opponent. The card takes place on Saturday, May 17, with the main event ringwalks set for approximately 10pm.
Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Romanian man charged over Keir Starmer ‘arson' attacks
A Russian-speaking student born in Ukraine allegedly conspired to carry out 'aggravated arson' attacks on two London properties and a vehicle linked to Sir Keir Starmer, a court was told. Stanislav Carpiuc, an aspiring model from Romford, east London, is alleged to have worked with Roman Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national, and others to set fire to the prime minister's former family home, a property linked to him and a car he previously owned. Counter Terrorism Command led the investigation, given Starmer's position. Carpiuc, 26, who was born in Ukraine but spent most of his life in Romania, where he had citizenship, has been charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to damage property, endanger life or being reckless as to whether
