Latest news with #RoyalVictoriaInfirmary
Daily Record
12-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Oasis fan feelin' supersonic after meeting man who saved his life before reunion gig
Mark Devlin says his bone marrow donor Neil Ellis "saved" his life as the pair met for the first time ahead of Oasis' comeback show in Cardiff last week. A young Oasis fan felt supersonic after meeting the man who saved his life before the band's first reunion show in Cardiff. Mark Devlin, 26, from Renfrewshire, was born with a rare and serious genetic condition called Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD), which left his immune system unable to fight infections. As a child, Mark was in and out of hospital and by the age of 11, doctors warned his health would only worsen without a bone marrow transplant. In April 2011, he was finally offered one at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle - with a match from Neil Ellis, who at the time was only a stranger from Wales. Now, 14 years on, Mark, lives medication free, and decided to track down his 58-year-old donor through the Anthony Nolan Registry. W hen he secured tickets to see the Gallagher brothers' first reunion gig in Cardiff, he knew it was the perfect time for the pair to meet . Mark said: 'I had always dreamed of meeting the person who saved my life. To finally put a name and face to the man who made it all possible was surreal. "I didn't know what to expect but meeting Neil was emotional. On the way down, we were speculating about what he'd be like as I held him in such high regard in my mind. "If it wasn't for him then there's a chance that I might not be here today. 'Going down for Oasis would have been good in itself, never mind meeting the man who changed my life for the better on top of it.' Mark and his friend Eillidh travelled to Cardiff the night before the gig and met Neil in the Royal Oak pub. Mark continued: 'It was such an s pecial moment. We chatted for hours, just like two guys in a pub would - but this guy had literally saved my life. 'The reality of what he did for me really hit home afterwards. My whole family sent him heartfelt messages. Pretty quickly, he realised the magnitude and importance of what he did too. 'We were going back and forth saying, 'You are a hero '.' Neil started donating blood as a teenager when he was on a half-day off work, but he accidentally ticked every box on a questionnaire - not knowing it would one day lead to a life-saving stem cell donation. Neil said: 'I just ticked all the boxes. I forgot all about it, really. They called me saying I was a match for a young boy. It was a no brainer. "I never knew that it would help save a young boy over 25 years later." However, prior to the procedure, uncertainty arose. Neil continued: 'I got a call in March 2011 saying the procedure was delayed. 'You start thinking that if I don't hear from register again, then something drastic has gone wrong. There is a bit of mental anguish. 'But thankfully, Mark just had a chest infection and the transplant went ahead one month later.' When the two finally met for the first time last Thursday, they shared what Neil described as ' teary hugs' and 'a brilliant night out'. Neil added: ' Mark's a proper character. We hit it off straight away. I didn't get home until 4am – not bad for a man my age on Coca Cola.' Mark has encouraged everyone to donate. He said: 'If it wasn't for Neil, I might not be here. 'I can't stress enough how important it is to donate blood, stem cells or bone marrow. You could change someone's life – like Neil did mine.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Scratch and sniff' test could help top doctors spot Parkinson's, says Newcastle expert
A "scratch and sniff" test could help experts spot risk factors for Parkinson's Disease sooner than ever. That's according to a Newcastle professor who leads a study called the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) in the UK. Prof Nicola Pavese, a consultant neurologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and a clinical neuroscience professor at Newcastle University, heads up PPMI in this country and is encouraging people to sign up for an innovative "scratch and sniff" test to help support pioneering research. The PPMI is sponsored and part-funded by the Parkinson's research foundation set up by Back to the Future actor Michael J Fox. Prof Pavese said the study could could bring better treatments a "step closer" for people with Parkinson's and their families. READ MORE: Woman caught performing sex act in Gateshead doorway while children were present READ MORE: Major power outage in North Shields leaves 1,600 properties without electricity He said: "Many conditions, such as Covid-19 or a common cold, can cause loss of smell, however a prolonged loss of smell might be a risk factor for developing brain disease, such as Parkinson's. Not everyone with smell loss will go on to develop brain disease, however we need to learn more about this connection to find effective treatments. 'Everyone who gets involved in the study is helping us to move a step closer to finding treatments for a condition that can have a huge impact on patients and their families." The test takes 15 minutes to complete - and people who are over 40 and do not have the disease can take part, as can those who have been diagnosed with it in the last seven years and those who may have a sleep condition called REM sleep behaviour disorder which can be an early sign of brain disease risk, especially in combination with having a reduced sense of smell. The test is posted out to people if they are eligible. Those who are not, can still take part in a study that is online-based and involves answering questionnaires about lifestyle risk factors that could lead to Parkinson's or other degenerative neurological conditions. For more information, contact the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust's PPMI team on 0191 208 1241 or email Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East. ChronicleLive has created a dedicated WhatsApp community for breaking news and our biggest stories. You can join this WhatsApp community here. It will keep you up-to-date with news as it breaks and our top stories of the day sent directly to your phone.
The Sun
04-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Person dies & another seriously injured after ‘getting into difficulty' in water at popular UK beach
A PERSON has died and another was left in a "serious condition" after getting into difficulty in the sea. Emergency services were scrambled to the North Tyneside coast at around 6pm on May 19 after reports two people had been caught in a rip current. One casualty, who was found to be in a critical condition, was taken by air ambulance to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade confirmed that they tragically died three days three days later. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Father dragged away from his dying daughter's hospital bedside by police faces legal bill of up to £100,000 after losing wrongful arrest case
A father who was forcibly dragged away from his dying daughter's hospital bedside by police is now facing a legal bill of up to £100,000 after losing his wrongful arrest case. Dr Rashid Abbasi, an NHS consultant, had brought a civil claim against Northumbria Police for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, and assault and battery following the harrowing incident at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Disturbing police bodycam footage showed Dr Abbasi shouting 'b*******' and biting officers as they restrained and removed him from the children's intensive care unit in August 2019. The five-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court ended with a judge condemning Dr Abbasi and describing his behaviour as the spark for the violent incident in the paediatric unit. He also described who described Dr Abbasi as a 'menace' on the ward. Now, six years after the incident, the father faces a massive legal bill. He will have to cover not only his own costs but also between 60 and 70 per cent of the legal fees incurred by Northumbria Police. This bill is estimated to be anywhere from £50,000 to £100,000, the Mirror reports. Despite attempts by Dr Abbasi to recover some of the costs through a one-way cost shifting regime, it is understood that the police opposed the move, and the judge is expected to reject it. This means Dr Abbasi will be liable for tens of thousands of pounds in costs. Recorder James Murphy, who presided over the case, said police footage showed Dr Abbasi instigated the violence in the hospital ward. The ruling dealt a heavy blow to Dr Abbasi, who had previously expressed deep distress at being removed from his daughter Zainab's bedside shortly after her life support was withdrawn. In court, the judge said there was sufficient reason for police to believe a breach of the peace was imminent. He added: 'If I was a bystander having watched this footage, a reasonable description would have been that Dr Abbasi was a coiled spring waiting to breach the peace.' Following the verdict, Dr Abbasi said the judge's description of him as a 'menace' was 'unwarranted' and 'hurtful,' and that the video footage 'tells its own story.' He added that the officers accepted he was not aggressive or threatening before they laid hands on him. Rashid Abbasi, his wife Aliya and another relative, are seen at Zainab's bedside as police enter the ward The incident involving Dr Abbasi took place at Newcastle's Great North Children's Hospital - which was named after an injunction was lifted by the Court of Appeal in 2020. The Court of Appeal also allowed the naming of the doctors in charge of Zainab's care, but this was appealed by the NHS trusts involved. However, the Supreme Court last month unanimously dismissed the appeal - allowing the medics to be identified. Dr Abbasi's arrest came after the he and his wife were involved in a protracted dispute with doctors over the care of their critically ill daughter. The six-year-old was suffering from respiratory problems and a rare genetic illness called Niemann-Pick disease, which meant she was likely to die during childhood. Medics insisted Zainab should be allowed to die but Dr and Mrs Abbasi fought for further treatment that they were convinced would keep her alive. The couple clashed with Zainab's doctors for years over her treatment. They said that on two previous occasions when Zainab was critically ill they had successfully argued for her to be treated with steroids instead of having life support withdrawn, and were proved correct when her condition improved. After her admission to hospital in July 2019, Dr and Mrs Abbasi believed that, while their daughter was dangerously ill, she could survive with the right care. But the following month on August 19, doctors told the Abbasis that Zainab was dying. An audio recording revealed how one doctor told them that 'the next steps would involve taking her off the ventilator'. Rashid and Aliya pleaded for further tests, but one of the doctors refused, saying the process of moving Zainab on to palliative care needed to start 'straight away'. Rashid told them they would have to get a court order to do so. Urged again to carry out more tests, the doctor replied 'We are not going to be doing any more going round in circles', adding: 'You will never come to terms with this.'
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Heroic mother, 27, dies after saving her two sons, four and three, from devastating house fire
A heroic mother died after saving her two young sons from a devastating house fire. Kayleigh Lennox, 27, lost a fight for life in hospital three days after fire engulfed a two-storey property at Cant Crescent in Carlisle. Police confirmed there had been a house fire on Monday, April 28. Kayleigh sadly died at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary on the night of Thursday, May 1. Two children, aged four and three, were taken to the same hospital for treatment and were said at the time to be in a stable condition. A post mortem had taken place with a cause of death offered of multiple organ failure, 30 per cent body surface area burns, and inhalation injury. A coroner said there was an 'unnatural element' to Kayleigh's death which called for a full investigation. More than £17,000 has been raised to date in memory of Kayleigh through an online fund-raiser organised by Kaley Dixon. 'Sadly and surrounded by her loving family, at Newcastle RVI after fighting on, Kayleigh has passed away leaving her two young beautiful boys, who she managed to save from a house fire on Monday, April 28, 2025,' said Kaley. As of May 1, when the fund-raiser was launched, the two boys were said to be 'still sedated so will need so much love and support when they are able to come home'. 'So this fund raising is now for them and for Kayleigh's parents to pay for whatever costs they need too during this horrific time. As parents we can't imagine what she endured on the night of the fire,' added Kaley. 'Please support this beautiful family and Kayleigh has been an absolute hero saving her boys. Any donation little or big will be greatly received. Thank you. 'All funds will be forwarded to Kayleigh's mum, Julie Lennox — to help provide for the two boys and get them whatever they need and help towards funeral cost.' A statement from Carlisle's Rock Youth Project was issued on social media, and said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear the latest news from the tragic fire. 'Please remember that our youth workers at The Rock Youth Project are always available to listen, talk, and offer support to any children, young people, and residents affected by this heartbreaking event. 'Don't hesitate to reach out; we are here for the community, always.' A joint investigation into the circumstances of the fire was launched by Cumbria police long with and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service. 'Initial enquiries indicate no suspicious circumstances relating to the cause of the fire,' a police spokesman had said. An inquest into Kayleigh's death was opened at Cockermouth Coroners' Court this morning. Assistant Cumbria coroner Margaret Taylor confirmed Kayleigh was single at the time of her death. A coroners' office investigation commenced on May 7. Identification evidence had been provided by a detective constable. Ms Taylor ordered a full inquest to be scheduled, saying there was an unnatural element to Kalyleigh's death. Ms Taylor said: 'We will be looking at the cause of the fire and medical treatment that Kayleigh received'. The hearing was adjourned to October 2, when it is hoped a full inquest will take place provided all information is available.
