Latest news with #disabled
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
At least three burned alive in their sleep after horror blaze erupts at holiday home for disabled people in France
AT least three people burned alive in their sleep after a harrowing blaze erupted at a holiday home for disabled people. The victims are said to have burnt to death within "minutes" in the cottage in south west of France. 6 6 6 6 Firefighters in Montmoreau, near Angouleume, confirmed the building was reduced to smouldering rubble in the early hours of Monday morning as holidaymakers slept. Local government official Jean-Charles Jobart said how three people are "confirmed dead" - with the figure "likely to rise" in the tragedy. He added: "The fire brigade's canine unit is trying to locate any other victims, and there are at least two other people confirmed missing." Mr Jobart said the alarm was first raised at 4:30am after a suspected electrical fault was thought to have caused the blaze. It soon spread quickly, and the deceased are believed to have burnt to death within 20 minutes, he added. Other suffered severe injuries, including one who remained in hospital intensive care on Monday afternoon. According to local cops, there were a total of 12 people with disabilities inside the holiday home. None have yet been identified by name, but Mr Jobart said a 60-year-old woman was among those who tragically died. It's feared that most of the victims were asleep when the deadly blaze broke out, and were unable to find an escape route after being asphyxiated by thick smoke. Jean-Michel Bolvin, the Mayor of Montmoreau, said the converted farmhouse had been "approved to accommodate disabled people during the holiday period". Moment 150 terrified passengers flee plane engulfed in smoke after landing gear issue sparked fire and injured one Mathieu Auriol, the Angouleme deputy prosecutor, said a criminal enquiry had been launched into "involuntary manslaughter and the involuntary causing of injury". He said there had been 14 adults aged 20 to 75 inside the destroyed building. All of the victim's had been on a week's holiday, Auriol added. Forensics experts are involved in the probe, with autopsies to be held to establish the exact cause of the deaths. Montmoreau - a commune in the department of Charente - has a population of just 2,500 people. The blaze comes just under two years since 10 disabled adults and a carer were killed by a fire at a holiday cottage in Wintzenheim, near Strasbourg, eastern France. All those who died were still asleep on the top floor of the two-storey building during the blaze, which spread rapidly. 6 6
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
3 self-sufficient young disabled Chinese men sell garlic for a living, inspiring many
Three young disabled men from southeastern China earn a living by selling garlic and ginger, inspiring many online with their self-reliance and mutual support. Advertisement According to mainland media Jiupai News, a young woman known as Xiaoyu, who lost a hand and was disfigured in a fire, is a close friend of the three men. She documents their daily routines and work, sharing the content online with 23,000 followers in hopes of garnering social support for them. The trio, all in their 20s from Jiangxi province, live with varying degrees of cerebral palsy. One of them, known as Long, is the most severely affected, lacking feeling in his legs, having hand deformities, and depending on a wheelchair. Han struggles with speech, while Qi has weak legs and cannot stand for more than three minutes. They met through local events organised by the Disabled Persons' Federation and now share a small rented room, assisting each other with dressing and dividing cooking and other household responsibilities. Living together in a small rented room, they help each other with dressing and share responsibilities for cooking and other household tasks. Photo: RedNote Qi's living expenses are supported by his grandfather's pension, while the other two rely on a monthly government disability allowance of 400 yuan (US$55). Local officials also frequently visit to provide food and supplies.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Missed chances to save daughter found dead with mum
A disabled teenage girl could have been saved if an ambulance had attended her dying mother's 999 call - months before they were both found dead in their home, a coroner has concluded. Nottingham Coroner's Court heard Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and 18-year-old Loraine Choulla had been dead for some time before they were found on 21 May 2024 in a house in Radford. It was believed Alphonsine died first, in February, while Loraine - who had Down's syndrome and depended "entirely" on her mum - died of malnutrition and dehydration weeks later. On Friday, assistant coroner Amanda Bewley said authorities "missed opportunities" to escalate concerns around the pair. An inquest into their deaths, which started on Monday, heard Alphonsine had called for an ambulance on 2 February saying she was cold and could not move, but nobody attended. Pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton said he could "not rule out" that Alphonsine might have died on 2 February, which is when she called 999. 'Please come, please' Alphonsine had been admitted to City Hospital on 26 January with a lower respiratory tract infection and needed blood transfusions due to low iron levels. The inquest heard despite the hospital wanting her to stay, she was "discharged pragmatically" on 28 January to return to her daughter. On 2 February, Alphonsine called 999 asking for an ambulance, the inquest heard. She told a call handler she needed help for herself and her daughter. "I feel cold and I can't move," she told the call handler. In a transcript read out at the inquest, the call handler asked several times what language Alphonsine spoke and whether she needed an interpreter. Despite not responding to those questions, she gave her address and asked again for an ambulance. "Would you send an ambulance? Please come, please," were the last words she said on the phone before the call ended. Keeley Sheldon, director of quality at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said the service "fully accept" the coroner's findings. She said: "I am truly sorry that we did not respond as we should have to Alphonsine Djiako Leuga and Lorraine Choulla. Our deepest condolences remain with their family. "After our internal investigation, we made changes to our policies, procedures and training to ensure this does not happen in future." If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support is available via the BBC Action Line Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story Disabled daughter 'alone for weeks after mum died' Mum found dead with daughter refused support Mum and daughter found dead months after 999 plea Review after 'shocking' deaths of mum and daughter Related internet links HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Missed opportunities' to save disabled girl found dead with mum
A disabled teenage girl could have been saved if an ambulance had attended her dying mother's 999 call - months before they were both found dead in their home, a coroner has Coroner's Court heard Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, 47, and 18-year-old Loraine Choulla had been dead for some time before they were found on 21 May 2024 in a house in was believed Alphonsine died first, in February, while Loraine - who had Down's syndrome and depended "entirely" on her mum - died of malnutrition and dehydration weeks later. On Friday, assistant coroner Amanda Bewley said authorities "missed opportunities" to escalate concerns around the pair. An inquest into their deaths, which started on Monday, heard Alphonsine had called for an ambulance on 2 February saying she was cold and could not move, but nobody attended.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Son to finally return home after 'unbelievable' DIY SOS rebuild
The family of a disabled teenager who can finally leave hospital after his home in Lancashire was transformed by the BBC's DIY SOS team has said the end result was "unbelievable". Daniel Flemen has been living in hospital in Manchester for nearly three years after a life-saving operation to remove a brain tumour left him severely eight days of working, the house in Freckleton has been renovated by the team at DIY SOS, who will feature the 16-year-old's story in full in a programme in 2026."It's an emotional day for everyone," his uncle Mark Rigby said, after hundreds of tradespeople, suppliers and volunteers worked on the family home in Lancashire. He said the bungalow is "100% changed, it's like night and day" and "now it's totally functional for Daniel to come home".Speaking just before the finished project was unveiled, he said there will be "a lot of tears".Mr Rigby said: "Every single room's been affected with everyone working until four o'clock in the morning."It's unbelievable what's happened." The DIY SOS team said a record number of people turned up to work on the first day of the rebuild eight days designer, Gaby Blackman, said: "It was an impossible job, it wasn't really achievable on paper, and they've done it."Daniel is coming home all because of these guys and their talent, hard work and commitment, I'm so proud of everyone."What a week and what absolute heroes, every single one of them." Paul Taylor, from Burnley, has been camping overnight to work on the house."I've been fine in a caravan," he said, "but there's other blokes in tents who've not been so good, with soggy boots and socks at the end of the tent."He said he has done "loads of lifting and shifting" so that "whatever the trades have needed, we've brought to them and whatever they didn't need, we've taken away". Bricklayer Ian McDonald travelled down to help from Lytham St Annes, and said he got involved because "it's nice to give something back". "A lot of people have put a lot of work in behind the scenes that you don't see, like lads on diggers putting in footings, or teams of people just forming lines and passing stuff, it's been great."As the project ended he said he was feeling "emotional and proud". "Having your family all together is a massive thing," he said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
