The Byford Dolphin was a semi-submersible oil drilling platform operating in the North Sea when a catastrophic decompression accident claimed five lives in one of the most horrific diving tragedies ever recorded

In one of the most harrowing tragedies ever recorded, five men were essentially boiled alive from the inside out following a split-second error 1,000 feet below the ocean’s surface.

In 1983, the Byford Dolphin, a semi-submersible oil drilling rig, was conducting operations at multiple sites throughout the North Sea.

The installation had earned a sinister reputation for mishaps, with the most catastrophic event involving ruptured organs, boiling blood, and one man killed by a diving chamber.

A team of four British and Norwegian divers – Edwin Arthur Coward, 35, Roy P. Lucas, 38, Bjørn Giæver Bergersen, 29, and Truls Hellevik, 34 – along with tenders William Crammond, 32, and Martin Saunders, 30, assembled to undertake a deep-sea diving task on the platform.

For secure deep-sea operations, the divers required confinement within a series of compression chambers during a 28-day period.

These extremely sensitive chambers prevent nitrogen accumulating in the bloodstream, according to Lad Bible.

The pressurised living quarters were reached through a diving bell, a ring-shaped vessel, which stayed sealed from other areas of the underwater structure.

This method was known as saturation diving – it enabled divers to stay underwater for extended durations while avoiding the excruciating and often lethal build-up of nitrogen during ascent.

Ascending to the water’s surface causes nitrogen and helium to dissolve into divers’ bloodstreams, which can prove fatal.

This is precisely why divers inside the chambers breathe a meticulously measured mixture of gases — typically helium and oxygen, adjusted according to the depth of the dive.

Should a diver ascend too quickly, the abrupt drop in pressure can trigger decompression sickness.

On the ill-fated day of 5 November 1983, Bergersen and Hellevik were returning to the chamber via the diving bell, assisted by tenders Crammond and Saunders.

For a safe transfer between chambers, the diving bell needed to be properly sealed to prevent the bends.

However, a devastating mechanical fault caused the bell to detach just moments before Hellevik could secure the chamber door.

The crew chambers should have remained pressurised at nine atmospheres, but instead plummeted to one in a matter of milliseconds.

Crammond was killed after being struck by the errant diving bell, while the four divers perished instantly as nitrogen in their bloodstream turned to bubbles, effectively causing them to boil from within.

Hellevik was forced through a 60cm opening, with the immense pressure causing his internal organs to be expelled from his body.

Saunders was the sole survivor of the devastating incident, having sustained collapsed lungs, spinal fractures and a broken neck.

A formal inquiry concluded that human error was responsible for the deaths. The incident remains an enigma as its precise cause is still uncertain, yet it underscored the pressing need for improvements to diving safety procedures.

Emily Casey, 34, fell ill just three days into the family’s Canary Islands holiday

The relatives of mum-of-five currently in a coma in Gran Canaria are desperately trying to get her back to Britain.

Emily Casey, 34, fell seriously ill while holidaying on the Canary Islands with her husband Jamie Casey and their five youngsters.

Just three days after the Wirral family touched down on the island on Wednesday, May 13, Emily began experiencing severe breathing difficulties and was immediately taken to a local hospital. Having only recently overcome pneumonia, medics initially thought she might have developed a blood clot on her lung.

Jamie was told he needed to pay £3,000 upfront for his wife to have a CT scan. Emily’s father John transferred the funds and the scan went ahead.

Medical staff informed them the pneumonia had come back and one of her lungs was “full of fluid,” requiring drainage.

That evening, Jamie headed back to the family’s hotel to care for their five youngsters. Throughout the night he repeatedly rang and texted Emily to make sure she was alright while their children were asleep, but received no reply.

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The following morning Jamie raced back to the hospital, only to discover his wife had been placed in an induced coma and was on a life support machine. In a state of alarm, Jamie got in touch with their family in the UK and Emily’s mother travelled to Gran Canaria to assist with her care, reports the Liverpool Echo.

When their holiday came to an end on Tuesday, May 19, Jamie returned to Liverpool with their children to sort out childcare arrangements. He has since travelled back to Gran Canaria to remain by his wife’s side.

When he got back, he learned his wife had developed sepsis. Now, on May 23, the family received devastating news that Emily’s condition has “gone backwards.” Medical scans have shown pneumonia has “taken over her lungs again” with sepsis now present in her bloodstream.

Hospital bills have already exceeded £8,000 for the family; tragically, because the mum-of-five had only recently recovered from pneumonia, her insurance policy won’t cover the costs. The family are now “desperately” appealing for assistance to get Emily back home.

Relative Kevin Magee reached out to the Liverpool Echo to highlight a GoFundMe page established for Emily’s treatment. Those wishing to contribute can make donations online.

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But let’s be honest, the ‘fish and chips capital of the country’ is a bit of a trail.

And who needs Whitby, when you have the Wetherby Whaler!

I have been going there since I was a boy- the original one in Wetherby- some 50-odd years ago.

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And rarely have I been disappointed by the chain, which began in 1969 and also has branches in York, Tadcaster, Guiseley, Wakefield, Pudsey and Leeds.

The Wetherby Whaler (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Perhaps it’s because Wetherby was the chippie I grew up with, it has always been the one to beat and few, if any, do.

Back in the day, around 1980, I remember fish and chips cost 50p (38p for the fish, 12p for the chips).

A box of delight (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Anyway, I was back in Wetherby last Saturday, and for £10.55 you can get a ‘lunchtime special’, consisting of haddock, chips, peas or curry and a can of pop.

I could have paid more and gone to the restaurant upstairs, but I did what I have done for decades and took my fish to the nearby seats in front of the Red Lion car park.

Another alternative place to eat them, is down by the river, as many do.

A good place to enjoy fish and chips- down by the river! (Image: Darren Greenwood)

The batter was crisp and a good colour, the chips were plentiful, and the curry was perfect. But not being the pig I used to be, about half the chips were wasted. Still, the Wetherby Whaler remains highly satisfying after all these years.

The River Wharfe in its glory (Image: Darren Greenwood)

You will not starve in Wetherby. It has a fine range of nationally-recognised brands as well as many fine independents. And as someone who grew up in Wetherby and knows many of these places well, let me share some with you.

The Angel Inn, which is a busy Wetherspoons (Image: Darren Greenwood)

First of all, for parking, go to the Cluster of Nuts car park on Hallfield Lane behind Marks and Spencer and near to Morrisons and Wetherby High (where I went). Eat your heart out York, you can park for free for up to four hours!

After parking, you pass Marks and Spencer and soon come to the Angel Inn, Wetherby’s new Wetherspoons. It’s had some mixed reviews online for its food but the beer is always good, well-kept and very cheap.

The popular Kofi & Co is in the distance (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Dad once complained to me of a gristly pie, but the pizzas, chicken strips and pieces we have had have all been fine. I once had a breakfast one morning, which was very enjoyable, with plenty of bacon, sausage, toast and beans.  

This busy venue is well worth a visit for ‘Spoons fans.

My Wetherby regular is The Mews, tucked away from the main centre by Bank Street, close to the church.

The Mews in Bank Street (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Charmaine and Kerry have done a fine job running the place over the years, delivering friendly and prompt service, good food, good value, and well-kept ales. In addition to the national brands, you will find Yorkshire ones.

Keg and craft beers are available, with Three Swords form Kirkstall a regular and a recommended favourite. Dad is fond of the Tetley’s when it’s on. The real ales rotate and Camra members get a discount when they show their membership card.

Bank Street (Image: Darren Greenwood)

The Mews serves the regular traditional/ pub classics, plus Pieminster pies and it has a good range of small plates and nibbles, which I have often enjoyed and would recommend. It also serves a mighty Sunday roast.

In the winter, you will find a log fire and in the summer, many will enjoy sitting out in what pre-Covid was the car park.

Other pubs to look out for include the Red Lion, especially if you like Theakston’s Old Perculier.

Bar 3 has a decent following, as does the Black Bull, the New Inn and the Swan and Talbot.

But for restaurants, can I tempt you with Thai?

Wetherby Town Hall (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Barely a stone’s throw from the Mews is the Baanrai Thai café and restaurant. It has always been good, be it for curries, or my favourite weeping tiger. I also enjoy its tom kha gai soup as well; and its wines, some actually from Thailand, aren’t bad.

Once Upon a Vine in Cross Street (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Also in Bank Street you will find the vegetarian Mango restaurant, which continues to gain top reviews. I have been a few times with my vegetarian friends but despite finding the food lacked something (as in meat) I have always enjoyed its tasty dishes and convivial atmosphere.

Nearby, is the gastropub Snug and Chatter. It’s famous for steak, which I have yet to try, but I can recommend its steak and ale pie as well as its fish and chips.

Now, lovers of Indian food won’t be disappointed with Wetherby.

A regular award winner is the Bengal Lounge on High Street. It never disappoints, with quality, authentic food and good service. It can get busy though.

As it’s a BYO, you can get your wine from M&S a few minutes walk away, which is what I usually do.

Just some of the wines available (Image: Darren Greenwood)

M&S overlooks the Bengal Lounge, which is a bit classier and also delivers tasty, quality and authentic Indian food.

A bit further up, close to the Swan and Talbot on North Street is Black Cardamon. This offers Bangladeshi cooking, a little different and me and my vegetarian friends enjoyed our first visit a few weeks back.

The choices were extensive and tasty and like the others, reasonably priced and well worth the visit.

Now, we mustn’t forget lovers of Chinese, the All Seasons Restaurant and Bar on Westgate, close to the library is also recommended with an extensive range of good food.

Now, there are a couple of new arrivals in town.

The first is Maybe Later on High Street, which I have yet to try. It seems more of a fine dining restaurant, and it is gaining top reviews online.

The English bubbles were magnificent (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Now, I was able to try Once Upon a Vine in Cross Street, which is a wine shop that also offers plates of cheese and charcuterie. It also runs tasting events.

I loved my cheese and crackers and their chilled English sparkler to wash it down was magnificent.

But if you just want coffee, BAE (Before Anything else) is popular and Kofi & Co is always thriving.

Four hours free parking at the Cluster of Nuts Car Park (Image: Darren Greenwood)

If you want to sit in Wetherby’s own The Shambles, Pomfrets of Wetherby is well supported and for those who like a special beer with their coffee, Bottle and Bean is another winner!

This is just a sample of the culinary delights Wetherby has to offer.

Take a trip to this delightful historic market and horse racing town.

I assure you, you won’t be disappointed.

A sexologist mum and her partner have been arrested after they allegedly abandoned her two young boys nearly 1,500 miles from their home.

CCTV footage shows Portuguese officers escorting the French couple, Marine Rousseau, 41, and former cop Marc Ballabriga, 55, to a waiting car after they were tracked down to a cafe terrace.

Two days earlier Marine’s two young children, Barthelemy, five, and Zacharie, three, were found crying and alone 125 miles away in a rurle woodland.

Portuguese TV broadcaster SIC, which obtained the footage, also published a video showing Marine Rousseau, 41, and former cop Marc Ballabriga, 55, arriving at O Vasco cafe in the city of Fatima a 90-minute drive north of Lisbon earlier in the day in their French-plated Opel.

The couple had been overheard by a French-speaking Portuguese police officer hatching a plan to ‘pretend they were crazy’ after they were taken into custody, Portuguese public service broadcaster RTP reports.

Court officials are already said to have been made aware of the conversation Marine and Marc allegedly had in the car that took them from Fatima to a police station in Palmela 100 miles away after their arrests on Thursday.

The couple are due to find out later this morning whether they get remanded to prison over the accusations of domestic violence and child abandonment they are facing.

The dad of the two boys had reported them missing on May 11 after they vanished from their home in Colmar in northeastern France near the border with Germany.

Marine, who is understood to have left another 16-year-old child at home before embarking on a 1,365-mile journey with her two young sons and her boyfriend, drove across Spain while the hunt for them intensified.

She then entered Portugal via the town of Miranda do Douro in the northeastern district of Braganca.

The couple were filmed during their long journey filling up their car with fuel at a petrol station.

They were arrested after enjoying lattes and pastries as the kids were placed into temporary care after being seen in hospital.

Ballabriga and their mum, who on social media describes herself as a ‘sexologist who helps traumatised individuals to regain serenity and sexual fulfilment’, are said to have blindfolded the two boys.

They then told them they could only take the covers off once they had found knives the couple claimed to have buried in the dirt.

While the kids obeyed, the couple reportedly drove off and left them with nothing more than a change of clothes, two pieces of fruit and two bottles of water on them.

A local bakery worker found the two brothers ‘crying and shouting’ and alerted police around 7pm on Tuesday.

The arrests took place at O Vasco cafe on Thursday afternoon.

A French-speaking pensioner who talked to the fugitive couple as they relaxed over snacks called police because she suspected they could be the pair cops were hunting after the youngsters were rescued from their plight.

O Vasco owner Jorge Lopes said the couple had been enjoying pastries hours before they were arrested and seemed unbothered when police arrived.

He said: ‘They acted as if nothing had happened.

‘They stayed sitting and didn’t seem nervous. They were searched and handcuffed without any stress at all.

‘When I saw them so at ease in front of the authorities, I was astonished.

‘It was as if they didn’t have blood running through their veins.’

A customer called Antonio said they were ‘chatting and laughing’ when he arrived, with another client saying the arrested man told him as he sat down next to them: ‘Look at this. I’m here in the sun and the sun is looking at me.’

Teresa Pinto, a worker at a restaurant called Rustikus in Alcacer do Sal where Marine and Marc were with the two brothers shortly before they were allegedly abandoned, said: ‘They arrived just after midday on Tuesday and were sat on the terrace for about two hours.

‘The little ones were playing football and several times the ball went towards the street but neither adult got out of their chairs to stop it.’

Marine was overheard singing as she was escorted into court yesterday and her partner repeatedly shouted in French: ‘Je vous aime’ – English for ‘I love you’ as he was bundled out of a police van just in front of her.

Sources said Ballabriga had acted violently after being taken into police custody, shouting at officers and trying to damage his cell while his girlfriend spent hours singing.

One told Portuguese broadcaster SIC the behaviour ‘could be a joint strategy to escape the clutches of the law’.

GNR police spokesman Carlos Canatario said after the arrests of the couple: ‘They’re not being hostile.

‘They’re simply being silent and very reserved.’

Confirming the arrests on Thursday in a statement, the Portuguese police force said: ‘The Republican National Guard located and detained today, May 21, in Fatima, a 55-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman suspected of committing the crimes of domestic violence and exposure and abandonment, related to the incident involving two young children found alone near a public road in the municipality of Alcacer do Sal.

‘Given the situation of evident vulnerability, the children were taken to the home of a local resident, where they remained and received initial care in the presence of the officers until they were transferred to a hospital unit.’

Portugal’s Public Ministry said: ‘The two boys are in good health and were discharged from hospital on Thursday.’

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French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Trump and the leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan on Saturday about the negotiations with Iran, AFP news agency reported. France is pushing for a negotiated solution, with the number one priority being a complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a source told AFP.

Perhaps your dog is easily agitated and you’ve never been able to understand why. According to Dr Wedderburn, the answer might be – and don’t laugh – childhood trauma. “Many, many dogs these days are reactive and get anxious in new situations,” he explains. “They get aggressive and fearful, which is often because they’re badly socialised when they’re young.”

“Puppies have a socialisation window in their brain up until four months of age,” Dr Wedderburn says. “Whenever they come across a new experience, their brain will accept it as being part of the normal world. If they don’t meet experiences until they’re older than that, until they’re maybe five or six months of age, then their brain is fearful and anxious instead and they retain that fear and anxiety for the rest of their lives.”

Trainer Cox has plenty of experience dealing with anxious dogs: “The most important thing is to recognise that the dog is overstimulated and remove them from that environment. Some dogs like gentle stroking, others like a quiet, calm voice or soft food or something else to chew. Maybe a snuffle mat that they can do a little bit of sniffy work – that tends to take their arousal levels down.”

Why are vet fees so expensive?

Both programmes are filmed deep in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, in one of the most remote corners of North Yorkshire, where Amanda Owen, widely known as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, has spent years raising her family and managing the land.

Where is Our Yorkshire Farm filmed?

The original series is filmed at Ravenseat Farm in Upper Swaledale, near the head of Whitsun Dale.

The remote hill farm spans around 2,000 acres of rugged upland countryside and has long been associated with the Owen family.

Anty John’s – the filming location of Our Farm Next Door (Image: CHANNEL 4)

Primarily a sheep farm, Ravenseat sits miles from major towns and services, adding to the isolated lifestyle featured throughout the series.

The nearest settlement is Keld, a small hamlet around three and a half miles away, best known as a stopping point for walkers exploring the Yorkshire Dales.

Ravenseat previously welcomed visitors for cream teas and overnight stays, but the family stopped public visits in 2022, and the farm now remains private.

Where is Our Farm Next Door filmed?

The More4 spin-off is filmed close to Ravenseat at Anty John’s, a historic farmhouse in Swaledale that Amanda and Clive Owen have been restoring.

The series follows the family as they renovate the once-derelict property while continuing the day-to-day work of farming and caring for livestock alongside their nine children.

The third series, filmed between spring and winter 2025, has just aired on More4 and focuses on the second phase of the restoration project, with attention turning from structural repairs to restoring the interior of the farmhouse.

How remote is the Owen family farm?

Ravenseat is considered one of the most isolated farms regularly featured on British television.

This was documented recently, when Amanda put on social media that it might have been sunny elsewhere, but it was sleeting, snowing and raining over in Ravenseat.

Upper Swaledale is sparsely populated, with limited amenities and long distances between villages.

Mobile phone signal can be unreliable, while shops and petrol stations are few and far between.

The area is popular with hikers, particularly those walking Alfred Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast route, which passes through nearby Keld.

Further down the dale lies Muker, one of Swaledale’s better-known villages, recognised for its traditional stone cottages and village pub.

Why the location is central to the programme

The dramatic setting plays a major role in both series, shaping the challenges faced by the Owen family, from harsh winters and difficult farming conditions to the realities of living far from everyday services.

Despite changes in the family’s circumstances over the years, Our Farm Next Door continues many of the themes that made Our Yorkshire Farm so popular, including rural life, resilience and the demands of farming in one of England’s toughest landscapes.

People can watch Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids on More4 now that the third series has concluded, with a fourth series already confirmed.

And people can watch the reruns of Our Yorkshire Farm on Channel 5.

St Peter’s School lower sixth student Rowan, known as Ro, ran for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland U20 team at the 2026 Loughborough International, finishing the men’s 400m in 47.82 seconds.

He also ran the opening leg of the mixed 4x400m relay, helping his team secure fifth place.

Currently ranked second in the UK U18 400m standings, he holds a personal best of 47.24 seconds.

Ro currently ranks second in the UK U18 400m standings, and holds a personal best of 47.24 seconds (Image: St Peter’s School)

Ro said: “Having the honour to represent my country in both the individual and relay has always been my dream, and to make it come true meant the world to me.

“I look forward to what the rest of this year has to offer, and fingers crossed to represent team GB again.

“It is all stepping stones to the LA Olympics.”

St Peter’s School is known for producing athletes who compete at regional and national levels.

A spokesperson for St Peter’s said: “We thank our highly qualified staff who provide exceptional support for the immensely talented pupils, like Ro, at the school.

“Everyone at St Peter’s is extremely proud of Ro’s achievements and excited to see how he continues to progress in the months and years ahead.”

Leinster travelled to Bilbao with dreams of a fifth European star to add to their badge.

They had hoped for redemption in the Basque city, the site of their last Champions Cup triumph in 2018, where they could wipe away the pain of their previous four defeats.

However, after being blown away by a superb Bordeaux performance in the first half, this one will arguably hurt more than most.

Players and staff had talked about the “fine margins” of previous final defeats, but on Saturday the gulf could not have been clearer.

Tommy O’Brien crossed early but what followed was a display of power and poise, largely dictated by Maxime Lucu, Mathieu Jalibert and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

By the time Yoram Moefana raced under the posts after intercepting Harry Byrne’s pass at the end of the first half, the game was done and dusted with Bordeaux leading 35-7.

Leinster improved after the restart and Bordeaux weren’t quite as fluid, but the damage was done and the Top 14 side ran out 41-19 winners.

“I think a bit of a theme of the season has been finding a way,” captain Caelan Doris told BBC Radio 5Live.

“We’ve been behind several times and there’s been composure and finding a way, but despite a good effort in the second half it was too high a mountain to climb.”