This could be a warning sign – and worth getting checked by a vet

A vet is urging pet owners to do a simple check every month. It takes just two minutes and could save their life.

Alex the vet aka Dr Alex Crow said: “If I had just two minutes a month to catch cancer in my own dog before they ever showed a single symptom, here is exactly what I would do.”

Calling it the dog “bean check” he said it’s all to do with the lymph nodes. Experts at PDSA explain: “Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. White blood cells protect the body against illness and disease.

“Lymphoma is most commonly found in the lymph nodes (glands), but it can also affect the liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, kidneys, digestive system, and skin.”

Alex says that they are “dotted around the body and act a bit like the body’s early warning system. .Warning something that “most owners don’t know”, he says sadly, “Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer in dogs”.

He shared: “In classic cases, the very first sign isn’t your dog being unwell, it’s the lymph nodes becoming hard and swollen – often weeks before they feel sick.”

Two-minute cancer check

Alex says owners should be looking for something that feels like small, soft beans. Any that feel hard, swollen, lumpy, irregular, or fixed to surrounding tissue can be a warning sign.

1. Look under the jaw

Slide your finger and thumb together along the angle of your dog’s jaw. You should be able to feel one small, bean-like node on each side.

2. In front of the shoulders

Sweep your hand down either side of the neck towards the shoulders. Just in front of the shoulder blade, press gently into the muscle, you may feel a lymph node on each side.

3. Behind the knee

On the back leg, feel behind the knee (opposite the kneecap). Check the soft hollow between the two large muscles – lymph nodes can be found here.

Alex says if you don’t find the last two, “don’t worry too much because that’s probably a good sign and it means they’re not obviously enlarged”.

However, “if you do think your dog’s lymph nodes are hard, irregular or they have changed since you last checked, don’t wait and get them looked out by your vet.

“Remember, soft beans are normal, hard beans are not. So two minutes a month, three places – that’s all it takes.

“Two minutes could buy you months of warning. And months are everything when it comes to cancer”.

Other signs to watch out for

Other symptoms of lymphoma in dogs, according to the PDSA, include:

• Lumps under the jaw or elsewhere on the body which are big, swollen lymph nodes
• Reduced appetite
• Drinking and peeing more than usual
• Low energy
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Pale gums
• Yellow gums (jaundice)
• Breathing problems and/or coughing
• Lumps in or under the skin or skin that is crusting, scaly, or ulcerated along with hair loss

That’s when he gave this baffling reply: “We have many types of intervention; that’s one. The ultimate intervention is our military, and if we have to use that, we will.”

It’s unclear what Trump meant, but many social media users took the opportunity to offer their own interpretations.

Some critics jokingly likened the bond market to Iran, mocking Trump’s stated reasoning for ongoing war: not allowing the country to develop a nuclear weapon.

Others took the president at his word, suggesting he was literally speaking of taking military actions against bond traders.

The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry seeking clarification.

Read more reactions to Trump’s comments here:

If you are from Yorkshire, it can be quite frustrating when people pronounce different towns and villages incorrectly.

Keighley is a market town found in West Yorkshire and is only a short drive away from the city of Bradford.

If you know someone who struggles with pronouncing places in Yorkshire like Keighley correctly, you might want to send them this guide.

How do you pronounce Keighley?

While it might look easy to pronounce, Keighley often catches people out.

It looks like it is pronounced like Keeley or Kaylee, but if you want to impress the locals, do not say it like that.

It is actually pronounced keeth-lee.

Under a TikTok video talking about places in the UK that everyone pronounces wrong, one commenter mentioned Keighley and said: “Keighley in West Yorkshire always gets me.

“It’s pronounced Keith lee.”

One person replied: “I work in Keighley and it always makes me cringe when someone out of area pronounces it keelee.”

Another person responded: “I came here looking for Keighley.”

While visiting Keighley, you can take a train through the West Yorkshire countryside. (Image: Getty)

What can you do in Keighley?

Keighley is home to the Cliffe Castle Museum and Park, which is completely free to look around.

The museum has different rooms to explore, with paintings, furniture and art showcasing a range of styles.

After walking around the museum, you can take a break in the gardens surrounding it.

You can also take a trip on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, which takes you through five miles of West Yorkshire countryside.

You can visit a range of villages along the way at each of the stations.

In terms of food, Keighley has a range of cuisines available, from great Italian food at Amici to award-winning Indian dishes from Azeem’s.

There are also lots of bars and pubs where you can relax, such as Taylor’s on the Green, where you can sit in the beer garden with a pint or cocktail.

Did you know how to pronounce Keighley, or have you heard people pronounce it in a different way? Let us know in the comments.

The summer window is set for a thrilling finale as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham all push for some major signings during the final week. Arsenal have been given a huge new boost over Julian Alvarez, who may now be open to a Premier League return as the Gunners reportedly plot an offer that would see Viktor Gyokeres head to Atletico Madrid. Arsenal also remain interested in Victor Osimhen, having received a fresh update regarding Kenan Yildiz.

The BBC show was originally hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond until their departure in 2015.

Hosting duties for the motoring show were later taken over by Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness, and Chris Harris.

However, in 2022, Flintoff was involved in a serious crash while filming for Top Gear, resulting in a pause in production.

In recent months, it has been reported that the BBC has plans to bring Top Gear back, and now it has been suggested that Carr will be the first host.

Jimmy Carr in talks to host new Top Gear, reports

Comedian Carr is said to be in talks about the new series of the car show, according to The Sun.

A source told the publication, “Production has their sights set on Jimmy; he’s the ideal host to take the show into a new era and revive Top Gear.

“He’s keen to work on something mainstream after spending so many years fronting comedy panel shows.

“He’s a real car buff, too, so it would be a passion project.

“Casting directors are now working to find talent to join him in the new-look ensemble.

“Bosses are considering a woman and online celebrities to complement Jimmy.”

Newsquest has reached out to the BBC for a comment.

Despite The Sun’s reports, the BBC previously told Newsquest that Top Gear will remain off air, at least for now.

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A BBC Studios spokesperson told Newsquest: “The Top Gear brand continues to thrive across digital, publishing, and global formats.

“As a commercial producer, we’re always exploring new ways to develop the brand and reach audiences by leveraging such iconic IP – but there’s no update on the TV show at this time.”

Would you like to see Top Gear return to screens? Let us know in the comments.

Scottish football fans made a splash in America as the friendly Tartan Army travelled between cities – drinking them dry – before their early exit from this year’s World Cup.

Their good humour and sense of fun has led many to ponder whether the grass is greener on the other side of the Atlantic.

Fans in Boston conquered the hearts of the city’s women, even leading to some proclaiming that their ‘faith in men was restored’ after partying with their kilt-clad visitors late into the night.

And while Scotland is known for its Irn-Bru, bagpipes and kilts, its appeal stretches far wider than these symbols.

Americans who made the move have revealed the whimsy and wonder of the land whose national animal is a mythological monster. 

But there are also practical differences which have led many of them to call it the ‘best decision of their lives’.

From the community feel of the pubs to the unrivalled sense of humour and sharp tongue of the locals, they became infatuated by the warmth of the Scots.

However, Americans also warned of the culture shocks, such as differences in the weather and unique Scottish phrases – or even the number of roundabouts.

Jason Sorensen is an American who moved to Scotland in 2025 and now makes YouTube videos about living in the Scottish Highlands

Mother-of-three Lua Rodriguez Murphy, who married a Scot after meeting at the hotel she worked at in Las Vegas, visits a scenic lookout in the Scottish Highlands

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Kath, an American content creator, reacted to some of the online commentary about Scottish people being in Boston for the World Cup.

She posts videos on her account @Kath4994675 and said she moved to Scotland after university having never visited before and not knowing anyone.

Kath said: ‘Americans experiencing Scottish people for the first time is so funny to me, like people in Boston saying “let’s keep their plane tickets so they are not allowed to leave”.

‘Like, yeah I know how awesome they are, that is why I moved over here and never looked back.

‘Everyone is like: “Kath, when are you moving home?”, and I’m not moving back to the States. I am good right here in Scotland.’

She said one of the surprising culture shocks was the amount of roundabouts which are on the roads compared to in the US.

Kath explained: ‘I did a lot of driving this weekend. More so than I have ever done since moving to Scotland and I was absolutely astonished by how many roundabouts there are.

‘One day driving around Edinburgh, Dunfermline, there were 20-plus roundabouts. Insane. Back home, where I’m from in the States, I drive on a roundabout maybe once a month. Here they are every five seconds. Its crazy.’

And rather than bemoaning the Scottish weather, Kath said she likes living somewhere ‘where the weather sucks for the majority of the year’.

She added: ‘Because then you wake up on that odd spring, summer day, really rare, and it is gorgeous outside.

‘You feel giddy, you feel childlike wonder, awe, it feels magical. You are just not going to get that feeling living in Miami.’

Another creator called Caelan shared some of his favourite Scottish phrases, as well as those which don’t sound right with an American voice.

Content creator Kath moved from the US to Scotland after finishing university and says she has ‘never looked back’

Caelan shared some Scottish phrases which he said do not sound right in his American accent

Caelan grew up in the US but is half-Scottish and half-American – and he has now recently moved to Scotland.

He shared one of his favourite Scottish phrases: ‘Where are yous off to the now’.

Caelan said: ‘It translates to where are you off to now, but I love that you in the sentence is unnecessarily made plural and “the” is unnecessarily put in front of “now.” It adds that extra level of whimsy or Scottishness.’

In another video, he shared some of the Scottish phrases which he said do not sound right in an American accent.

He said: ‘Cannae be bothered, Dinnae ken, any phrase which is an English word that is written in Scots, I probably shouldn’t say. But I love saying them. I just wanted to feel included.

‘I definitely do say scran, or skint, or grim, I think it is ok because it is already a word we use in the States.’

Kourtnee Monroe, an American model living in Scotland, has also compiled a list of culture shocks which she described as a New Yorker living there.

She said: ‘Everything closes early (especially Sundays). 24hr Tesco is great but lots of businesses close by 6pm.

‘As a New Yorker, it’s wild not being able to pop out at midnight for snacks. You won’t believe how many places I’ve been to find out they were closed for the night.’

Ms Monroe added: ‘Kids have so much freedom! This one genuinely shocked me. You will see young children walking home alone or playing outside in the dark.

‘That level of safety and independence? Never see that in America.’

And, like many Americans, Ms Monroe pointed out the benefits of paid holidays.

She said: ‘Speaking of freedom, paid holiday is standard, not a luxury in Scotland. In the US, zero paid vacation is still legal. In Scotland, people use their time off without guilt.

But in another video, she admitted that she missed the ‘Mind your business mindset’ of New Yorkers.

Ms Monroe said: ‘You can see the most unhinged things on Earth in the city and most people just notice and keep it moving.

‘Nobody misses a step. It’s a collective agreement to just mind your business (unless there’s danger of course.’

One of the biggest differences between the two countries was the amount of roundabouts in Scotland, content creator Kath said

American model Kourtnee Monroe traded her life in bustling New York City to move to Scotland

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Applications for British citizenship by US residents reached a record of 9,300 last year, more than double the figure of those moving just four years ago.

As Donald Trump remains a polarising figure to some, a survey by property technology firm Goodlord has found that a disproportionate number of the newcomers shunning Trump’s America are settling in the homeland of his own Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.

Author and former comedian Christian Dean Lange, 63, was born in Montana and has lived in Los Angeles for the past 25 years.

But he decided to move to Scotland with his Scottish-born wife Lesley this year. The two met when she was general manager of a nightclub in the States.

Christian said: ‘It was last year that I got the lawyers in Glasgow and started the process.

‘It was quite a few factors that made me quit America. My wife had moved back here because she got homesick and couldn’t put up with the politics over there anymore.

‘And I was still working, so I stayed because that’s where all my work was. And then once I retired, it was always my plan to move here. It just happened a little bit sooner than I had thought.’

Christian admits that he also got fed up with American politics.

He explained: ‘I chose Scotland over America because it’s a lot less angry here. It’s gotten so nasty in America and I was living in Florida for the past few years, which is very Trump centric.

‘I was the only one in my neighbourhood that didn’t have a Trump sign in their yard during the election. There is a big gun culture and I’d even joke as part of my set that I was arrested once for not having a gun in my car.

‘In Tennessee, the views are also pretty extreme.’ 

Christian Dean Lange moved to Scotland with his wife from Los Angeles, California, this year

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The author cited politics, retirement and the spirit of the Scottish people as reasons for moving

Christian had considered moving elsewhere but Scotland won his heart because the quality of life was better – and cheaper.

He said: ‘We went to New Zealand because I had done a tour there and loved it. It’s a beautiful country. But it’s just so insanely expensive to immigrate there.

‘The cost of living is cheaper here in Scotland, a more attractive prospect than elsewhere in the world. We also lived in Ecuador for a couple of years but, you know, it’s really the quality of life here in Scotland which is just fantastic.

‘America has become such a hustle society. Everybody seems to want to turn their hobbies into jobs and then have side hustles. And because things have gotten so expensive, nobody can really afford to not work all the time.

‘I understand I’m retired, and that makes things a bit different. But even when I wasn’t retired, I still had to work more than I would have here.

‘And the scones are so much better here too.

‘I just love the fact that there’s so many little, coffee shops and cafes that you can go to and it’s just so, so much nicer.

‘The pubs here are so completely different than bars in America. You go to a bar in America to get drunk. And here it’s more of a community thing.’

Healthcare was also a big factor in his decision-making process.

Christian said: ‘It also was cheaper for me to put a few grand into the NHS to come here. I had to do that as part of the process.

‘So the last whole year I lived in America with insurance was 2024 and it was $895 a month for health insurance. Americans complain about the long waits you have here in Britain to see a doctor. Well, you have the same waiting in America. You just have to pay much more for it.

‘When I was here last year, going through the lawyers and getting everything lined up to immigrate here, I had to go into the hospital. I had a little chest problem, and they couldn’t have been nicer.

‘And it’s still hard for me to go into the surgery here and and not show an ID. It’s just so much easier. You’ve got to pre-pay in America.

‘You got to show ID, you’ve got to show all kinds of different forms of identification.’

It seems a lot of Christian’s friends in the US are envious of his lifestyle in Scotland.

He said: ‘A lot of people saw Scotland during the World Cup too. Scotland was brilliant. A lot of my friends on Facebook sent me messages saying how jealous they are when I post pictures or something.

‘They are going, “oh, you’re so lucky”, but it’s still a process to go through. It’s not, it wasn’t easy.’

The move has helped his writing too, with Christian saying: ‘I have an urban fantasy novel out called In the Play of Shadows which is a lot of Celtic mythology. Scotland is a beautiful place to be. I really don’t want to live anywhere else.

‘I’ve been all over the world. I’ve been to most countries when I was performing, and this is my favourite place on Earth.

‘I was born and raised in Montana, so the weather is very similar. I prefer coolness. So, I mean, it is a little weird that it is August and it appears that summer is over but I like the weather. Rain makes everything green.’

Marketing manager Jason Sorensen said he had a ‘calling’ to emigrate to the UK and ended up settling in Scotland.

He travelled on a skilled worker visa in 2021 and lived in London before moving to Scotland in 2025.

Mr Sorensen traded the bustling and sunny San Francisco Bay for the rugged Scottish Highlands, saying it is the ‘best decision I have ever made’.

He said: ‘From my personal experience, I can hand on heart tell you that the Scots are the warmest, friendliest, nicest, most gregarious people.

‘I have been welcomed more warmly by more people, and had a frankly, far more positive experience here than I had in certain parts of the United States.

‘I love the US, it’s a great country. But there is no question about what you saw with the Tartan army in Boston. That wasn’t an act. That’s how the Scots are, just wonderful human beings who love to have a good time.’

Describing what makes the country attractive for prospective Americans, he agreed that healthcare was a large pull factor.

Jason Sorensen said he felt a ‘calling’ to emigrate to the UK and ended up settling in Scotland

‘If you’re born and raised in the US and you’ve never experienced single-payer healthcare, it’s quite an eye-opener, ‘ he said.

‘It is a significant advantage over the United States.’

The 46-year-old added: ‘There is a different culture regarding firearms.

‘I personally have nothing against firearms, and you can have countries and cultures where firearms are an integral part of the culture. Switzerland is an excellent example.

‘However, the way in which American culture deals with firearms, the numbers speak for themselves. But I believe that speaks to larger societal issues.

‘There is a better attitude towards firearms overall over here.’

Mr Sorensen also criticised the US ‘hustle culture’ and said he preferred the opportunities for work-life balance provided in the UK.

He added: ‘America is the best place in the world to make money and Europe is the best place in the world to spend that money.

‘There is, in my view, a better balance of work and life. Being able to have a life where it’s not just constant grind, grind, grind, grind until there’s nothing left of you.

‘In the UK, you still have to work hard. It’s very important to be a net contributor economically, especially as an immigrant.’

Mr Sorensen said as the world continues to change – with hotter temperatures and technology meaning more people can work from anywhere – Scotland will become an increasingly popular destination for those wishing to leave the US behind.

He said: ‘England and Wales have been absolutely devastated by drought this year.

‘Well, I live in the far north of Scotland where it’s actually been very, very pleasant.

‘We’re on the same latitude as southern Norway here.

‘So as climate bands shift, you’re going to have people looking at where to go to find some buffer against what’s coming over the next 50 years and is already here.

‘And in America alone, there are 2.5million people with some level of Scottish descent. And statistically speaking, some of these people are going to be interested in finding out more about where they come from.

‘If you’re coming from America, American history only goes back realistically to about the middle of the 17th century.

‘Whereas if I leave my house and I walk for 20 minutes, I can be in the middle of a stone circle from the Bronze Age.

‘We don’t have anything like that in America. That just doesn’t exist.

‘And if you’re the type of person that’s searching for deeper meaning, some sort of deeper connection to family, clan, heritage, land, you know, where you come from, where your ancestors come from, then that will draw a lot of people here.’

Lua Rodriguez Murphy, 36, met her Scottish husband while he was holidaying at the hotel she worked at in Las Vegas.

After they got engaged, the couple decided to move in together in Glasgow where they now live with their three children.

Lua Rodriguez Murphy moved from Las Vegas to Glasgow, and has been revealing the biggest ‘culture shocks’ she has faced since the move in a series of TikTok videos

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Ms Rodriguez Murphy, originally from California, makes candid videos about adjusting to life in Scotland as an American.

Asked what the best thing about living in Scotland was, she said it was ‘hands down, the people.’

She said: ‘Everyone is so chatty, and welcoming and easy to talk to. And so, so funny! Scottish humour truly is something else.’

Ms Rodriguez Murphy also feels that when it comes to education, Scots do it better.

She added: ‘Scotland is a nation where a first-class, world-leading education is accessible to all. I’m grateful that my children will be able to go to college for free.

‘Student debt is so hard to pay off in the US and it really discourages people from pursuing a career because it’s so expensive and the interest in loans are so high.’

However, she believes Americans take the lead when it comes to customer service.

She added: ‘I think Americans go above and beyond when it comes to keeping a customer happy. I also feel Americans are so enthusiastic and great at entertaining.

‘Basketball games, baseball games, pep rallies and entertainment are all so much better back home. They love getting the crowd involved, handing out prizes, doing dance cams, cheerleading and more!

‘Even at the university level, college stadiums are filled to the brim with people watching young athletes play. Which I don’t think is very common here.’

NEW DELHI (AP) — A search and rescue operation was underway Sunday off India’s eastern coast after a distress alert and loss of contact with a Panama-flagged ‌vessel carrying 24 crew.

Two crew members from the cargo ship MV Ocean Winner were rescued late Saturday while three ships were deployed to conduct surface searches for the remaining crew members in a joint operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy.

The two crew members were undergoing medical treatment while their ranks and identities were being verified, said Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

MT Aisopos, a commercial vessel in the vicinity, was asked to help search for the ship in distress, which was carrying 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi among the crew, the coast guard said.

The cargo ship sank in the Bay of Bengal Saturday about 276 miles (444 kilometers) from the Paradip coast of eastern Odisha state, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

The ship was carrying iron ore from Paradip Port to China, Sonowal said in a post on X.

Second Test, Mackay (day two of five)

Bangladesh 64: Starc 6-12 & 95: Shanto 31; Starc 4-39, Cummins 3-10, Lyon 3-25

Australia 210: Green 62; Shoriful 7-48

Australia win by an innings and 51 runs

Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets in the match as Australia bounced back from last week’s shock defeat by Bangladesh to win the second Test by an innings and 51 runs and draw the series 1-1.

The visitors were skittled for 95 in 38.3 overs with Starc taking four wickets and Nathan Lyons and captain Pat Cummins three each, as Australia wrapped up victory just after tea on the second day at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

Starc finished with match figures of 10-51, following his 6-12 in the first innings as Bangladesh struggled to 64 all out.

Last Sunday’s nine-wicket defeat for the world’s top-ranked side in Darwin was widely seen as one of Test cricket’s greatest upsets.

“A lot of things went right these couple days and a lot of things went wrong last week,” said Cummins, 33, who took 3-10 in the second innings.

“We needed to bounce back, and it was a great couple of days from the lads. I thought everyone was sharp. It was a great start and we didn’t really let up after that.”

Earlier in the day, Australia added 45 runs to their overnight total as they were bowled out for 210 with Cameron Green top scoring with 67 and Lyon adding an unbeaten 32 to give them a first-innings lead of 146.

Left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam was the pick of the bowlers with 7-48.

The visitors’ second innings got off to a poor start, losing both openers inside eight overs as they slumped to 24-3.

They then collapsed in the middle session, struggling to 95-8 by tea before Lyon wrapped up victory by taking the final two wickets in three balls.

“Much better week. We knew we weren’t at our best, or what we expect of ourselves, in Darwin,” said 36-year-old Starc, who was named Player of the Match and Series after taking 12 wickets at an average of 12.08.

“What we expect of ourselves this week is what we got, particularly with the ball and the wicket that aided us with the ball.”

Starc has now moved to 10th on the all-time Test wicket list with 445, 126 shy of Lyon’s haul in sixth place.

Australia next Test series is a three-match tour of world Test champions South Africa in October.

Tommy Price remembers nothing of the day he was found face down in the snow on a mountain with no heartbeat.

He doesn’t remember getting dressed in his leggings, jacket, snood and beanie that morning, or running 28 miles of a 30-mile route over Skiddaw and Great Calva in the Lake District.

He doesn’t remember his legs freezing up or trying to skid down a rocky path until his backside bled in 2022.

Tommy was fit, healthy and 26 when he and his friend Max set out to run the legendary fell-running trail the Bob Graham Round in Cumbria on a grey, snowy January morning. A former basketball player and bodybuilder, he was in excellent physical condition and had plenty of mountain running experience when they set off.

‘I can’t remember anything of the run. The mountain rescue doctor said it was like a Word document that doesn’t have autosave when there is a power cut.

‘He thinks I will never remember the day of the accident,’ says Tommy, now 31. His last memory is of parking up in Keswick.

It was 0°C in Cumbria that day, but between minus 15°C and minus 20°C higher up with the wind chill. Tommy and Max had also run through a river, making them much colder, he tells Metro from his home in Huddersfield.

‘Max later told me that as I was running up Blencathra I started dropping to my knees and saying I couldn’t carry on. He kept picking me up and I kept saying I wanted to turn around. That’s when the hypothermia set in. I was delirious.’

As Max ran back and forth trying to keep himself warm while helping his friend, Tommy’s legs stopped working and he started sliding down the mountain, ‘ripping my bum open’. Later, doctors told him he was lucky not to need skin grafts.

With their mobile phones out of battery, they were about a mile from a farm when Tommy’s legs seized up and he could go no further. Max wrapped him in an emergency survival bag before running downhill to call 999 and Mountain Rescue.

‘When they got to me, my survival bag was empty and I was 100 metres up the mountain, face down in the snow. They rolled me over and started doing CPR. Then another responder came and gave me the defibrillator.

‘They gave me three electric shocks and I was in ventricular fibrillation, so I had no heartbeat. My heart wouldn’t work because I was too cold.

‘It was a bit of a shock for them to find a dead person on the mountain. I think they thought they would give me a Snickers and walk me back down.’

With Max kept safe and warm in a rescue van below, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team volunteers Donald Ferguson and Jonny Hume did everything they could to save Tommy.

Team doctor John Ferris later said that becoming so cold before his heart stopped probably helped save Tommy’s life, as the freezing temperatures protected his brain and other organs from permanent damage.

Rescuers carried out manual CPR for an hour and a half before paramedics were able to use a LUCAS machine, which provides mechanical chest compressions, as Tommy was flown by helicopter to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where life support had been prepared.

As they arrived, the machine ran out of battery and Dr Ferris had to resume manual CPR.

‘I think everybody thought I wasn’t going to make it,’ says Tommy. ‘John Ferris said that in the taxi home from the hospital, after he left me there, he rang Dr Les Gordon, consultant anaesthetist at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay and team doctor for Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, who said there was a slim chance that I would survive – because nobody survives profound hypothermia.’

Profound hypothermia is a life-threatening medical emergency in which the body’s core temperature falls below around 28°C, causing the body’s vital functions to begin shutting down.

At hospital, Tommy was placed on an ECMO machine, a form of advanced life support that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs by pumping blood outside the body, adding oxygen, removing carbon dioxide and returning the blood to the patient, allowing the organs time to rest and recover.

Meanwhile, Max contacted his friend’s family, who were told he had suffered a cardiac arrest and had been taken to hospital. By the time a police officer arrived at his parents’ home to deliver the news, they were already preparing to travel to Newcastle. They gathered at Tommy’s bedside alongside his brothers, David and Gareth.

‘The doctors told them the risks of ECMO. They said, “It will save his life, but it could also kill him.” It was torture for my family because if I survived, they didn’t know if I would have brain damage,’ explains Tommy.

‘They did a CT scan on the third day to see if I had any blood clots in my brain and there was nothing. The doctor said that was a good sign, but the only way to find out was when I woke up. It was a waiting game.’

He regained consciousness after five days in an induced coma. He doesn’t remember waking up – his earliest memory was of a male nurse feeding him water using a sponge.

‘I had a tube down my throat so my swallow reflex was weird. It was very sore. And I remember my brother David feeding me a grape, but I was sick straight away.’

At first, Tommy assumed he had been in a car crash until his family and Max explained what had happened. There was no brain damage.

‘I was scared that I would never walk again, but I was relieved I had survived. Doctors suggested I might need mobility aids around the house.

’I had nerve damage in my hands and feet so I couldn’t grip or pinch anything.

‘I could just about brush my teeth, but I had no strength in my hands. I couldn’t tie my shoelaces, open a can of pop, turn on the shower or drive. I could use my phone, but it took me a long time to write a text message.

‘It was like being a baby again. I needed a lot of help. My parents didn’t know if I would ever recover.’

The nerve damage, which felt like constant pins and needles, is permanent, although the symptoms have disappeared and he has regained full mobility. The only lasting effect is that his hands become cold much more quickly than before.

After three weeks, Tommy left hospital. Remarkably, just nine months after his heart stopped on the mountainside, he completed the London Marathon in three hours and 10 minutes, raising £10,000 for Keswick Mountain Rescue.

Psychologically, Tommy says he has been left unscarred.

‘I just don’t let it get me down,’ he says matter-of-factly.

‘I look at life positively. It has changed my outlook a little bit. I’m not scared of death. It happens. People don’t believe me when I tell them I’ve died before.’

He’s since returned to fell running with gusto, although he avoids doing it in bad weather. A year after his accident, Tommy completed a 120km race in the Brecon Beacons and has entered other ultra-endurance events.

‘I think my fitness kept me alive. The month before my accident we did a 56-mile run and I completed an Ironman that summer, so I was at peak fitness. I’m the fittest I’ve ever been now,’ he adds.

Tommy has since set up his own dog-walking business, which sees him cover around 100km every week.

‘I can’t thank John Ferris, Jonny and Donald enough. They saved my life – and they are all volunteers. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today.’

Wales international Harry Wilson made his full debut for new club Leeds United at Nottingham Forest

Paul Merson says Harry Wilson is a good signing for Leeds United but says his debut left plenty of room for improvement.

The Whites began their season with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on the road, with Anton Stach’s late goal the difference at the City Ground. It gave Daniel Farke’s men the perfect start to the campaign, one in which they’ll hope to kick on from.

Merson, though, believes supporters should remain calm, pointing out the performance left plenty to be desired, while offering as assessment of two of their new signings.

“Great result for Leeds but don’t get carried away, it wasn’t great,” he said.

On Wilson, who penned a free-transfer deal with the Elland Road club after a successful stint with Fulham, Merson feels his set-play prowess could help his new club this season. He felt his bow for his new employers wasn’t anything to write home about, however.

“He did all right, he wasn’t great,” Merson added.

“A couple of good balls in, he scored a goal that was offside. He did all right for his debut. First real game. I think he’s a good signing for them, anybody on a free is a good signing. Because I don’t see them opening up teams every week, and I think you need that set play.”

One player he was particularly impressed with was James Trafford.

Trafford kept his first clean sheet for the club after a big-money move from Manchester City in the summer. Merson believes the stopper has a confidence about him that will hold Leeds in good stead.

Merson said: “I think Trafford, big fan of Trafford, though he had that composure, he’s got confidence about him, comes out for balls at the right time, didn’t look panicky.

“What a bonus for Leeds, you always need a good goalkeeper, he’ll save you points, made a couple of good saves today, just when the pressure was on he’d come out, collect the ball, no dramas. Just done what it said on the tin.”

Farke was happy with all his debutants against Forest, including Tarik Muharemovic, who also made his bow.

“I am very happy because they have big boots to fill,” Farke said.

“Trafford is a good player but he hasn’t played that many Premier League games, Tarik too. So they both shined and showed why we agreed to sign them, but the whole group was excellent today.

“Wilson too was excellent. The vibe and mood is good around the place.”