Emergency crews were called out to Bishopthorpe Bridge at around 2.10pm on Tuesday to assist a man who was brought out of the water and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

As The Press reported yesterday, York Rescue Boat and Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed that they had attended the scene, adding that one person had been taken to hospital after entering the water.

RECOMMENDED READING:

In a video, two crew members from the Rescue Boat were seen boarding the boat and setting off from King’s Staith at around 2.30pm yesterday.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police today (Wednesday) said: “At 2.08pm, we received a report from a member of the public that a man had entered the River Ouse near Bishopthorpe Bridge.

“Emergency services, including police, ambulance, fire crews and the York Rescue Boat attended the scene and located the man, who was brought out of the water and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

“Despite the best efforts of emergency service personnel and medical staff, the man sadly died later that evening.

“His death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

The BBC Morning Live presenter was a talented rugby player before walking away from the sport

TV presenter Gethin Jones is loving his new job as Team Wales’ chef de mission for this year’s Commonwealth Games, with the BBC star admitting he “could not be more proud” to be appointed to the role.

The 48-year-old previously served as team attaché at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast and, having gone back to university to complete a Master’s degree in Sports Directorship, will now be the team’s figurehead at this year’s Games in Glasgow, which kicks off in July.

In the role, he will be responsible for leading and motivating athletes and support staff as well as representing Wales at official functions and acting as a spokesperson for the team.

JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE Latest news, analysis and much more

While he is best known for fronting shows like Morning Live, however, Jones is no stranger to sporting environments having been a fearless rugby player before quitting the sport and moving into TV.

He previously played as a scrum-half for Welsh-speaking side Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd and admits that he nearly turned professional, having had trials with Sale Sharks before walking away from the sport.

“I quit rugby for Blue Peter,” Jones previously told Rugby Journal. “I probably finished playing too young.

“It was 12th April 2004, and I remember that because I went back and played for Clwb Rygbi, and we won the district cup final at the Principality Stadium in front of about 5,000 people. It was special, and every year there’s an anniversary where we all bring our tankers that we won in that match to drink out of.

“I was 26 and that was around the time I started television and so had to quit rugby, not because I was worried about getting smashed up, it was just the nature of the job to travel all the time so never being able to train or be available for matches.”

The presenter later featured for the Rest of the World in an all-star Rugby Aid match against England in 2015, and was named man of the match, but has not played since.

“I’ve dined out on it ever since,” he said. “Rory Lawson and me were playing scrum-half and I played nine minutes, sidestepped a prop, and it looked good on telly. Celebrity man of the match – how bad is that!?”

“I miss smashing people legally. I know that sounds weird, but you do need a bit of a release which is why the gym is still important to me. And also, everyone says this, but there’s this special friendship that you have with people.

Jones still has plenty of connections to the rugby world, counting Wales internationals Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and George North among his friends, with the latter moving into his flat during the coronavirus lockdowns.

He has also recently sparked romance rumours after being pictured cosying up to Sky Sports presenter Pien Meulensteen – the daughter of former Premier League manager Rene Meulensteen – during a birthday skiing trip in France.

It came after rumours linking him romantically to Morning Live co-presenter Helen Skelton were dispelled, with the pair nothing more than “work friends”.

However, Jones is no stranger to having a partner in the public eye, having previously been engaged to world-famous Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins.

The couple met while he was competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, and got engaged four years later, but ultimately did not tie the knot as they split up at the end of 2011.

The split left both of them devastated, with Jenkins admitting she was “in pieces” after the break-up and Jones revealing that he had a “bad bout of depression” in the aftermath.

“I remember doing BBC Radio 5Live and going into the toilet at 5.30am going ‘alright, come on, just focus for the next three hours and then you can go back to being sad again’,” he previously told The Mirror’s ‘Outdoor Minds’ podcast. “I definitely had a bad bout of depression during that time.”

Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.

An 81-year-old man and 80-year-old woman were taken to hospital with serious injuries

An investigation has been launched following a crash that left two people with “serious injuries” in Cambridgeshire. The crash involved a silver Ford Kuga and a white DAF lorry at about 11.20am on Monday (March 9).

It happened on the roundabout on the A1139 Fletton Parkway at the junction with Boongate, Peterborough.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Officers and paramedics attended and the driver of the Ford Kuga, an 81-year-old man from Whittlesey, and the passenger, an 80-year-old woman from Whittlesey, were taken to hospital with serious injuries, where they remain.”

Firefighters also attended the scene as two casualties were trapped inside the car. The driver of the lorry was uninjured and remained at the scene to help officers with their enquiries.

Police are appealing for witnesses and have urged people to report information online quoting Operation Harlesden or incident 163 of 9 March. Call 101 if you do not have internet access.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters used specialist equipment to release the casualties from their vehicle, before they were left in the care of the ambulance services. Crews returned to their stations by 12:30pm.”

Balance and coordination problems on stairs can be an early sign of dementia, according to leading charities Alzheimer Scotland and the Alzheimer’s Society

Advertisement

Dementia refers to a deterioration in mental function significant enough to disrupt everyday activities. Rather than being a single condition, it’s a collection of symptoms resulting from various neurological disorders.

Alzheimer’s disease represents the most prevalent form of dementia, though other types exist, including vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. While dementia is frequently linked with forgetfulness, disorientation, and struggles with routine activities, there’s one often-missed warning sign that can manifest in an unexpected manner while navigating stairs.

Specialists are highlighting this less recognised early indicator of dementia, which may emerge before substantial changes in behaviour become apparent.

Alzheimer Scotland, a prominent dementia charity, has emphasised the necessity of identifying symptoms that extend beyond memory problems, reports Surrey Live.

The organisation explained: “People often assume that memory loss and dementia are one and the same, but there are other key symptoms and signs to look out for.

“Every person with dementia is different. How their illness affects them depends on which areas of their brain are most damaged.”

The condition manifests differently across individuals, and while forgetfulness, reduced cognitive speed, decreased mental acuity, and language challenges are widely recognised indicators, additional signs may suggest its development.

Alterations in balance, coordination, and spatial perception can serve as an early warning sign that something is wrong, yet many individuals brush aside these nuanced changes as a natural consequence of growing older.

Beyond cognitive deterioration, dementia can also substantially affect physical mobility due to the sufferer’s weakened ability to gauge distances, likely resulting from the brain’s reduced capacity to interpret spatial data.

The illness can result in compromised visuospatial perception, rendering activities such as climbing or descending staircases more challenging. People may struggle to raise their legs and become increasingly susceptible to slipping or tumbling.

Alzheimer Scotland cautions that dementia can transform how we engage with our surroundings, potentially resulting in a heightened risk of stumbles and tumbles.

The Alzheimer’s Society has emphasised that modifications in a person’s gait, such as dragging feet rather than raising them, could be an early indicator of dementia.

“Things like slips, trips and falls might become more common. You might start to notice that a person is shuffling as opposed to lifting their legs when they are walking,” the charity notes.

Should someone be experiencing trouble with staircases and displaying other symptoms of dementia, it’s advisable to arrange a GP consultation for them. To enhance safety on stairs, the organisation recommends discussing modifications with landlords or letting agents where appropriate and participating in strength and balance training.

“You can reduce your risk of falling by doing strength or balance exercises twice a week. These include sitting, standing and walking exercises. Your GP could also refer you to a physiotherapist.”

The charity also recommends inspecting your home for possible hazards such as loose rugs and obstacles. The NHS further highlights additional key dementia warning signs to watch for, including difficulties with memory and communication challenges.

Dementia UK states there are various other physical indicators of the condition.

Dementia symptoms impacting mental function

• Difficulty understanding time and place, e.g getting up in the middle of the night to go to work
• Difficulty with choosing what to buy and paying when shopping
• Struggling with decision-making and reasoning
• Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
• Restlessness such as pacing, fidgeting and trying to leave the house

Initial signs of dementia

• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Finding familiar daily tasks difficult or confusing
• Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
• Being confused about time and place
• Mood changes

The NHS notes these typically represent the earliest symptoms of dementia, though the condition manifests differently in each individual.

Successful celebrity dentist Dr Steven Lin was killed by police after violently assaulting two women, Chloe Paul and Christine Campeau, at their Sydney flat complex

Two women have told how they were left fearing for their lives after being brutally targeted by a disgraced celebrity dentist who was shot dead by police while hopped up on drugs.

Chloe Paul and Christine Campeau were violently beaten by Dr Steven Lin, 41, a successful Australian dentist who had taken part in several TED talks, owned two surgeries, and was a health podcast staple. He had wandered into their flat complex at the St Neot Ave building in Potts Point in Sydney, Australia, at around 10.50pm on Tuesday morning while armed with a knife.

Lin stabbed Ms Campeau in the face after encountering her in the laundry room, and left her badly beaten before forcing his way into Ms Paul’s unit, where he demanded the mum-of-three hand over cash before holding her down, beating and choking her.

READ MORE: Prison guard who sent naked pictures to inmate caught after he became ‘overprotective’READ MORE: Man’s sick excuses after raping wife who said no to anal sex

Advertisement

Ms Campeau told 9Now Australia she feared she was “going to die” as Lin’s blows rained down on her, adding that she felt up to a dozen “nonstop” hits. She said: “He went to pretend to hand me the keys and that’s when he just smashed my face so hard. There was about maybe 10 to 12 blows, they were nonstop … my forehead hit the wall and that’s when I thought, s**t, I’m going to die.”

Ms Paul remembered the dentist’s “two hands on my neck”, but celebrity photographer, who is also a trained boxer, remembered key directions from her instructor to “go for the balls”.

She said: “But my coach has always said, ‘If you can’t win a boxing fight, you go for the balls!’ So I did. Whatever I did, he got off me.” Police arrived at her home and initially attempted to Taser Lin, but this proved “ineffective”, and an officer was forced to shoot at Lin as he lunged at the responders.

Advertisement

Describing the moment he was gunned down, Ms Paul said there was “relief” as an eerie silence descended over the scene. She said: “When I heard the gunshot … there was this relief.”

The two women, who have since been dubbed “super mums” were rushed to hospital, where they underwent surgery for their extensive facial injuries, including a broken nose. They bravely took to Instagram in a joint post a week following the attack, and have since declared Lin “picked the two strongest woman in this building”.

Ms Campeau told A Current Affair: “You know when people say, ‘wrong time, wrong place’? I don’t believe [that]. We were chosen. He’s picked the two strongest women in this building just so he’ll never, ever hurt any other woman again.”

Dentist Lin’s death at the hands of police followed a notable downward spiral for the celebrity dentist, who had a massive social media following, large family with six children, and lived in a AUD$5million (£2.6million) home. He faced eight separate court hearings in the year before his death, having been accused of stalking, choking and assault while being addicted to methamphetamine.

Network Rail have said it will not be possible to open the main part of Glasgow Central Station for a number of days.

Low level services at Glasgow Central can now stop at the station, three days after the devastating Union Street fire but high level trains will remain cancelled for a number of days. Network Rail confirmed the main station concourse won’t reopen this week due to the “high level of instability” of the facade of the fire-damaged Union Corner building, also known as Forsyth House.

It said assessment work needs to be carried out to determine the safety of the building, and experts will then be able to assess whether there has been any damage to the high level station. After a full site assessment, the low level station, which is below the main concourse of the high level station, reopened for train services from Wednesday morning.

Services on the Argyle Line, which runs from Dalmuir and Milngavie to Larkhall and Motherwell via Glasgow Central Low Level, had been able to pass through the station without stopping following the fire. The fire began in a vape shop in Union Street on Sunday, and spread through the building and around the corner, where only the facade of the B-listed Victorian building at the junction with Gordon Street has been left standing.

Network Rail route director Ross Moran said: “We are grateful to Scottish Fire and Rescue teams who have been working tirelessly to contain the fire on the Union Corner site. I am pleased to advise passengers that we will be able to open Glasgow Central low level station from Wednesday morning.

“Unfortunately, further work is required to ensure the high level station is safe for trains to operate. Our priority is to make sure that we can reopen Glasgow Central as soon as it is safe to do so and we will continue to work with emergency services, the local council and our train operators to restore services.

“We want to reassure passengers that we are doing everything we can to open the high level station, but we must enable the emergency services and Glasgow City Council to complete their critical work to secure the Union Corner site and make it safe.”

READ MORE: Glasgow fire aftermath LIVE as lower level trains to return at Central Station

No trains have been running to or from the high level station this week, with services passing through the lower level without stopping. However ScotRail said services will call at Glasgow Central low level on Wednesday and all three entrances to the section – one on Hope Street and two on Argyle Street – are open.

Network Rail said it must wait for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and Glasgow City Council to complete their work to determine the safety of the Union Corner site. After that work is completed Network Rail engineers will make a structural assessment to determine whether there has been any damage to the station.

It said it will continue to work with the council and SFRS to develop a plan to reopen the station when it is safe for trains and passengers. SFRS said that as of 7.50am on Wednesday there were three appliances, two high-reach appliances and a specialist unit at the scene.

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Ian McMeekin said: “We understand the disruption this fire has caused, and we are grateful for the patience shown by the public as we work to bring this incident to a safe conclusion, before the site is handed over to partner agencies.”

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, who visited the scene on Monday, paid tribute to firefighters and other emergency services who have been dealing with the incident.

Mr Swinney committed to support the rebuild of the area, telling MSPs in Holyrood this week: “Above all else, let me be clear today: the Scottish Government will stand with the city of Glasgow as it recovers from the fire. Given the significant cost the city faces, we will back those costs with cash.

“To get that work started, a ministerial oversight board has been established, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice. We will rebuild, we will restore, and Glasgow will flourish again.”

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

The Department for Work and Pensions has appointed a steering group of 12 members with lived experience of disability to lead the first comprehensive review of Personal Independence Payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that disabled people will be at the heart of the first ever comprehensive review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), with the appointment of 12 members to its steering group. The selected members will bring personal experience of disability or long-term health conditions, as well as direct experience of working within Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs).

DWP Minister Sir Stephen Timms informed Parliament on Monday that the PIP review is currently “under way at the moment”. He told MPs: “We have a steering group of 12 individuals, almost all of whom are disabled people, plus me and two other co-chairs, and we had our third full-day, in-person meeting last week.”

The group’s experience spans welfare policy, accessibility and advocacy, and includes members with a background in co-production, governance, and leadership. The group will provide strategic direction and help set priorities and a work plan for the Timms Review, alongside the Review’s three co-chairs – Sir Stephen Timms, Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE.

The group will examine the role of PIP in enabling disabled people to achieve better health and live independent lives, the PIP assessment criteria for daily living and mobility and how the assessment could provide access to the right support across the benefits system.

Claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have surged in recent years. In 2019, there were two million working-age people receiving PIP, but that figure has risen to over 3.9 million by the end of October 2025, reports the Daily Record.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has projected that the number of PIP claimants will surpass four million by the close of the decade.

The aim of the Timms Review is to ensure that PIP is equitable and future-proof – accurately representing individuals’ conditions and their aspirations, whilst considering societal changes since its inception.

The DWP noted that since the introduction of PIP in 2013, there have been evolving trends in long-term health conditions and disability. More individuals are living with a disability, yet the rise in the number receiving disability benefits is twice the rate of increasing prevalence among working-age adults in England and Wales.

It’s crucial to note that in Scotland, PIP has been superseded by Adult Disability Payment, and the Scottish Government has previously declared it has no intentions to reform the devolved benefit.

The Timms Review is set to report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Autumn 2026, with an interim update anticipated before then.

Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, recently stated: “Disabled people deserve a system that truly supports them to live with independence and dignity, and that fairly reflects the reality of their lives today.

“That’s why we’re putting disabled people at the heart of this Review – ensuring their voices shape the changes that will help them achieve better health, greater independence, and access to the right support when they need it.

“We’re delighted to announce the appointment of the steering group members, who alongside myself and the Review’s co-chairs will report back to the Secretary of State in the Autumn.”

Co-chair Sharon Brennan stated: “The group we have chosen shows our commitment to ensuring this review is co produced with people from a diversity of backgrounds including lived and living experience, protected characteristics, geographies and professions.

“But 15 people can’t represent everyone, which is why our work will be part of a wider engagement process to ensure we hear from many more voices throughout the review.”

Co-chair Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE commented: “Personal Independence Payment plays a vital role in enabling disabled people to live independent lives. This Review will listen closely to lived experience, test whether the system is fair, and ensure PIP reflects the realities of disability in the modern world.”

A coalition of charities has welcomed the inclusion of disabled people in the steering group, but warned “it cannot become about making cuts”.

The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) – a coalition of over 100 charities, including the MS Society, Scope, Parkinson’s UK and Mencap – has stated that the review provides an opportunity for “real change” to a system of assessments which are “not only stressful, they fail to recognise the impact of fluctuating and progressive conditions like MS – often denying people the support they need to live independently”.

Charles Gillies, DBC policy co-chair and senior policy officer at the MS Society, described it as “undeniably positive that most members of the new steering group have lived experience of disability or claiming Pip”.

He further commented: “This review must now engage meaningfully with the steering group and disabled people more generally, and remain laser-focused on improving the fairness of PIP assessments – or we risk this vital opportunity being wasted. And crucially, it cannot become about making cuts.”

One runner who didn’t receive a medal, said that she “won’t be entering again”

Runners in the Cambridge Half Marathon that were left without a medal say the shortage was ‘inexcusable’ and left a ‘dampener’ on event.

Around 15,000 people took part in the Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday, March 8 along the 13.1 mile (21.1km) route through the city centre, Trumpington and Grantchester. Those taking part are treated to beautiful landmarks during the run, including King’s College, and the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

Many runners have said that they did not get a medal or goodie bag due to a shortage which left a “dampener” on the event.

Sharon Hall, who ran the half marathon, was one of the “unlucky ones” who didn’t get a medal, but she came home to find that her daughter had kindly made her one instead.

Treeza Rayner, who also took part in the event, said that she felt “terribly sad” to have not got a medal or goodie bag at the finish line. Treeza said that it was “inexcusable” especially “for a first and challenging 21km run.”

Another person shared that their partner, who had completed their first ever half marathon, also did not get a medal.

They said: “How can you run out of medals when you know how many runners there are? Very upsetting and left a dampener on the event for my partner.”

Stephanie Emma said that “she won’t be entering again” after not receiving a medal due to the shortage.

The organisers of the event have been approached for comment.

Three fire engines attended the scene

Neighbours watched on in the street after a fire erupted in a Salford house. Crews, police and paramedics attended Ukraine Road, in Lower Kersal, at around 10.35pm last night (March 10).

Images show a crowd watching on in Ukraine Road as firefighters work at the scene. Three fire engines attended the incident for more than an hour.

The property is understood to be a house of multiple occupancy (HMO). One person was treated for smoke inhalation following the fire, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

A spokesperson for GMFRS said: “Shortly after 10:36pm yesterday evening (Tuesday 10 March 2026), three fire engines from Salford and Broughton fire stations were called to reports of a house fire on Ukraine Road, Salford. Crews arrived quickly at the scene.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the fire and prevent any further spread. One person was clear of the house when crews arrived, and was transferred into the care of North West Ambulance Service for treatment of smoke inhalation.

“Firefighters were in attendance for around one hour and 15 minutes and worked with colleagues at Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe.”