Two different women at separate TopGolf locations in the Houston area were badly hurt after getting walloped in the head by errant clubs wielded by nearby duffers, with one continuing to endure ‘persistent headaches’ more than a year-and-a-half later, according to a pair of recently filed lawsuits reviewed by The Independent.

TopGolf, headquartered in Dallas, is a souped-up driving range concept with more than 100 locations worldwide, describes itself as “a sports entertainment complex that features an inclusive, high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy, paired with an outstanding food and beverage menu.”

The pair of suits come roughly 14 months after a Texas oil-and-gas executive who was taking a golf lesson at a Houston country club allegedly failed to make sure the surrounding area was clear before “negligently” swinging his club directly into his instructor’s face, necessitating emergency reconstructive surgery and resulting in “permanent disfigurement,” per a $1 million negligence lawsuit filed in that case.

At least three people have lost eyes at TopGolf, and last year, the chain was ordered to pay $15.8 million to the family of a 9-year-old boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury when he walked into the path of a player’s backswing, requiring emergency neurosurgery. Others have been severely injured or have even died after falling from balconies set up for players to practice their drives, with an entire subset of online videos devoted to “TopGolf fails” – compilations of people hurting themselves or others while on the premises.

In the most recent of the new suits, filed July 6 in Harris County District Court, 62-year-old Kelly Ann Auer, says she was hitting some balls last August at a TopGolf location in Webster, Texas – also a suburb of Houston – when the golfer next to her “lost control of his club and it flew in the air striking Ms. Auer in the head.”

“On TopGolf’s website, they describe the TopGolf Houston-Webster location as ‘the premiere entertainment destination in Webster, Texas’ with ‘year-round comfort,’” Auer’s complaint states. “[H]owever, other than a red line warning customers that it is dangerous to stand or sit near the hitting area while a customer is holding and/or swinging a club, there are no warning signs to warn customers of the potential dangers of flying golf clubs or balls.”

Auer’s complaint points out that there is “an entire genre of social media [posts] dedicated to sharing videos of injuries that customers have sustained while on TopGolf premises.”

Attorney Scott Sanes, who is representing Auer, told The Independent that there was no netting or barriers “of any kind” between the golfers, no helmets required, and that TopGolf “only provided gloves for purchase.”

Auer now has ongoing headaches, dizziness, lost memory, nausea, blurry vision and sensitivity to bright lights, along with ringing in the ears, and “has moments where she gets confused and freezes,” according to Sanes.

“We are at the very beginning of the litigation stage and are looking forward to determining how often this problem has arisen, how it has been addressed by this huge company and what they have done, if anything, to protect their customers,” he said.

In a second suit, local resident Brandi Triplett was at a TopGolf last year in the Houston suburb of Katy, hitting balls with a friend, when she took a flying driver to the skull.

Triplett, 43, was “seated and watching her friend take a turn golfing when one of the men in the adjacent bay swung a golf club and released the club during the swing,” according to her complaint, which was filed June 4 in Harris County District Court. “The golf club flew from the adjacent bay and violently struck [Triplett] in the head and right eyebrow area.”

After Triplett went down, the golfer in question apologized, said, ‘I’m done,’ and quickly left the area, according to the complaint, which claims the group “had been consuming alcoholic beverages” while there.

The complaint says Triplett “immediately experienced pain and swelling to her head,” and that she “attempted to ice the affected area while remaining at the facility.”

However, it goes on, the pain was so intense that she “ultimately ceased participating,” and went home. The next day, Triplett saw a doctor “due to continuing pain and headaches,” and was referred to the emergency room for a more thorough evaluation, the complaint continues.

ER staff took a CT scan of Triplett’s head, which was negative for acute intracranial injury, the complaint goes on. Still, it contends, Triplett continues to suffer “persistent headaches and related symptoms,” nearly 18 months after the incident.

A paper published last year in the South African Medical Journal explained why getting hit in the head with a golf club, while rare, can be so destructive. For starters, the club head’s leading edge imparts a tremendous amount of force to an extremely small surface area, “resulting in more severe damage to the skull.” The “injury pattern” caused by a golf club is also especially damaging, and, for those playing a round outdoors, the “soil-contaminated” surface of the club head significantly increases the risk of sepsis.

To that end, the TopGolf website lays out a series of guidelines meant to keep guests out of the emergency room.

“Combining a few laughs, great food, and hours of Topgolf can create some epic memories,” the page tells visitors. “So to ensure everyone has a fun and safe experience, it’s important to follow our conduct and safety rules.”

Players are warned to keep an eye out for “flying balls and clubs,” and to “always check their surroundings before swinging a club,” adding that guests are responsible for “any damages or injuries they cause.”

Running starts and trick shots are prohibited, as is aiming for the ball picker in the outfield. Additionally, the site says, “No rough housing, pushing, horseplay or similar dangerous activity allowed. No throwing items of any kind. Use golf clubs and balls only for golf.”

Among other things, Ayers’ complaint accuses TopGolf of “failing to properly provide adequate supervision,” “failing to continually inspect for dangerous activities,” and “failing to install physical safety barriers or other adequate safety measures between bays despite having knowledge that the absence of such barriers and safety measures created a known risk of serious injuries.”

In her complaint, Triplett blames TopGolf for “[f]ailing to properly monitor and supervise patrons consuming alcohol while utilizing golf clubs,” “[f]ailing to intervene despite patrons consuming alcohol and engaging in unsafe conduct,” and “[f]ailing to provide adequate barriers, spacing, or safeguards between adjacent bays.”

Both argue they have experienced physical pain and suffering, physical impairment, and “disfigurement.”

A TopGolf representative did not respond to a request for comment.

Wildfire smoke from Canada has drifted across the Atlantic and over the UK, causing the traditional blue skies to become “opaque” and grey, the Met Office has confirmed

An unusual meteorological event has swept across Britain, transforming the normally blue heavens into an “opaque” and grey canopy.

The country’s typically bright azure backdrop appeared hazy this morning as wildfire smoke drifted over southern regions, the Met Office confirmed. The result was a murky appearance overhead – an uncommon sight recently, given the blistering temperatures experienced nationwide in recent months.

The smoke is believed to originate from Canada, over 900 miles distant, where wildfires continue to burn ferociously. The blazes have compelled thousands of residents to abandon their properties as smoke has spread throughout North America and crossed the Atlantic, reports Yorkshire Live.

The Met Office asked: “Have you noticed an opaqueness to the blue sky this morning?”

“Wildfire smoke from North America is drifting south across the UK, meaning the clear skies may not be as blue as you might expect..”

Met Office weather forecast

The Met Office continued by noting that temperatures have begun declining somewhat this month. Southern areas are anticipated to reach highs of roughly 28C on most days this week, while northern parts will fluctuate between 25C and 26C, according to the Mirror.

The forecaster indicates conditions will likely stay “cloudy and cool” across the far north with potential showers. It stated: “Dry and sunny elsewhere with some very warm sunshine.”

BBC weather’s outlook

She’s Meanwhile, the BBC reports that northern regions of the UK can anticipate overcast skies with some “sunny spells” across the south. The eastern areas, however, should prepare for “the odd shower”.

BBC weather experts predict another murky beginning throughout the north on Thursday, accompanied by “sunny spells and patchy cloud” further south. They continue: “Friday looks to be dry with sunny spells for most, though northern Scotland will see spells of rain developing.

“These will push southwards on Saturday, with a few showers developing in the north behind it.”

This comes at a moment when meteorological charts indicate another heatwave might be on the horizon. Weather specialists suggest temperatures could reach highs of 37C in August, especially across southern England and the Midlands.

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There is congestion in both directions, the latest images from Traffic Wales cameras show. There is some slow traffic for drivers heading out of Cardiff towards the M4, but the longest delays are for those heading to the city.

The slowest traffic is around the Culverhouse Cross junction.

Game, the once‑dominant high street video‑games chain which had over 300 UK stores, continues to disappear from city and town centres across the UK.

An administration report shows the business owed roughly £3.5m to its secured creditor and about £12m to unsecured creditors, many of whom are not expected to recover what they are owed.

The retailer, now owned by Frasers Group, has been through insolvency once before in 2012 but had rebuilt around a mix of smaller shop units and in‑store concessions inside Sports Direct and House of Fraser.

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Those concessions now represent Game’s only physical footprint, with Game York now only surviving in Coney Street and at Monks Cross, as part of Sports Direct.

Until September 2022, there was also a Game in Church Street, which later became a branch of Utopia Womenswear.

Game previously had a store in Cheltenham Parade, but this closed in 2012 following the company’s administration. However, Game also continues to operate a concession within Sports Direct, in the Victoria Shopping Centre.

In Scarborough, Game previously had a branch in Westborough, but this also closed following the 2012 administration.

National coverage has since confirmed that Game’s remaining high street outlets in other parts of the country will shut during 2026.

This ends more than three decades as a standalone presence and leaves the brand trading online and through concessions only, essentially the Sports Direct in York, Monks Cross, and Harrogate.

Melanie C gave a behind the scenes glimpse of her magical wedding to Australian model Chris Dingwall in a video shared by Vogue on Tuesday.

It showed the custom Adidas satin robe and sliders Sporty Spice wore while getting ready for her wedding, which had the date of her big day emblazoned on them.

The video also captured the emotional wedding speech Melanie gave when exchanging vows with Chris and later, how she and her fellow Spice Girls tore up the dancefloor at the reception with Melanie wearing another Adidas two-piece outfit. 

Melanie, 52, and Chris tied the knot in a ‘perfect’ Lake District wedding in the grounds of The Country House Cumbria on Saturday. 

The singer shared a number of clips of her incredible slip dress, which was designed her Spice Girls co-star Victoria Beckham – who was the only group member to miss the nuptials, with Mel B, Geri Horner and Emma Bunton in tow. 

Vogue’s caption read: ‘Melanie didn’t grow up fantasising about her wedding day. Then, along came Chris Dingwall. “I’ve had this awakening in my 50s – I’m very comfortable in my skin,” she says… 

She was given a glowing look as her make-up was prepped by the experts and she posed in her custom Adidas silk robe

Melanie reunited with Spice Girls Geri Haliwell, Mel B and Emma Bunton on the dancefloor at the reception – Victoria Beckham was in America for the World Cup but designed Melanie’s wedding dress 

‘When her now husband proposed, [she said] “I knew immediately it was the right thing to do. When you’re my age you’re like… I actually want to experience all the things.”.’

Melanie showcased her extensive 90s inkings once she had slipped into her dress before being escorted down the aisle and holding the microphone to give her speech. 

After the elegant festivities, she returned to Spice Girls mode as she sported her silk palazzo pants, a cropped Adidas bomber jacket and an ab-flashing crop top. 

She wore ‘bride’ socks and Adidas superstar trainers which had the date of the wedding printed on them.  

The dancefloor worthy look was completed with custom trainers adorned with the wedding date. 

Her glamorous guests complemented the bridal look perfectly, with Mel B opting for a shimmering champagne bodycon dress, Geri wearing a romantic floral gown, albeit in white, while Emma chose a statement pink checked Vivienne Westwood trouser suit.

The video showcased the journey to the dancefloor, with Melanie flashing her amazing abs in the crop top before hitting the DJ decks. 

The video also captured the emotional wedding speech Melanie gave when exchanging vows with Chris as she could be seen reading off a card

A striking portrait saw the Melanie and Chris straight after the ceremony,which was held at The Country House Cumbria on Saturday

Melanie looked jaw-dropping in the video, which showcased her day from start to finish and showed off the incredible Victoria Beckham wedding dress her friend designed for her 

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The Spice Girls shared a giggle as they posed in the grounds with Geri raising eyebrows by also wearing bridal white 

Melanie giggled as she was pinned into her evening look, an Adidas cropped bomber  and wide-leg trousers which was made especially for her 

Before she hit the dancefloor she slipped into a pair of Adidas Superstar trainers adorned with the wedding date – and a pair of ‘bride’ socks 

She also had a pair of sliders adorned with the sports brand Adidas logo and the wedding date inkeeping with her ‘Sporty’ persona in the iconic band

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In a host of photos released by Vogue, Melanie was seen getting her dress fitted, and walking hand in hand with her new husband Chris.

Melanie told Vogue: ‘The spark was immediate,’ she said. ‘I was 49 when I met Chris and I was in a really good place. We had a date in Australia, and it’s been difficult to separate us ever since.

‘He’s been such a beautiful addition to mine and my daughter’s life. Because, you know, I’m a single mum. My daughter is 17, and we’re pretty resilient the two of us, we’re a team. For anybody coming into our world… it was going to be tough, and he just fits perfectly. It’s a beautiful dynamic.’

Melanie met Chris, thought to be in his 40s, in 2023 on the exclusive dating app, Raya.

She admitted she originally thought she was finished with romance following her split from previous long-term partners, including Thomas Starr.

But during a night out at the pub, her friends convinced her to download the app, turning the search for a partner into a game they jokingly dubbed ‘boy Bingo’.

She was seen giving herself a look in the mirror in her stunning white silk bridal gown, which was designed by her friend and bandmate Victoria Beckham

Every shot was fairytale worthy, with the stunner gazing into the camera 

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The couple first had a legal ceremony in Australia and one particularly sentimental detail was also unveiled, with Melanie incorporating a special Australian touch into her sleek ivory gown, which featured a dramatic open back and minimalist silhouette.

The Spice Girl had the words ‘Sydney’ and ‘7.6.2026’ embroidered in blue into the inside of her custom-made Victoria Beckham wedding gown as her ‘something blue’, commemorating the date and place where she and Dingwall officially became husband and wife.

Melanie also revealed her ‘something borrowed’ for the Sydney ceremony, came from the wardrobe of none other than her friend and fellow Spice Girl, fashion designer Victoria.

Speaking in the Vogue feature, Victoria said: ‘I was actually having dinner with Melanie and asked her what she was up to.

‘She very casually told me she was leaving for Australia in two days and getting married! When I asked what she was wearing, she mentioned she had actually ordered one of my dresses but that it didn’t quite fit, and she didn’t have time to get it altered before leaving.

‘I happened to have that exact dress in my own wardrobe and offered to lend it to her.’

A canine behaviourist has shared the science behind dogs tilting their heads, branding it “fascinating” while also explaining its close link to the bonds between a dog and their owner

Many dog owners will have spotted their pet tilting their heads when speaking to them and, while it’s commonly regarded as a cute and endearing habit, there’s a “fascinating” reason behind it. A professional dog trainer has shared how it could even offer insight into the depth of a bond between owners and their dogs.

There’s lots of popular choices when it comes to pets, from cats, rabbits and guinea pigs to ferrets, snakes and even birds. But dogs are arguable one of the most beloved options, with millions of proud owners across the globe choosing them as the perfect addition to the family.

With a huge variety of breeds and sizes available, dogs are universally celebrated for their loyalty, affection and unwavering companionship.

Many owners are eager to better understand their furry companions, delving into the reasons behind certain quirks and behaviours. Social media has become a go-to resource for guidance and advice, with fellow owners, vets and industry experts all sharing their knowledge online.

Canine behaviourist Will Atherton has built up a devoted following across social media, regularly posting videos that draw on his extensive experience and expertise working with dogs.

In a clip posted to TikTok, Will detailed the reason behind the common behaviour of head tilting.

Will began: “The reason your dog tilts their head when you talk to them is way more fascinating than most people realise.”

He then gestured towards his much-loved dog Sully, as the footage cut to scenes of Will alongside his dogs.

The trainer went on: “Take young Sully here. He does it constantly, and every single time someone sees it, they go absolutely mad for it.

“‘Oh, isn’t that adorable? Isn’t he clever?’ And yes, he is adorable, but there is real science behind what is happening in that moment – and understanding it will actually make you a better dog owner.”

Will then went on to explain what a dog might be attempting to communicate when they tilt their head.

He said: “When your dog hears your voice, they are doing two things simultaneously.

“They are trying to locate the precise source of the sound, and they are trying to read your facial expressions and lip movements to gather as much information about what it is you’re trying to communicate.

“The tilt physically adjusts the position of their ears to improve directional hearing, and it also moves the muzzle out of their line of sight so they can see your face more clearly.”

What else does it mean when a dog tilts their head?

Will went on: “Now, here is the part that really matters. Dogs that have a stronger bond with their owner tilt their heads more frequently.

“It’s not a random quirk. It is a sign that your dog is genuinely engaged with you and that they are trying to understand you, and that they see you as a source of meaningful information.”

Will added: “Sully’s got a beautiful soul, and that head tilt of his tells me everything that I need to know about where we are in our relationship.

“So the next time your dog does it, do not just melt and move on – recognise it for what it is: your dog working hard to connect with you.

“Lean into that, work with it more, engage with them more and build that relationship through it more. It is the foundation of everything.”

Why is modern life so overwhelming?

If we can’t change our biology, how can we handle an “evolutionary mismatch”?

Searches continue for the 25-year-old

Police have released a new CCTV image of a man who has been missing for more than two weeks. Lewis Winter, 25, was reported missing on Thursday, July 16 from Eye, near Peterborough.

However, he has not been seen in over two weeks. Cambridgeshire Police has released a new CCTV image of Lewis, as officers continue their search for the 25-year-old. The CCTV image was captured at around 7pm on July 5.

It’s believed to be of Lewis leaving the Tasman Caravan Park in Eye, where he lived. Officers believe someone may have seen him out walking shortly afterwards.

A police spokesperson said: “Motorists in the area may also have filmed him on dashcam and we’re encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

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“Searches are continuing, particularly in the area around Eye. Lewis is described as 6’4, slim, with short dark hair and beard.”

Anyone who has seen Lewis or knows of his whereabouts should call 101 and quote incident 254 of July 16.

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Andrii Sybiha, Kyiv’s acting minister of foreign affairs, wrote on social media that he congratulated Mr Miliband on his new role “and thanked the United Kingdom for its steadfast support for Ukraine since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, including military, energy, humanitarian, economic and sanctions assistance”.

A woman said she was harassed on the flight and claimed two people were having sex in the toilet ‘to cheers’ from other passengers

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A Ryanair flight bound for Ibiza transcended into a nightmare, according to one passenger, who said there were two groups who became ‘inebriated’ and disruptive, with some even allegedly having sex in the toilet.

A woman who has travelled to the Spanish holiday hotspot for 45 years said she has been on some rowdy flights before – but none like this one.

She recalled the horrifying journey all started before the plane had even taken off, as she noted two groups of people “making a lot of noise” and who “appeared to be inebriated” at the departure gates at Dublin Airport last week.

As she boarded the plane, she said she raised her concerns, but felt they were not taken seriously by staff, reports Dublin Live. By the time the plane was in the air, things took a dramatic turn involving two groups of people.

“It really started at the departure gate,” she told the outlet. “We arrived at the departure gate, and there were two groups of people that I was concerned about.

“They were making an awful lot of noise. They appeared to be inebriated and, given what Michael O’Leary had stated about not tolerating inebriated passengers on their flights, as I was about to board the plane, I brought the attention of a female member of the ground crew.

“She didn’t feel happy that I was concerned about this.” A further complication at the gate almost prevented her husband from boarding the plane.

But, once on board, the situation deteriorated rapidly. She described two distinct groups causing chaos on the flight: one group of young men, and another slightly older, mixed-gender group.

The younger group, she said, “were all, I would say, 22 to 24, they were all male”. She said the stewards on board the flight continued to serve people in both groups alcohol, despite warning them about their behaviour.

Other passengers were getting visibly distressed, according to the passenger. “The younger group was warned by the steward about the consequences of misbehaviour, but they continued to play music and drink,” she told Newstalk on Monday.

“There was a young girl who was shaking from head to toe, and there was another lady who was just very agitated because the noise was just overwhelming.”

A shirtless man and a young woman allegedly went into a bathroom together, and remained inside for about ten minutes.

Upon their exit to cheers from the two groups, a male flight steward inspected the room – and then returned with supplies to clean up what had been left behind. She told host Andrea Gilligan: “There was a young girl saying that she could organise hookups with people on the flight, if they wanted.

“And at one point, a shirtless young guy, just in a pair of shorts, and a girl went into the toilet, and they came out about 10 minutes later. The steward opened the toilet door after they exited it.

“And whatever he saw, he then went and got a large bag of wet wipes.” The woman then said a young man in a seat in front of her, who was verbally propositioning passengers, pointed at her and shouted: ‘I want her’.

She said: “He got up out of his seat and he pointed at me and he said, ‘I want her’. At which point, my new friend Paul [a man sitting beside her on the flight] intervened.

“And I said to him: ‘You need to be very, very careful, that man on the other side of the aisle is my husband’. My husband had both earplugs and headphones on, and his eyes closed.

“I said to him: ‘You need to remove yourself from this, because my husband is getting very worked up by the noise and shouting and people jumping over seats and all the rest of it’. And it was only at that point that the young man realised that I wasn’t a middle-aged woman on my own.

“Thank God my husband didn’t hear it, because it could have been an unpleasant situation if my husband had heard, basically, a young man on a Ryanair flight sexually harassing me.”

On arrival at Ibiza Airport, the aircraft was met by emergency services. Paramedics boarded the plane and removed at least one passenger who appeared unwell, while members of the problematic groups were interviewed by police.

She said: “When the flight landed, the steward said: ‘Everyone, stay in your seats. The paramedics and the police are coming to the flight’.

“The young guy who had been shirtless, who was in the toilet with the girl, he was carried off the flight by paramedics. Two people from the group further down the flight were asked to go with the police.” And in the aftermath, an elderly woman’s bag was misplaced – which then lead to further distress on their hot bus transfer.

The woman continued: “There was an elderly woman whose bag was misplaced. Now, it turned out that the stewards had put it in with their bags, or at least that’s what was said to us on the bus.

“People were asked by any chance had they taken her bag. One of the people who had been interviewed by the police decided that it was being implied he’d stolen her bag, but when her bag was found and he had boarded the bus, we were all already on the bus again.

“It was stinking hot, you know. You’re talking 30, 33 degrees, and people are tired and stressed and upset. And a man starts hurling abuse at this elderly woman that she was accusing of stealing his bag, which she wasn’t.

“She just wanted to get her bag back. At which point, a very big Spanish police officer boarded the bus, prodded him in the chest, and shouted at him: ‘No trouble in Spain’.

“At that point, he got off the bus. The door was closed, and finally, we got to the terminal, and we got out of there as quickly as we could.”

She said her husband was “furious” when she told him she’d been “propositioned by somebody who was certainly young enough to be my son.”

A statement from Ryanair to Newstalk said that two passengers on the flight were refused bar service on board, but continued to drink their own pre-bought alcohol, despite warnings from the crew. They said: “Crew on this flight from Dublin to Ibiza called ahead for police assistance after two passengers became disruptive inflight.

“Due to their misbehaviour, crew refrained from serving these passengers alcohol from the bar, however, despite several warnings from crew, they continued to drink their own alcohol purchased pre-flight. Police met the aircraft upon landing at Ibiza Airport and these two disruptive passengers were removed.

“Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a respectful and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption.”