A two-day inquest was held in January into the man’s death

A family is calling for “lessons to be learned” at a Cambridge hospital after a father died awaiting a heart transplant in 2023. Luke Barnes, from Mapperley in Nottingham, died aged 34 on March 17, 2023, as his life support was turned off at Royal Papworth Hospital.

Luke was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy – a chronic disease of the heart muscle – in 2018. While awaiting his transplant, he had a BiVad system fitted to help blood pump around his body.

Following a two-day inquest in January, it was concluded that due to an “unexpected” disconnection with the BiVad, Luke suffered a “catastrophic haemorrhage”.

Rothera Bray solicitors, which represented Luke’s wife Isobel Barnes at the inquest, has raised “serious concerns” over the handling of the hospital’s investigation after Luke’s death.

The solicitors are calling for “lessons to be learned” after the tragedy. Abagail Clarke, a solicitor in Rothera Bray’s inquest team said: “The family’s priority now is ensuring that meaningful lessons are learned and that no other family experiences a similar tragedy.

“The issues highlighted during the inquest raise significant concerns about the trust’s investigative processes and must prompt urgent review and reform. At this time, the family ask that their privacy is respected as they continue to process their loss and navigate life without Luke.”

The family and solicitors raised concerns about how the aortic cannula became disconnected from Luke’s BiVad system. In the inquest, the coroner concluded it was an “unknown” reason why it disconnected, and it was a “rare” event to have happened. The solicitors also raised concerns about how the medical device was discarded of.

A spokesperson for Royal Papworth said it acknowledges the family’s “concerns” and their “thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult time”. The spokesperson added: “As explored at the inquest, we can confirm that this tragic event was immediately escalated to the relevant authorities and we also conducted a thorough internal investigation, in keeping with our trust policy.

“Unfortunately neither our internal investigation or the inquest were able to conclusively determine the cause of the disconnection of Mr Barnes’ BIVAD. We appreciate that this will have caused additional distress for Mr Barnes’ family and friends.”

Following last month’s inquest, Luke’s wife paid tribute to him. She said Luke was her “safest place” and “greatest joy”.

She added: “He was the person who made me feel safe, loved and understood. Being married to him was a privilege I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

“Luke had the biggest heart and loved fiercely. He stood up for what he believed in and protected the people he cared about with everything he had.

“To be loved by him was to know what unconditional love truly meant and to lose him has left a void that can never truly be filled. Life without him feels quieter, heavier, and unimaginably painful. Losing him has shattered my world in ways words will never fully capture. Every day without him is a struggle, and the ache of his absence is constant.”

With the visit of champions Liverpool this weekend, the feelgood factor could evaporate swiftly if results conspire against Forest and dump them nearer the bottom three.

The Europa League has proved a welcome distraction, and this comfortable victory gives them a huge chance of extending their excursions into next month. Forest will face either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland in the round of 16 if they can complete the second leg.

Positive and full of energy, it did feel like the shackles of Dyche’s often cautious approach had been removed.

In what has been a chaotic and difficult season, this was arguably Forest’s best performance of the campaign.

Forest were dominant from the start against a Fenerbahce team with a number of familiar Premier League faces in N’Golo Kanté, Ederson, Mattéo Guendouzi, Nélson Semedo, Marco Asensio and Caglar Soyuncu.

It was Murillo, the Brazilian centre-back with the build of a boxer, who produced the first moment of magic to reward their pressure. As a ball-playing left-sided defender, he is likely to emerge as a transfer target for heavyweight clubs such as Chelsea in the summer. 

He has been threatening a spectacular individual goal ever since his move from Corinthians in 2023. Taking the ball from the halfway line, he evaded challenges from two Fenerbahce players before advancing towards the area and directing a 25-yard shot into the bottom corner.

The incident happened between 5.15am and 5.30am in Trafalgar Square, Scarborough on Thursday (February 19).

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “The van was parked closer to the junction with North Marine Road.

“The suspect caused damage to both the inside and the body of the van, and the alarm was activated, alerting the owner – who called police.”

The force is appealing for witnesses and those with doorbell or dashcam footage.

A spokesperson added: “We would also like to hear from anyone who also has had their vehicles damaged overnight in the area.

“If you have any information which you think may help with the investigation, please email Scott.Sunderland@northyorkshire.police.uk

“Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Scott Sunderland.

“You can also provide anonymous information via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote reference 1226003069.”

Roxanne Hamedi, a pharmacist from Aberdeen, said she it felt “like my time was cut short” after she was fired on the BBC business show by Lord Sugar for her poor branding decisions.

The latest instalment of the show saw the teams trying to sell their water brands live on social media, and creating an accompanying TV advert.

The episode also featured a cameo from rapper Big Zuu, who helped to judge the work created by the candidates.

Big Zuu (Image: BBC/Naked)

Hamedi exited the show after Lord Sugar blamed her for her team’s poor branding, due to her responsibility as sub-team leader.

She was in the firing line alongside team leader Conor Galvin and pharmaceutical sales specialist Rajan Gill, who was brought into the boardroom after a disastrous pitch.

Hamedi said: “It didn’t feel good to be fired, just because I didn’t think that I deserved to be.

“There was a lot going on that day and I feel like other people lacked accountability.”

The Apprentice (Image: BBC/Naked)

Hamedi said she took on the role of sub-team leader because she “wanted to get out of my comfort zone and take that risk”.

She added: “I don’t regret being a sub-team lead, but I just feel like my time was cut short in the process.”

She said Galvin should have been fired instead, adding: “I feel like he did throw me under the bus because I was just an easy scapegoat.”

Asked if she would have done anything differently, Hamedi said: “I guess I could have fought more in the boardroom, you know, called Rajan out on his lack of input, or reminded Lord Sugar that I’d taken creative risks and didn’t hide in the background.

“But I didn’t want it to come down to begging or being the loudest or most apologetic person in the room. I stayed true to myself and that takes integrity.”

Hamedi would have expanded her business, a beauty brand specialising in combatting hair loss, if she had won the programme.

The winner of the latest series of The Apprentice will be awarded £250,000 of investment into their company and the opportunity to go into business with Lord Sugar.

The Apprentice returns on BBC One next Thursday at 9pm.

A beloved Bridgerton star has been cast in the lead of a highly-anticipated rom-com adaptation

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Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor has secured the leading role in Beach Read, the forthcoming adaptation of the bestselling romance novel by Emily Henry.

First published in 2020, the novel charts the journey of two writers and former university rivals who unexpectedly reunite and challenge each other to a write-off, promising each other that they won’t become romantically entangled.

Dynevor, who is most recognised for her portrayal of Daphne Bridgerton in the first series of Netflix’s popular period drama, will take on the role of romance novelist January Andrews.

Throughout the book, January competes with and eventually develops feelings for Gus Everett, whose casting has yet to be announced.

Fans of Henry have reason to be hopeful about the upcoming adaptation as it’s being directed by Yulin Kuang, who co-wrote Netflix’s recent adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, reports the Express.

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Kuang is also writing the script, with 20th Century Studios producing the adaptation, so fans can look forward to a release on the big screen.

A full synopsis for the film via Deadline reads: “Beach Read is a romantic comedy following January Andrews, a successful romance novelist who struggles with grief and writer’s block after her father’s death and the discovery of secrets he’s long kept hidden.

“While spending the summer in his Michigan beach house to prepare it for sale, she unexpectedly reconnects with Gus Everett, an author who was once her rival in college.

“Both creatively stuck, they agree to a writing challenge over the summer, swapping literary genres while promising that there will be no romance between them. Of course, you know what they say about the best-laid plans.”

Readers are sure to be thrilled to see January and Gus’s heart-fluttering romance come alive, as Henry’s original book has garnered glowing reviews from critics and fans over the years.

A five-star review from an Amazon user proclaimed: “I’ve read this book at least six times now, and somehow, I love it more with each reread.

“Everything about this story is perfect. It’s heartwarming, smart, and emotionally rich, but still manages to have me giggling, kicking my feet, and fully rooting for these two. This is such a comforting read I keep the audiobook on standby for whenever I have the chance to replay it.”

Another person enthused: “Together Gus and January have managed to chip away a piece of my heart to call their own. No romance book has had me screaming, crying, smiling and laughing as much as Beach Read.”

And a final fan said: “Oh my word, I loved this book so much. I can’t stop recommending it to people, even my guy friends. I’m not sure how anyone can consider this anything but a masterpiece.”

Are you prepared to be captivated by another sensational Emily Henry adaptation? Stay tuned for more updates.

Beach Read does not currently have a release date.

North Yorkshire Police say they are appealing for witnesses and footage after a light aircraft crash yesterday (February 18) in Hutts Lane in Grewelthorpe.

A spokesperson for the force said: “At 12.21pm, we received a report that a light aircraft had crashed within the grounds of the Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park, which was closed to the public at the time of the incident. Emergency services responded immediately.

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“On arrival, they located a single occupant, a man in his 20s inside the aircraft. The man remains in hospital in a serious condition. No-one else is believed to have been on board the aircraft.”

A North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said that crews from Leyburn, Thirsk and Ripon were called to the incident– with emergency services helping to free the pilot from the aircraft.

A spokesperson from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust confirmed that they attended the scene.

They said: “We received a call from police colleagues at 12.24pm to report a light aircraft crash in the Masham area.

Man seriously injured after aircraft crashes into North Yorkshire sculpture garden (Image: North Yorkshire Weather Updates)

“A number of ambulance resources were dispatched to the scene, including an ambulance, a team leader and a Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and one patient was airlifted to hospital.”

The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has confirmed that it has started an investigation into the incident, with their officers attending the scene today.

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who saw the aircraft prior to the incident, to come forward.

If you have any footage of the incident – including mobile phone or dashcam footage of the aircraft while airborne, please contact matthew.wilkinson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, ask for Matthew Wilkinson.

Please quote reference 12260030318 when providing information.

Christopher Phillips, 60, has been charged with preventing a lawful burial

Police have issued an update after a woman’s body was found in a freezer at a property in a Welsh seaside town. Police confirmed that a 60-year-old man was arrested after the force received a call concerning the welfare of a woman before finding a body at a property in Porthcawl.

South Wales Police has now confirmed that a man has been charged after the body of the woman, who was in her 80s and from Porthcawl, was found within the property on Poplar Crescent.

Christopher Phillips, 60, from Porthcawl, has been charged with preventing a lawful burial.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “South Wales Police attended an address on Poplar Crescent, Porthcawl at 1:45pm on Tuesday, February 17 after a call concerning the welfare of a woman.

“A woman in her 80s from Porthcawl was found dead within the property.

“Christopher Phillips, 60, from Porthcawl has been charged with preventing a lawful burial. Investigations into the death are on-going.”

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​The feature, which is one of the town’s “most enjoyed landmarks”, has stood at the top of West Cliff for more than 170 years, but despite being replaced in 2002 the structure is deteriorating.

​A plan to find genuine replacement bones has been abandoned, however, after “all realistic avenues for sourcing replacement natural whalebones have now been exhausted”.

​“In light of this, the only viable option available is to commission high-quality replicas,” a report by Whitby Town Council states.

​The Mayor of Whitby, Cllr Sandra Turner, said: “North Yorkshire Council has looked at all the avenues, which we knew were remote and difficult, to say the least, and there isn’t a set of whale bones available.

​“Obviously, we would never condone any whales being killed so that we could have a set of whale bones, that’s always been the stance from day one.”

​“The position is now to go out and look for what would be the best replica set that can be obtained.

“North Yorkshire Council is fully on board with replacing them, and it will be a question of what is going to be the best substitute,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

​The last replacement bones came from Whitby’s twin town of Barrow in Alaska after a worldwide appeal, from a whale that was killed legally by native Inuit in 1996.

It is understood that Alaskan authorities had been “trying to speak to those involved previously at North Slope Borough (Barrow).”

​North Yorkshire Council (NYC) is now in the process of seeking quotations for a range of replica options, including consideration of materials, durability, cost, and long-term maintenance implications.

​Speaking to the LDRS, Mayor Turner praised NYC for its support and assistance with the project.

​“We’re going to wait now and see what comes back on costings and what possibility there is for a replica set, and then the decision will be taken.

​“I know what I would rather have, but it isn’t up to me, it’s up to everyone else.”

​Asked what the timeline was for sourcing the replacement, the mayor of Whitby said she hoped “things can move along swiftly enough that we would have a replacement set by the end of the summer at the latest, but I can’t say that’s written in stone”.

​North Yorkshire Council will pay for the replacement replica, Cllr Turner said.

​She added: “North Yorkshire Council has been absolutely brilliant and we’ll be getting an updated report very soon, and then we’ll see what the situation is for the replicas.”