Even with the Philadelphia Eagles securing a Super Bowl victory two weeks ago, quarterback Jalen Hurts isn’t slowing down. Despite winning the Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts kept sharpening his skills, launching a deep pass on the move during his workout video. The video first appeared on the Instagram account @coachhurts2, run by Hurts’ brother Averion […]
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A BOY has been charged with stabbing a teenager at a Primark store in front of horrified shoppers.
The 17-year-old suffered a wound to his chest after being stabbed inside the store in Long Row, Nottingham, at around 11.30am yesterday.
After being attacked in “full view” of shoppers, he was treated at the scene by paramedics and was taken to hospital suffering from serious injuries.
However, police confirmed that his condition is stable and his injuries are not currently believed to be life-threatening.
A 16-year-old, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, was arrested a few hours after the incident and has now been charged with both wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place and has been remanded into custody.
He is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court today.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire Gould, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We understand the alarm this incident has caused and I’d like to reassure the public we have been working at pace to build a full picture of what had happened – and why.
“I am pleased we have now been able to charge a suspect in this case.
“As we continue to progress with our investigation, we are still urging anyone who has information which could assist us with our inquiries, who hasn’t already come forward, to please contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 241 of 23 February 2025.
Alternatively, you can anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
VIRGIN Media is down leaving customers without interest access.
Over 1,000 users have logged the issue on Downdectector, which monitors the status of online services and reports outages in real time.
Customers have taken to X, formally, know as Twitter, to complain about the issue.
One upset user said: “Oh look, Virgin Media is on fire again. Must be the weekly outage.”
While another added: “Virgin Media will crumble, worst broadband in the country.”
A third moaned that their broadband had “gone down.”
A YOUNG girl suffered a stroke while going down a slide at her local park – her dad noticed the first sign in her face.
Charliee Sue Salisbury, 7, was at the park with her dad, Danny Salisbury, 43, on February 9 when he “instantly” noticed a change in his daughter’s face.
Waiting for her at the bottom of the slide, Danny spotted that the left side of Charliee’s face had dropped before she collapsed as she tried to stand up.
Blue lighted to Watford General Hospital, Hertfordshire, a CT scan revealed Charliee had suffered a stroke caused by a large blood clot in her brain.
She was then transferred to Royal London Hospital with Danny and mum, Hannah, 40, where medics spent five hours attempting to remove the clot 12 times but were unsuccessful.
In the early hours of February 10, medics removed a third of Charliee’s skull as her brain was dangerously swollen.
After the successful five-hour procedure, the family was then sent to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) where Charlie left sedated until February 14, when she finally came around.
Although she can mumble, her movement is limited and she has no function on the left side of her body currently.
Charliee will need further surgery for a metal plate to be fitted to her skull and medics predict she will take three months to recover in a rehabilitation centre.
Heartbroken dad Danny, a delivery driver, from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, said: “As soon as I saw Charliee coming down the slide, I knew something wasn’t right – she didn’t have the same glow in her beautiful face.
“We were blue-lighted to the hospital because we knew it was a race against time.
“When they confirmed it was a stroke, we were hoping the damage was minimal.
“The hours of surgery Charliee had were the longest of our lives but we’re thankful for the medics’ amazing efforts.
“Since she’s come around, every day, we are hoping for a miracle.
“She recognises her mum and I but she can’t say much – just mumbles.
“Charliee is a treasure – singing and dancing was her life.
“The night before her stroke, she was dancing around the kitchen way past her bedtime.
“I’d give anything to have her do the same right now.”
I instantly knew something wasn’t right and when we got to the hospital, medics confirmed my worst fear – that she had suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot
Danny Salisbury
Danny and Hannah, a nursery worker – who share five other children, aged 26, 23, 21, 20, 17- were left “panicked” when Charliee’s left side of her face “suddenly drooped” when going down the slide.
“I instantly knew something wasn’t right and when we got to the hospital, medics confirmed my worst fear – that she had suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot,” Danny said.
Although requiring specialist treatment at GOSH, the family was sent to Royal London Hospital until a bed became available.
Medics initially spent five hours trying to remove the blood clot but proved unsuccessful.
In the early hours of on February 10, surgeons removed a third of Charliee’s skull as her brain was “dangerously swollen” before finally able to go to GOSH.
She then spent six days in ICU before being transferred to a high-dependency unit and then a shared ward where she has remained since and receives daily physiotherapy.
If I wasn’t there to notice the sudden change in her, I dread to think where we’d be
Danny Salisbury
The clot on Charliee’s brain remains and the repeated attempts to remove it have caused “severe damage” to the right side of her brain.
Danny said: “We haven’t left her side and are so thankful for the generous support Charliee has received.
“Medics still aren’t able to advise what caused the stroke and we don’t know what her future will look like.
“I miss seeing our little girl dance around, she has that kind of infectious joy.
“If I wasn’t there to notice the sudden change in her, I dread to think where we’d be.”
A close friend of the Salisbury’s has set up a GoFundMe page to help adapt their home and reduce the financial strain.
Danny said: “Hannah and I aren’t able to work at the moment and we’ll have to have the downstairs renovated for Charliee because she can’t get to her upstairs bedroom.
“We’ve been blown away by the generosity so far and would be grateful for any continued support.”
To donate to the family’s GoFundMe click here.
The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke:
F = Face drooping – if one side of a person’s face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it’s uneven then you should seek help.
A = Arm weakness – if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help
S = Speech difficulty – if a person’s speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke
T = Time to call 999 – if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care.
Other symptoms include:
DOCTORS have issued a stark warning to millions of Brits with nut allergies, after a teen died from a reaction triggered during sex.
The man had received oral sex from another man who had recently eaten peanut butter, according to Canadian doctors.
During the act, the teen began experiencing breathing problems and used an inhaler – which he carried with him at all times.
He collapsed, and someone called for help, but by the time paramedics got there 45 minutes later, he had no pulse.
He was eventually revived and placed on life-support, but suffered severe brain damage after being deprived of oxygen for so long.
Just one day later, the teen died in hospital.
His cause of death was found to be anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that causes life-threatening inflammation of the airways.
The severe immune reaction can make breathing difficult, or even impossible, and may cause the heart to stop due to a lack of oxygen.
Anaphylaxis is considered a serious emergency requiring treatment like an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) and a call for emergency services.
Medics, describing the case in the journal Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, said traces of peanuts were likely contained in the saliva of the boy’s date.
The peanut-laden spit was absorbed through the sensitive skin on the teen’s genitals, according to medics.
They pointed out that, as the pair hadn’t kissed recently, oral sex must have been the only way the peanut traces entered the victim’s system.
Research shows that peanut residue can stay in saliva for up to six hours, and allergy reactions from kissing have occurred even after brushing teeth, using mouthwash, and chewing gum.
Because no condoms were used, doctors also ruled out a latex allergy as the cause.
Cases of women with peanut allergies reacting to traces of peanuts in their partner’s sperm have been documented before.
OnlyFans model Lucy Banks revealed that she suffered significant itching and swelling after having sex with her partner.
The 20-year-old has a peanut allergy and her partner had consumed nuts.
Lucy was struck with a seminal food allergy, which is a rare condition whereby traces of foods and medicines can end up in sperm.
The Canadian case was the first reported incident involving two males and oral sex, according to the medics.
They emphasised the need for better education on the risks of allergy attacks related to intimate activities.
“With the rise of dating apps, particularly among stigmatised groups, this case highlights the importance of educating people about allergies to reduce risks,” they said.
“Anyone engaging in intimate activities should disclose their allergies, as the consequences can be life-threatening.”
The medics also thanked the patient’s family for allowing the publication of the case to raise awareness and save lives.
Peanut and tree nut allergies are common – they are the most commonly known foods to cause anaphylaxis.
About 1 in 50 children and 1 in 200 adults in the UK have a nut allergy.
Experts estimate that food allergies cause 10 deaths in the UK each year, with 5,000 people being hospitalised.
SYMPTOMS of an allergy usually occur within minutes of contact with with the offending food or trigger, but they can also come on up to one hour later.
Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe.
Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life-threatening.
Mild to moderate symptoms include:
Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency.
Follow these steps if you think you or someone you’re with is having an anaphylactic reaction:
Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better.
Sources: Allergy UK, NHS
MAFS UK’s Amy Kenyon went braless in a plunging top while meeting up with co-star Hannah Norburn ahead of the show’s reunion.
Amy, 27, stunned fans in the busty cream number, which she paired with matching flared trousers and heels for a day out at Blanc Story Studio in Manchester.
The wedding planner grinned away from the camera while posing for some stunning Instagram shots, her brunette locks cascading over her shoulders in waves.
Amy soon joined Hannah for a selfie, with the fitness business owner wearing a chic brown fur coat.
In her caption, she wrote: “a gorgey day at @blancstorystudio with @mar.pr.social.”
The Blackburn-native was matched with Luke Debono during her time on MAFS last year.
Despite initial hopes, their relationship faced challenges, leading them to part ways before the final decision ceremony.
Following her time on the show, Amy has been linked to fellow participant Adam Nightingale.
The two have been spotted together on multiple occasions, sparking speculation about a potential romance.
However, both have insisted they are just friends.
The forthcoming MAFS reunion is set to explode as one of the show’s brides will drop a huge ‘cheating’ bombshell.
In tonight’s special, E4 viewers will get a brand new update on the progress on some of their favourite personalities of the show.
We previously reported that Erica Roberts, 26, will return to the hit Channel 4 reality series.
She is set make a comeback with a bombshell secret and is set to reveal that Kieran Chapman was messaging her.
However, we can now reveal that the star is set to drop a second huge bombshell on the group.
Erica will tell Sacha that Ross was also sending her messages while the pair were still together.
This was despite the fact that Erica was not on the same series as Sacha and Ross.
She was known for her high-profile relationship a year beforehand with Jordan.
Together, they took part in the eighth series of Married At First Sight in 2023, but their relationship did not last.
Sacha will be left completely stunned by what she hears as the new revelations are set to cause fresh drama.
Loved-up Tayah Victoria and Adam Aveling of series six fame had the first Mafs baby.
The pair couldn’t keep their hands off each other on the programme and quickly found their feet in the outside world, moving into Adam’s Doncaster home.
Just 18 months after meeting, the couple welcomed their daughter Beau.
Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and had their first child in December.
Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She told us: “I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out – and excited for everything to come.”
Michelle and Owen were both sick of dating apps when they applied in 2019.
Owen recalled: “I had been out for some drinks with a friend after work.
“While he was out for a cigarette I was scrolling on Instagram waiting for him to come back in.
“The MAFS advert was the last thing I saw, and I joked, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I signed up?’
“A few beers later when I was back at home I sent in the application, and the rest is history.”
Another couple to make Mafs UK history is Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson.
Despite a slight rocky start, where they clashed over Jenna’s vegan lifestyle, the show’s first same sex pairing are still going strong.
They even have a successful podcast together called Life With a Pod.
Jenna shed light on being involved in the show earlier this year when she told us: “We’re not legally married, and I never felt like we were. I definitely feel the process makes you take the relationship a lot more seriously and having the help of the experts… if you can survive that process it sets a firm foundation for a long-lasting relationship.”
Meanwhile, Ross will not appear on the brand new episode of the hit social experiment.
Although he will not be present to give his side of the story, a show source told us the show will still be explosive viewing.
During the upcoming show, the brides and grooms will come together for the first time since leaving the experiment.
Together, they will share their thoughts on what went down during their time on the show.
But the Honesty Box will also make a dramatic return too, so there’s bound to be many tantrums and tears.
Alongside Erica, Sacha and Ross, the returning faces include Adam Nightingale, Amy Kenyon, Ella Morgan (series 3), Hannah Norburn, Holly Ditchfield, Kieran Chapman and Kristina Goodsell.
The list also includes Matt Pilmoor (series 3), Nathan, Orson Nurse, Paul Liba (series 3), Shona Manderson (series 3), Sionnain Carmichael and Tasha Jay (series 3).
Faces who are set to miss the reunion also include Polly Sellman, Luke Debono, and Richelle Cade.
THIS is the moment Israel taunted Hezbollah by brazenly flying fighter jets over the funeral of terror leader Hassan Nasrallah who they killed in a strike.
The terror boss’ funeral was held in a packed out stadium in Beirut on Sunday after he was targeted in an IDF missile blitz in September which was a major blow to Hezbollah.
Hundreds of thousands of mourners who gathered to honour the 64-year-old erupted in shouts of fury, raising their fists to the four IDF fighter jets that buzzed the ceremony.
Footage from the ground showed the two Israeli F-15s and two F-35s flying low and slow over the crowds surrounding Nasrallah’s coffin.
The moment the jets were heard, all eyes turned to the skies in shock before rage erupted.
After the flyby, to ensure their message was heard, the IDF released photos taken from the jets as they passed over the vast crowds gathered in the city.
Not only did they buzz the procession, but the fighter jets involved were from the same squadron that bombed Hezbollah’s Central Command Bunker in the strike that took out Nasrallah and other senior commanders.
Over 80 bombs were dropped on the group’s main operations room with Israel releasing dramatic new footage of the mission from September 27, 2024, on Sunday.
The IDF said on X: “Today is Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral.
“Today the world is a better place.”
Hashem Safieddine, who was chosen to be Nasrallah’s successor, was also killed in another Israeli strike, and his coffin was part of the procession on Sunday.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the flypast a “clear message” to those who threaten Israel.
He said: “Conveying a clear message: Whoever threatens to destroy Israel and attacks Israel – that will be the end of him.
“You will specialise in funerals – and we will specialise in victories.”
The crowds mourned the loss of the leader, wailing and throwing flowers and other items at the coffin as it moved slowly on the back of a truck.
It was covered in Hezbollah’s yellow flag, topped with two black turbans, and surrounded by pictures and flowers as well as protective see-through screens.
Nasrallah’s speeches were blasted out over the speakers to mourners who held their arms aloft saying, “We are at your service, Nasrallah.”
The procession led to where the terror boss’s coffin would be buried in Beirut.
Safieddine will be buried on Monday in his hometown of Deir Qanun al-Nahr.
Nasrallah was one of the founders of the group and took on the leading role for over 30 years.
The Hezbollah co-founder was one of the most influential people in the Middle East and helped trained Hamas fighters.
He also helped increase Hezbollah’s presence and popularity in Lebanon during his 30 years in power.
Israel’s taunts came after Senior Hezbollah official Ali Daamoush said on Saturday: “Come from every home, village and city so that we tell the enemy that this resistance will stay and is ready in the field.”
He added that around 800 officials from 65 countries would be part of the funeral.
In a televised speech at the ceremony, the terror group’s new leader Naim Qassem vowed that “resistance” to “face Israel” was not over despite having suffered a series of major blows.
These comments were echoed by Iran‘s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The IDF wiped out 20 terror targets in a calculated and intense airstrike, just hours before the Lebanon ceasefire was signed in November, two months after killing Nasrallah.
At the time of his death, the IDF said: “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world.”
Israel bombed south Lebanon and the Bekaa valley moments before and during Sunday’s ceremony.
The National News Agency reported that these strikes wounded a Syrian girl as the IDF said it had struck “sites containing rocket launchers and weapons.”
Despite having signed a ceasefire deal in November, Israel continues to periodically carry out strikes with both sides claiming they have each violated the terms of the agreement.
By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter
ISRAEL has claimed to have killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a series of massive aircraft strikes that rocked Lebanon.
If true, his death would mark a huge shift in the Middle East crisis, with Hezbollah being left incredibly weak and Iran losing its grip on its biggest terror proxy.
Here we take a look at Hassan Nasrallah’s life and his rise as the biggest terror boss in the Middle East.
Born in 1960, Nasrallah belonged to a poor Shia Muslim family who grew up in the slums of Sharshabouk in Beirut.
While growing up, he moved to south Lebanon to study theology and became a devout follower of Islam.
In 1982, Nasrallah joined Hezbollah shortly after it was formed as a political and paramilitary organisation.
Over the years, the fundamental Islamist rose through the ranks leading Hezbollah in multiple conflicts against Israel.
It was under Nasrallah’s stone-cold leadership that Hezbollah became a regional military power before being deemed an Islamic terror organisation by many countries including Britain and America.
He made Israel the prime enemy of the terror group – and sought for its destruction.
The terror chief has deeper ties with other Shia-based terror outfits like the Houthis and Hamas in a bid to wipe Israel from the world map.
Nasrallah holds the title of Sayyed, an honorific meant to signify the Shia cleric’s lineage dating back to the Prophet Muhammad.
He was regarded as an influential Islamist figure in the Middle East and had countless followers in the region.
For many years Nasrallah kept an extremely low profile and was never seen in public, fearing an assassination at the hands of the Israelis.
HOUSEHOLDS across Scotland will see their council tax bills soar by hundreds of pounds.
It comes as a nationwide freeze comes to an end, with local authorities claiming higher local taxes are necessary.
Some of the larger authorities, like Glasgow and Edinburgh, have announced bumper double figure hikes already with others due to follow suit.
Last week, six council areas announced increases: East Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, the Borders and North Lanarkshire.
In Glasgow, council tax is set to rise by 7.5 per cent and in Edinburgh, a hike of 8 per cent was agreed.
North Lanarkshire, East Lothian and Scottish Borders residents will see a 10 per cent increase, with Fife residents experiencing a rise of 8.2 per cent.
A number of local authorities are still to announce council tax increases in the coming days:
Western Isles, Midlothian, Shetland and West Lothian councils will all confirm their budgets tomorrow.
East Renfrewshire, Moray, North Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire will vote on their council tax rises.
Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire and Stirling will all vote on their budgets.
Between March 4 and 6, Aberdeen, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Highland, Inverclyde, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, West Dunbartonshire will all announce their hikes.
Check out our council tax tracker map to see how your area compares to changes across Scotland.
On top of inflation-busting council tax hikes, Scots will also be hit by huge water bill rises – added on to council tax bills.
Scottish Water has announced that prices will increase by 9.9 per cent starting this Spring.
This means the average monthly household bills for water and waste water services will shoot up by £3.68 per month or £44 per year.
However, some households could see it skyrocket to as high £108 more per year.
The increase will take effect from April 1, 2025, and will be collected alongside council tax.
BRITAIN’S Got Talent fans have threatened to go to Ofcom after a sickening act left children at home “traumatised”.
This weekend, the ITV competition returned to our screens with a new batch of hopefuls wanting to prove their worth to the BGT judges.
But one act, Auzzy Blood, drew more attention than most with his morbid and sickening stunt routine.
Appearing on stage in gothic make-up, the performer held up giant corkscrews to the audience, before feeding them through his nose and out his mouth.
Amanda Holden was heard screaming “Crikey” and “No!” as the act began, with Alesha Dixon turning away from him and visibly gagging trying not to be sick.
Simon Cowell watched on enamoured, unable to look away, even if he was shocked as he did so.
But things got worse from there, with Auzzy then taking a long piece of tubing, feeding it through his mouth, and flossing it back and forward in front of the horrified judges.
He then handed it to Simon, directing him to drink a blood red liquid from a bottle through it.
Alesha eventually slammed her buzzer, unwilling to take anymore.
For his final act, Auzzy suspended himself on the stage via a hook that went through his mouth and nose.
Waiting for a debrief after finally getting back down to solid ground, Alesha said: “I can’t watch this act, but I can appreciate how good you are.”
“This is one of my favourite acts of the day, genuinely!” countered Simon, with the rest of the judges in agreement, with Amanda calling it “horrifically brilliant”.
Auzzy was then sent through to the next round.
But while the judges were sold, viewers were not, saying it was unsuitable for children and “left them feeling sick”, demanding Ofcom step in for inappropriate content before the 9pm watershed.
Taking to X/Twitter, one fan wrote: “@ofcom will be getting lots of complaints tomorrow from this guy hanging from his nose. My daughters nearly throwing up and I just couldn’t look at all. #bgt no.”
“I’ve sent one, my 6 year old was traumatised poor thing,” said another. “It’s not even 9pm.”
BGT have handed out many Golden Buzzer's over the years, can you remember some of the most famous
“Seriously @Ofcom What’s on britains got talent tonight should be looked at this is not entertaining kids could be watching this Hooks through face,” said a third.
“I thought Britain’s Got Talent was supposed to be a family friendly show and they got people shoving hooks & tubes through their mouth & nose and almost getting a judge to drink from that same tube?? That’s disgusting to say the least!” noted a fourth.
A fifth said: “I’m going to be one of those ‘I think it’s awful tv but I’ve never watched it’ cos I literally sat looking at my phone while he was sticking hooks wherever he put them”
“That is an absolute NO for me,” said a sixth. “I personally believe the fact you came onto a show like this and stuck hooks through your nose is morally repugnant and totally out of keeping with a family show and a potential Royal Variety act. NO.”
PLANNING a wedding is stressful for any bride-to-be but for Megan Finn it almost broke her.
The mum-of-two says she was so overwhelmed by her wedding preparations that she developed psychosis.
Megan Finn, 27, had to juggle rescheduling her big day, looking after two children and running her own nail salon from March 2020 to July 2022 which seriously took its toll.
She says her weight dropped drastically from 13st to 6st 7lb she stopped sleeping and hallucinated hearing voices in her house.
But it was during her rescheduled honeymoon on July 13, 2022, that she hit breaking point.
Megan says her brain “had enough” – and she started having hallucinations about her husband, production operative Jordan, 30, falling off their balcony.
On returning home to Belfast, Megan was sectioned by two police officers, and she spent nearly 10 weeks in the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre, Belfast.
Now, she says she feels stable – but warns it isn’t healthy to glamourise the stress of being a woman who “has it all”.
Megan, a nail technician, says: “The reason I ended up the way I was, was because I was so stressed.
“Being a woman who owns the business, looks after the kids and has the fairytale wedding is so glamourised.”
Megan says that initially planning her nuptials wasn’t stressful, but Covid restrictions put huge pressure on her.
“Preparing for our wedding was pretty plain sailing at first – but when lockdown hit, there was so much we had to rearrange,” she explains.
“On top of that, my husband was an essential worker – so I had to look after and homeschool two kids under 10.
“My business was struggling as we weren’t getting grants, and he was the only person bringing any money in.
“To be honest, the moment we went on our honeymoon and my brain had time to relax – I think it had just had enough, it didn’t know what to do.”
In March 2020, Megan and Jordan had been engaged for two years, and were looking forward to their wedding day on June 10, the same year.
But when lockdown hit, the couple were told by their venue they would likely have to push their celebration back indefinitely.
Megan had to postpone her photographer, band, DJ, and store her own wedding dress at home – because she feared the shop would go out of business before her big day.
“We had to change everything on our marriage license,” she says.
“As well as rearranging the hair stylist, the makeup artist and the entertainment – I had to take my wedding dress home because I was worried it would be lost forever.”
When she was able to open her salon for business, Megan began working 12 hour days without breaks – as well as trying to fit in homeschooling her children on her days off.
In the space of two years, she lost six-and-a-half stone, dropping four dress sizes – which friends and family put down to wedding nerves.
But by June 2022, it became clear that something more “sinister” was at play – when the mum stopped sleeping, and started having auditory hallucinations.
She adds: “Leading up to my wedding, things started to become a little more sinister and concerning.
“I started talking noticeably fast, as if I was really excited.
“This was around the time I started to have real, paranoid, auditory hallucinations.
“I thought I could hear friends in the house – when nobody was there except me and my husband.”
I remember thinking my sister was an MI5 agent – and out to get me
Megan Finn
Megan and Jordan got married on July 9, 2022 – but despite feeling like she could “relax,” her symptoms only worsened.
The pair left with their children, aged seven and nine, and Megan’s mum, barber Tanya, 57, for their ‘familymoon’ to Alcudia, Spain, on July 13.
But Tanya found herself having to look after Megan – as her hallucinations became so bad, she thought Jordan had fallen off their apartment balcony.
With one day to go before the end of the holiday, a Spanish doctor advised Megan to go home.
“My dad and sister flew over to bring me home,” she says.
“On the way from Dublin Airport to Belfast, I remember thinking my sister was an MI5 agent – and out to get me.
According to the NHS, psychosis is a mental health problem that causes people to perceive or interpret things differently from those around them. This might involve hallucinations or delusions.
The two main symptoms of psychosis are:
The combination of hallucinations and delusional thinking can cause severe distress and a change in behaviour.
Experiencing the symptoms of psychosis is often referred to as having a psychotic episode.
You should see your GP immediately if you’re experiencing symptoms of psychosis. It’s important psychosis is treated as soon as possible, as early treatment can be more effective.
Your GP may ask you some questions to help determine what’s causing your psychosis. They should also refer you to a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment.
“We got into an altercation, which led me to being sectioned by police.”
The mum-of-two was taken to the Belfast Acute Mental Health Unit, where she was hospitalised for nine-and-a-half weeks.
Her treatment plan included taking antipsychotics once-a-day – and it took doctors three different medications to bring her out of her psychosis.
After being discharged, she was provided with a psychiatrist and community mental health nurse, who she still sees every month.
The NHS recognise the following as possible causes of psychosis:
Brief psychotic disorder is a sudden, short-term psychotic episode brought on by extreme stress or trauma – that’s more common in people in their 20s, 30s or 40s.
According to Better Help, it is distinct due to its cause, its short length, and the infrequency of its appearance in individuals.
Getting adequate sleep, exercise, eating a healthy diet and meditating can help reduce your risk of psychosis when under extreme stress.
Now, she feels “stable” and on her way to becoming “herself” again – but Megan wants to warn others not to overglamourise stress.
“I’ve learnt not to push myself,” she says.
“I know my limits and my early warning signs to relapse – like not sleeping, weight loss, and spending excessive amounts of money.
“Don’t over-glamourise stress – it’s so much more important to be stable.”
