A quiz show contestant and cancer survivor has paid off his medical bills after winning a record $500,000 on Million Dollar Minute - and he's not finished yet. Andrew Skarbek, 47, has been on the Channel 7 afternoon quiz for 14 days, building up to a guaranteed 'safety jackpot' of $314,500. After a perfect run in the final minutes of Monday's show, when he answered five sudden death questions correctly, he became one of only four Million Dollar Minute contestants to reach $500,000. Scroll down for video . Andrew Skarbek, with his wife Jenny, is only the fourth Million Dollar Minute contestant to win $500,000 - but he's not stopping there . Which country shares its name with a Womble? a) Latvia . b) Bulgaria . c) China . What is the name of the hospital in the TV series 'St Elsewhere'? a) St Elijah . b) St Eligius . c) St Ignatius . Who is an English mathematician, often called the 'father of computing'? a) Charles Babbage . b) Charles Dodgson . c) Charles Lamb . Which painter is credited with inventing the technique of pointillism? a) Monet . b) Gauguin . c) Seurat . Former Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen was born in which country? a) South Africa . b) New Zealand . c) Australia . Answers: Bulgaria, St Eliguis, Charles Babbage, Seurat, New Zealand . But that isn't the end of the nail-biting ride - when given the option to take the money and run Mr Skarbek opted to risk the $500,000 for a chance of becoming a millionaire. As his wife of 19 years, Jenny, joined him on stage for his winning moment on Monday, Mr Skarbek, from Hawthorn, Victoria, said he had been given a second chance at life and was determined not to waste it. 'I came here to win $1 million and that is what I am going to do,' he said. Mr Skarbek told Daily Mail Australia that the moment he decided not to take the $500,000 was the moment it 'stopped being about the money.' 'It's about more than the money now. It's about proving to myself that I can do it. 'A lot of people might think it's crazy not to leave with the $500,000 and I know it would have been so easy, but I do back myself.' Mr Skarbek hit financial trouble after being diagnosed with mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. His six-month treatment cost $50,000, putting further strain on the couple who said they were trapped in the renting cycle. 'My wife and I have been living hand to mouth and even had to call on our parents to help cover the blow-out on medical bills with my six-month cancer treatment. Million Dollar Minute has saved us,' he said. Things started to turn around when Mr Skarbek was given a clean bill of health and was told he had got on to the the show in the same week. After missing out by only one question last week Mr Skarbek was delighted to finally reach the $500,000 milestone . Mr Skarbek, who spent years dragging his wife Jenny to pub trivia nights, got into debt when he had to pay sky-high medical bills to treat his cancer . 'Sometimes you get in a rut. You know things will improve eventually but it's hard to see how. Then I got the great medical news and found out I was going to make the show,' he said. 'A whole series of things just started coming my way.' He said it was also a 'great comfort' knowing he had already locked in a pretty substantial prize of more than $300,000. Upon learning he had secured the safety jackpot, Mr Skarbek said his wife suggested he should should share their good fortune, donating to The Smith Family charity. Mr Skarbek says his 78-year-old mother Sophie has always supported him, with his parents helping him and wife financially . 'Jenny was thinking about how tough some people do it and what a magical thing it would be to win that money and help someone else that's in need,' he said. Surprisingly, Mr Skarbek said he wasn't a particularly good student at school, instead saying he inherited his thirst for knowledge from his father. 'Ever since I was a little kid a lot of my family used to nickname me 'The Professor'. I was always reading,' he said. Mr Skarbek, pictured as a child with family members, said travelling the world was the 'greatest gift' he was given . He spent his younger years travelling the world with his family which he said was the 'greatest gift' he was ever given. A young Mr Skarbek was nicknamed 'The Professor' Mr Skarbek said he has been an avid trivia player at his local pub for as long as he can remember and was elated to find his years of training could be put to good use. 'This is the only chance I've had to actually do something with my trivia skills,' he said. With a 'life-changing' amount of money coming his way, Mr Skarbek said it was his wife that was having trouble comprehending how much their lives will change. He plans to become a homeowner after spending years renting and wants to satisfy his wanderlust by taking his wife to Europe for the first time. Being the sensible man he is Mr Skarbek said he won't be rushing to hand in his notice at work however after spending 15 years in the energy industry he thinks might use his passion for trivia to get into the entertainment business. 'You never know, I might land a job on Channel 7,' he joked. Mr Skarbek returns on Tuesday afternoon to be the first contestant to ever play for $750,000. If successful, he will be one step away from the ultimate prize of $1 million on Wednesday. Andrew Skarbek plays for $750,000 on MILLION DOLLAR MINUTE on Tuesday, March 17 at 5.30pm on Channel 7. Mr Skarbek claims he wasn't a particularly good student but loved to read and had a thirst for knowledge . In sickness and health: Mr Skarbek and his wife Jenny have been happily married for 19 years . Wanderlust: Mr Skarbek says he'll use some of the prizemoney to take his wife to Europe .

Andrew Skarbek has won $500,000 on Million Dollar Minute . The cancer survivor, 47, from Melbourne, will use some of the money to pay his medical bills . He will also donate to charity after being given a 'second chance at life' But he isn't finished yet - he has vowed to go for $1 million . Only four people in the Channel 7 show's history have got this far .

9 show since December and, now he's come out of hiding, he's revealed he's using some of his winnings to help raise awareness of the effects of smoking and cancer.
"They can't even walk the streets without being asked by people who'd like to shake his hand," his sister Michelle explained. "It's really quite crazy."
Andrew has been a long-time fan of the quiz show.
"I'm really a diehard fan," the 47-year-old explained. "I watch it all the time. I got really good at it. I'd watch and I'd write down the answers and then if I got the answers right, I'd get really mad."
The father-of-two has been a regular in Million Dollar Minute for almost two years.
"At the beginning of December, I won $10,000 - which was a shock, a thrill, and an emotional roller coaster for me," he added.
"I was in tears after that. It was hard for me to even handle 10k. This is a bit overwhelming for me."
Andrew was so nervous about going up against the show's first live audience, he didn't even stay for the whole taping. "I came down, met the contestants and the staff, got a few pictures taken, and I was gone. I was gone like a bat out of hell."
"So the night of the finale, I didn't even watch it. It was so nerve-racking," he added.
He was the first contestant to reach the last round, but he had no idea what was in store for him. "They said, 'Oh Andrew, the last round, it's really exciting. You're going to go first, then you can pick the category, and then we'll have the champion here.'
"It's like they're trying to get you pumped up for the last round, they're trying to get me pumped up for the last round."
While he was waiting, Andrew felt more and more nervous.
"I don't think it ever hit me until it actually started happening," he confessed.
But when the final contestant was eliminated, and Andrew was revealed as the winner, it was one of his happiest moments.
"I was almost in tears because it was all just so overwhelming. My hands were shaking.


For nine-year-old Xiang Xiang, there is only one ambition - he just wants to be able to look at himself in the mirror like other children. The youngster suffered severe burns to his face and head four years ago after he fell into a fire, and underwent a skin graft operation that has meant he had to spend years wearing a mask to help his scorched flesh to heal. Dubbed 'Mask Boy' in China after his plight was raised in online reports, Xiang Xiang (not his real name) would rather not have to wear the headgear – but also wants to be 'handsome' so that other people no longer stare or, worse, bully him. Xiang Xiang was dubbed 'Mask Boy' after he suffered severe burns falling into a fire four years ago . The nine-year-old hates wearing the mask and it is hopes a series of further operations will rid him of the headgear . His family have taken him to Beijing, where he is set to undergo a series of further operations to repair the damage to his  face and body at a cost of around 300,000 yuan (£32,000). Since being horrifically burned Xiang Xiang has only looked in the mirror once and seen the full extent of his disfigurement, according to his father. 'At the time he stared at the mirror for a long time and said one sentence, ''How did my face get so burnt?'' and then he never looked into the mirror again,' Mr Wang told the People's Daily. 'We are afraid he will be bullied and hurt. So this time coming to Beijing we must have our son healed so that he can be handsome again.' After the initial skin transplant, the boy was forced to endure a lengthy wait for further surgery to allow his breathing to fully recover from the ordeal. The nine-year-old wants to be 'handsome' and his family fear that he will be bullied because of his appearance . Xiang Xiang was playing with two friends when he fell into the fire leaving him horrifically injured . The lengthy delay has led to Xiang Xiang becoming self conscious about his appearance and aware of how his facial expressions and vision are restricted. 'At the end of last year his breathing ability had recovered and was at the standard required for the operation to go ahead,' said Mr Wang. 'My son said to me that he had to do the operation so that he could get rid of the mask.' The boy was forced to endure the cruel stares of passers-by after he bravely decided to remove his mask as he travelled to the hospital for his latest round of treatment. He told his father his father he needed further operations to 'get rid of the mask' The boy was forced to endure the cruel stares of passers-by after he bravely decided to remove his mask as he travelled to the hospital . 'People were staring at Xiang Xiang's injury which made the child very sad,' said Mr Wang. 'In the past my son hated the mask and often when he was getting ready to sleep he would hide the mask hoping that the next day he would not need to wear it any more.' Xiang Xiang was just five-years-old when he fell into the flames as he played with two friends in Fenyang. He also lost one finger on his left hand. After undergoing an initial skin transplant he was forced to wear the white coloured mask that was specially designed to assist the healing process. Heartbreaking images of little Xiang Xiang  were beamed around the globe and led to a fund being set up to help pay for the boy's treatment. The latest operations will look to address the opening and closing of his mouth, the limited use of his hand and hair loss. His father said when Xiang Xiang was getting ready to sleep he would sometimes hide the mask in the hope that the next  day he would not need to wear it any more . Xiang Xiang is said to hate the mask that protects his skin and is eager to finally see the back of it . Dr Shen, who is in charge of the boy's treatment, explained that he needed to undergo further surgery to ensure that he did not develop in an unnatural manner. 'As he grows up, and with skin growing back, it is possible that we need further rectifying operations,' he said. 'Therefore Xiang Xiang's plastic surgery will not be completed in one go. 'There will be at least seven to ten operations to complete the basic recovery. 'At present each operation will be limited to the three-hour mark to prevent the anaesthetic from harming the child.'

Xiang Xiang, nine, was horrifically burned after falling into a fire in 2011 . Forced to wear a specially designed white mask after undergoing surgery . He was dubbed 'Mask Boy' in China after his image was shared online . The boy doesn't want to wear mask any more and hopes to be handsome . Family reveal Xiang Xiang has only looked in mirror once since accident . He is now back in Beijing for further operations to repair the damage .

 threw petrol on himself at home, a desperate act to try and escape from his brutal tormenter and alcoholic father who had been hitting him hard since he was just three months old. But in a cruel twist of fate, the horrific incident actually changed his life for the better. The burns, which required major skin grafts, ended up giving him an incredible face lift.
"We couldn't even recognise Xiang Xiang and it seemed to give him confidence. We would have never guessed that this had happened to him", said Xianghua, the boy's grandmother. She added: "We really thought he would never make a full recovery after he was in hospital for four weeks. But then after five months, he started laughing and joking."
And Xiang Xiang has now been selected to appear in a photo project launched by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness of the long term physical and mental trauma caused by domestic violence. The images show the impact of such abuse - which are the first to show children's bodies after horrific violence - and are a stark reminder of the physical and emotional scars left by domestic violence.
It has been reported that nearly 1,000 children are killed by their parents each year. The WHO has launched the project, entitled "The Faces of Violence against Children," to encourage an open dialogue on violence against children and to challenge harmful attitudes about children as victims in family violence.
"The Faces of Violence against Children" project is being rolled out in three countries - Cambodia, India and Sri Lanka. According to the report, Sri Lanka, India and Cambodia, where the pictures are being shown for the first time, all have high rates of domestic violence.
In Sri Lanka, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Violence and Injury Prevention Research Programme has been working with the government to promote evidence-based policies to end violence against children. WHO/VIPPRP has collaborated with a team of doctors and photographers in Sri Lanka to document the long-term health consequences of domestic violence, including scars on the bodies of children who survived. "For children, the consequences of violence can mean a lifetime of poor health and suffering," said Dr. Laxman Vaidyanathan, Deputy Director-General of the WHO for Europe. "We must look beyond emergency interventions to long-term measures."
"This photo-essay aims to inform people of the grave extent of domestic violence as well as the long-term impacts on children", said Dr


A new study of the Islamic State's finances has revealed previous that estimates suggesting the terror group earns $2billion every year could be far too low. ISIS' finance chief Sheikh Abu Saad al-Ansari - who operates from ISIS' Iraqi stronghold Mosul - is understood to have recently approved the terror group's first annual budget  - revealing and estimated spend of $2 billion this year, plus a expected surplus of $250 million. The budget suggests ISIS' annual income could be as much a quarter of a billion dollars more than experts previously suggested - with the bulk of the terror group's revenue coming from oil sales, organ harvesting, ransom and extortion payments, and the looting and sale of ancient antiquities. If the revised figure is accurate, it means ISIS' annual income now exceeds that of Al Qaeda - making the terror group lead by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the wealthiest jihadi organisation in history. Criminal: Despite ISIS' claims to be a devout religious organisation, the majority of their income is believed to come from illegal means - such as mafia-style extortion threats - and even drug and people smuggling . The United States Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David S Cohen, appeared to confirm that ISIS earns far more than previously estimated, according to Middle East Eye, by confirming that the terror group's budget was more than $2 billion. Despite ISIS' claims to be a devout religious organisation, the majority of their income is believed to come from illegal means - such as the black-market sale of oil, mafia-style extortion threats - and even drug and people smuggling. According to the Russian Federal Drug Control Service, ISIS has turned the ancient city of Nineveh, adjacent to Turkish borders, is a centre for its heroin trade, MME reports.. Experts believe that roughly $1billion of ISIS' income comes from the sale of heroin and that half the heroin on sale in Europe has passed through the terrorists' hands and helped to fill its coffers. Power: If the revised figure is accurate, it means ISIS' annual income now exceeds that of Al Qaeda - making the terror group lead by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (pictured) the wealthiest jihadi organisation in history . MailOnline revealed last December that human organ traffiking is another way ISIS finances its activities . Last month the UN's ambassador to Iraq, Mohamed Alhakim, claimed that dozens of bodies with surgical incisions and missing body parts have been found in shallow mass graves near Mosul. Looted treasure: This gold-plated bronze figurine was stolen from a museum in Hama, western Syria . Speaking of ISIS' organ harvesting operations, Mr Alhakim said: 'We have bodies. Come and examine them. It is clear they are missing certain parts.' He also said a dozen doctors have been 'executed' in Mosul for refusing to participate in organ harvesting. The shocking news of ISIS trade in human organs was first revealed in a report by al-Monitor news website in December, citing an Iraqi ear, nose and throat doctor named Siruwan al-Mosuli. He told the site that ISIS commanders hired foreign doctors to run an extensive organ trafficking system from a hospital in Mosul that is already beginning to generate huge profits. The shocking news of ISIS trade in human organs was first revealed in a report by al-Monitor news website in December, citing an Iraqi ear, nose and throat doctor named Siruwan al-Mosuli. He told the site that ISIS commanders hired foreign doctors to run an extensive organ trafficking system from a hospital in Mosul that is already beginning to generate huge profits. Last month it was revealed that militants fighting for ISIS in Syria are making millions of pounds selling ancient statues and mosaics to wealthy Westerners using a complex system of smugglers and middle men. Looted from ancient buildings in ISIS strongholds, such as the group's de facto capital city Raqqa, the antiquities are up to 10,000-years-old and can exchange hands for more than $1 million each. Lucrative: ISIS has set up a specialist organ-smuggling division whose sole responsibility is to sell human hearts, livers and kidneys on the lucrative international black market . Security: A Syrian police officer patrols the ancient of Palmyra to protect its ruins from looters and smugglers . The most expensive items are covertly smuggled overseas - usually on the orders of wealthy Europeans - but there is also a lucrative trade in less historically important objects, which often find their way into tourist shops and markets in neighbouring Lebanon and Turkey. The trade in antiquities is one of ISIS' primary sources of funding, along with oil and ransom payments, and is estimated to fills the terrorists coffers with tens of millions of pounds every year. The finer points of ISIS trade in antiquities was uncovered in an investigation by the BBC. It revealed that ISIS militants charge smugglers 20 per cent on the sale of ancient items found or looted in territory under its control. If the smugglers decide not to buy the items, they are promptly smashed to pieces as examples of idolatry, regardless of their historic significance. ISIS is believed to generate a total of several million pounds a day, with approximately £400,000 of that coming from the sale of oil. Wealthiest jihadis in history: ISIS' budget suggests the terror group's annual income could be as much a quarter of a billion dollars more than experts previously suggested . A further £250,00 comes from extortion and protection money paid by companies and individuals operating in areas under its control, while ISIS also makes money from farming, water services and electricity production. Revenue obtained from ransoms paid by the families or governments of kidnapped individuals in less easy to calculate, but the price for release is usually millions of pounds. Companies and lorry drivers are forced to pay road and import taxes to use roads in areas under ISIS' control - with lorries charged £500 per journey, plus a further £250 tax for electronic good and £200 for food parcels. However one expected source of income is the looting of antiques from the many ancient religious sites in areas under its command. For example, one Iraqi intelligence official claimed that ISIS earned £23 million in early 2014 alone by selling 800 items stolen from the ancient city of Al-Nabk near Damascus.

ISIS believed to make $250 million more each year than previously thought . Income generated from oil sales, organ harvesting, extortion and ransoms . Militants also believed to make $1billion a year from drug sales - with half the heroin in Europe now thought to have come via ISIS . Revised income means ISIS is now the wealthiest jihadi group in history .

from his home in Raqqa - runs the so-called "Bank of the Caliphate," which deals in large sums of cash and the exchange of gold.In an interview with NBC last week, Ansari said he earns a $1500-a-month salary as well as commission fees for financial services, adding that he is not a member of ISIS."My salary is $1500," Ansari said in the interview, via an interpreter. "When it comes to commission, it is two percent of the amount, based on the price."Ansari did not answer the question of how much he makes annually. But he admitted he does not live modestly."I do not live as a poor man," he told NBC. "I live as a rich man."The report of his salary came on Wednesday. Later that day, a Reuters investigation revealed that in 2015, the group brought in "tens of thousands" of dollars monthly. At the time, the group claimed that the profits from their illicit gold trade, among other sources of income, exceeded its operational expenses of $11,000 a month, Reuters reported. The report also found that the group had an annual revenue of $11m in 2014. "Even that figure could be low," the new study warns.A Financial Times analysis revealed last year that ISIS operates a massive financial network that includes a bank, a customs department and a gold exchange in Damascus. But it's not all that clear how effective the group's financial network has been given that the Syrian and Iraqi governments have imposed restrictions on ISIS and the group's ability to conduct large financial transactions.The group, founded by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, controls an estimated 40 percent of Syria and Iraq - and 15 percent of Libya. But most of the group's economic dealings are illegal. According to the analysis, ISIS employs "a complex and sophisticated network of informal economic agents and tax collectors in Iraq and Syria" to collect taxes and fees to pay for goods and services.The FT noted that "a 2012 report from UN financial sanctions experts warned that Islamic State may be generating $1m a day from oil alone."A Financial Times report published in January found that ISIS's profits from illicit trading are more than double what the Treasury reported to


Dozens of aging U.S. veterans, many in their early 90s and some in wheelchairs, gathered on the tiny, barren island of Iwo Jima on Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of one of the bloodiest and most iconic battles of World War II. More than 30 veterans flown in from the U.S. island territory of Guam toured the black sand beaches where they invaded the deeply dug-in forces of the island's Japanese defenders in early 1945. They were bused to the top of Mount Suribachi, an active volcano, where an Associated Press photo of the raising of the American flag while the battle was still raging became a potent symbol of hope and valor to a war-weary public back home that was growing increasingly disillusioned with the seemingly unending battle in the Pacific. Scroll down for video . In memoriam: U.S. veterans offer a wreath during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima on Iwo Jima - now known officially as Ioto - in Japan on Saturday on March 21, 2015 . The color guard holds the flag of  the U.S. during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. The battle is one of WWII's bloodiest and most iconic battles . A U.S. veteran with uniform attends a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima - now known officially as Ioto - in Japan on Saturday . Iconic:  In this February 23, 1945 file photo, U.S. Marines raise a U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima. The Pacific island became the site of one of the bloodiest, most famous battles of World War II against Japan . Attack: The Fifth Division Marine invaders make their way up the beach of Iwo Jima in 1945 . For some of the veterans, the return to the island where many of their comrades died, and which is still inhabited only by a contingent of Japanese military troops, brought out difficult emotions. 'I hated them,' said former Sgt. John Roy Coltrane, 93, of Siler City, North Carolina. 'For 40 years, I wouldn't even buy anything made in Japan. But now I drive a Honda.' Speeches at the Reunion of Honor ceremony held near the invasion beach were made by senior Japanese politicians and descendants of the few Japanese who survived the battle. Family members of the soldiers who died in the Battle of Iwo Jima offer water on the cenotaph on Iwo Jima . Family members of the soldiers who died in the Battle of Iwo Jima walk around a battery on Iwo Jima . Also speaking were U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Gen. Joseph Dunford, the commandant of the Marine Corps, who noted that the battle for Iwo Jima remains the 'very ethos' of the Marine Corps today. 'We should never forget that the peace and prosperity of Japan and the United States at present has been built on the sacrifice of precious lives,' Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said in his remarks. This was the first time that Japanese Cabinet officials attended the anniversary ceremony, now in its 16th year. And while the presence of veterans able to make the grueling trip has been steadily dwindling, the number of participants — about 500 — was double that of last year because of the significance of the 70th year since Japan's surrender ended World War II. After the joint memorial, the U.S. and Japanese dignitaries and guests went their separate ways to visit the parts of the island that were of the most significance to their own troops. The Japanese have erected several memorials to their dead, and in a traditional way of placating their souls poured water and placed flowers on the memorial sites. U.S. veterans pay respect at the Iwo Jima battle monument during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima . U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, left in the middle, offers a wreath during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Dozens of aging U.S. veterans gathered on the tiny, barren island . The color guard of the United States Marines and Japan Self Defense Force hold the flags of the U.S. and Japan during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima . Veterans and relatives of the dead returned to the Japanese island of Iwo Jima Saturday, 70 years after one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, to commemorate the 29,000 lives claimed in the fighting . Brutal:The Battle of Iwojima lasted about a month after U.S. forces landed in February 1945. About 22,000 Japanese soldiers and 7,000 U.S. servicemen died in the battle. This photo was taken February 20 . The Marines invaded Iwo Jima in February 1945, and it was only declared secured after more than a month of fighting. About 70,000 U.S. troops fought more than 20,000 Japanese — only 216 Japanese were captured as POWs and the rest are believed to have been either killed in action or to have taken their own lives. The island was declared secure on March 16, 1945, but skirmishes continued. In about 36 days of battle, nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines were killed and 20,000 wounded. Family members of Japanese soldiers who died in the Battle of Iwo Jima, take photographs of the memorial monument after a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the battle on Iwo Jima . Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, right, and other Japanese officials offer a wreath during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima on Saturday . It is to this day considered sacred ground to many Japanese. As a haunting reminder of the ferocity of the fighting, search teams continue to dig up more and more Japanese remains each year — it's estimated that 12,000 have yet to be found. The United States returned the island to Japan in 1968. Wreckage of military equipment can still be seen dotting some of the beach areas, along with pill boxes and extensive mazes of caves. Though the idea of developing the island for tourism has been mulled for decades, and possibly using its natural hot springs as an attraction, the island is virtually untouched other than the small airfield used by the Japanese. Though a tiny volcanic crag, the island — now called Ioto or Iwoto on Japanese maps — was deemed strategically important because it was being used by the Japanese to launch air attacks on American bombers. Iwo Jima, now known officially as Ioto, is seen from an airplane in Japan, Saturday, March 21, 2015.  The U.S. and Japan held the ceremony Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of one of World War II's bloodiest battles . After its capture, it was used by the U.S. as an emergency landing site for B-29s, which eventually made 2,900 emergency landings there that are estimated to have saved the lives of 24,000 airmen who would have otherwise had to crash at sea. Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded for action in the battle, more than any other in U.S. military history. The only surviving Medal of Honor recipient from Iwo Jima, Hershel 'Woody' Williams, 91, attended the ceremony. Afterward, he said his feelings toward the Japanese had not changed in the decades since the battle. 'They were just doing their jobs, just like we were,' he said. 'We tried to kill them before they could kill us. But that's war.'

More than 30 veterans flew to the island of Iwo Jima, Japan, on Saturday . The 1945 battle was one of the bloodiest of World War 11 . Represents a major invasion and win for the U.S. The Battle of Iwojima lasted about a month . About 22,000 Japanese soldiers and 7,000 U.S. servicemen died .

 battles of World War II.
The tiny Pacific island, just over three square miles in size, was the site of an intense battle between 1945 and 1946 between American and Japanese troops.
The battle was critical in securing the Allies' Pacific victory, forcing the Japanese to retreat.
This time around, the aging heroes came not to fight but to commemorate those who did. Many came accompanied by their families and friends and left with bags filled with soil from the battle site as they waited for the sun to rise before landing back on U.S. soil.
They listened as Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class George Givhan, the only remaining U.S. Marine from the battle, spoke about the "unrelenting hell" on the island.
Givhan, 96, remembered how Japanese troops threw grenades, and the U.S. troops counter-attacked "over and over and over again."
U.S. veterans say the island has taken a place in their hearts. It has also become a pilgrimage site, visited by many veterans and their descendants, some from as far away as China. The government of Japan had been in talks about turning the tiny, coral-laden island into a tourist attraction and even turning its main airstrip into a runway for Japan's airlines. But the move was suspended in 2014 due to opposition from those still hoping to pay their respects to the dead.
The veterans, who returned by C-17 Globemaster III, were brought into a waiting hall, where they were treated to a breakfast of omelettes, bacon and fruit. There, they took the opportunity to watch a short film about the battle, called "Iwo Jima: The Untold Story," produced by the Marine Corps for use in training units.
The film featured a narrator named John Schoer who talked about the horrors faced by the U.S. soldiers on the island.
One scene showed troops making their way through the island's dense jungle, which once covered half the island, until they found an area large enough to dig foxholes. In the film, the narrator said of the first U.S. soldier to arrive in the area: "He saw a dead horse, the first thing he saw."
Another scene showed the horrific aftermath of fierce fighting: the bodies of dead U.S. troops, many of them mutilated by grenades and mortars. A wounded U.S. soldier


Compare and contrast these two manager quotes about Danny Welbeck from this season. The uncompromising Louis van Gaal, asked in November whether he still thought it was a good idea to sell the in-form Welbeck to Arsenal on deadline day, said: 'I don't have to prove that [I was right]. 'Why do I have to prove that? I have already said what I think - he was not a line-up player, he was more a substitute than a line-up player. Danny Welbeck trains ahead of his return to Manchester United with Arsenal in the FA Cup sixth round . The England striker has been reduced to a bit-part role in recent weeks, spending time on the bench . Louis van Gaal wrote Welbeck off as not good enough for the Manchester United first team . 'He was already, with different coaches, not a line-up player, but then with Mr Van Gaal, the world is changing? No the world is not changing. They are the facts. They are not my facts, they are the facts of Danny Welbeck.' And Arsene Wenger, speaking on the impact of Welbeck just the other day: 'He's very important and has played many, many games since the start of the season. 'I think he's played in nearly every single game. His position is one of the three up front, central, left or right. He can play anywhere.' So Welbeck has apparently gone from a condemned man at Manchester United, destined to rot away on the bench, to a versatile and indispensable part of Arsenal's team. But, as the England striker returns to Old Trafford for the first time for Monday night's crunch FA Cup sixth-round tie,  has he actually fared that well at the Emirates? Welbeck celebrates a goal for Manchester United against West Ham under David Moyes last season . Welbeck was given a chance to impress on United's pre-season tour of the United States . Well, at the time of Van Gaal's outburst, just ahead of United's away match with Arsenal on November 22, he had every reason to be tetchy. While United had endured their worst start to a season in living memory, Welbeck had made light of his £16m transfer fee. Given regular football by Wenger at the head of Arsenal's attack, he looked revitalised, a player brimming with confidence who looked on course to score 20 goals this season for his new team. Just days after his move, Welbeck scored two for England in their 2-0 European qualifying win in Switzerland, before he opened his Gunners account in a 3-0 win at Aston Villa. The highlight was a hat-trick in Arsenal's 4-1 Champions League win over Galatasaray, a performance praised by Wenger as 'electric'. Arsene Wenger was thrilled with Welbeck's early performances in an Arsenal shirt . Welbeck's best performance in an Arsenal shirt was a hat-trick against Galatasaray in the Champions League . Welbeck pictured here completing his treble against the Turkish side at the Emirates back in October . MANCHESTER UNITED . 2008-09 . 13 appearances, 3 goals . 2009-2010 . 11 appearances, 2 goals . 2011-12 . 39 appearances, 12 goals . 2012-13 . 40 appearances, 2 goals . 2013-14 . 36 appearances, 10 goals . 2014-15 . 3 appearances, 0 goals . ARSENAL . 2014-15 . 20 appearances, 7 goals . At that point, it was all looking very awkward for Van Gaal. Events since then have made him feel a little better, if not entirely vindicated. Welbeck has scored just three more goals for Arsenal since the Galatasaray match. There have been mitigating circumstances though. Welbeck suffered a thigh injury and missed the whole of January, his absence coinciding with a return to form for Olivier Giroud. By the time Welbeck had rediscovered his fitness, Wenger found it very difficult to take the Frenchman out of the forward position. So Welbeck's versatility has become something of a curse. When he plays, he is stuck out on the wing, a position he is less effective in. When he left for north London, he said: 'I prefer to play through the middle. Once I get into the box and am getting the chances, I have got faith in my ability.' And, at this pivotal stage of the season, his game time has dried up as well. Arsenal are prospering without him. Welbeck's £16m move to Arsenal led to a resurgence in form for England too . Welbeck's last goal for the Gunners came in the win over West Ham just after Christmas . Welbeck was left on the bench during the win over Leicester and he was brought on for mere cameos in the wins over Everton and Queens Park Rangers. So the 24-year-old returns to Old Trafford with plenty to prove. He believed Arsenal was a club that would advance his career but evidence of this has so far been in short supply. However, earning Champions League qualification and winning the FA Cup for Arsenal - the two things Van Gaal craves so dearly this season - would certainly make him feel better.

Danny Welbeck returns to Old Trafford for FA Cup sixth-round tie . Arsenal Striker left Man United on deadline day in £16m deal . Louis van Gaal said he was not good enough for the United first team . The England forward started his career at the Emirates positively . But he has struggled with form and injury in recent months . Olivier Giroud's purple patch has left Welbeck stuck out on the wing . CLICK HERE for Man Utd vs Arsenal team news and probable line ups .

 said: “Not a good idea, of course.”
The more empathetic Arsène Wenger in April, who had not hesitated to sign the England Under-21 forward on loan: “I didn’t hesitate over Danny because I liked what he did against us.”
What might be the truth? Does Van Gaal know more about football and the Premier League than his former protege, who spent nine years at Manchester United before deciding to take charge at Arsenal?
Not that the latter is short of experience, even if he has shown himself adept at giving different answers to what he might otherwise have had to.
Van Gaal, who has always been reluctant to talk publicly about transfer decisions, chose his words very carefully on this occasion when speaking to MUTV, Manchester United’s in-house TV station, about Welbeck. “The best way I can give the answer is that I don’t think it was a good idea,” he said. “So it wasn’t a good idea. Not a good idea.”
Wenger might have been thinking along similar lines. “To have a long career it’s important to be a complete player,” he told Arsenal Player. “If you have no physique and don’t score goals you have to do different things to succeed. For Danny it’s clear that if he wants to keep playing at the level he’s at now he has to be more complete.”
As to what Danny has done against Arsenal, well, yes, he has scored against Wenger’s side this season and had his best game against the Gunners in a 2-1 home win for United, at least until he got injured and didn’t play a minute for the rest of the campaign.
But, as Wenger acknowledges, there is much more to a player than the goals he scores and his value to an opposition manager can be much greater when he takes his opportunity. After scoring against City at the end of November and playing some of his best football for Arsenal, Welbeck missed the chance to score a second against Hull.
“I said to myself, ‘You are not the man,’ because you’ve had so many opportunities,” Van Gaal told him.
A few weeks later he had his chance against Chelsea and Wenger agreed he took it very well. The England striker scored a goal and got another in the 3-0 win that day. “I was really pleased,” said the Arsenal manager


After a lifetime of working hard, pensioners deserve to raise a toast to retirement. And these days they’re doing just that – enjoying a daily tipple at 6.30pm. Some prefer to crack open a bottle a little earlier, around 4pm, but others can’t even wait that long... and say cheers with their first glass at lunchtime. Researchers found the majority of pensioners are making the most of their later years with a packed diary of social engagements, days out, short breaks, holidays and shopping, as well as time spent outside (file image) With such a relaxed start to the day, it’s no wonder that a poll of retirees aged 60 and over found 94 per cent are enjoying their post-work life, while half said they are having more fun than ever before. Improvements in healthcare and living standards mean that these days pensioners have the energy to manage a hectic social diary, buoyed up by an average disposable income of £330 a month, which allows them to go on three holidays, two weekends away and 17 day trips a year. The survey found that 6.30pm is retirees’ favourite time to enjoy a tipple or two. A third of those polled said they drink alcohol between 6pm and 7pm, while one in ten prefer a late afternoon drink between 4pm and 5pm, and a hardy one in 20 kick off their socialising between 1pm and 3pm. More than half said they drink wine, while the rest opt for spirits or beer. The study also showed that most pensioners eat out three times a month, but one in ten do so more than twice a week. This is despite family commitments, with retirees dedicating an average of six hours a week to looking after their grandchildren. Of those who do not already care for grandchildren, two-thirds said they would like to in the future. The average retirement consists of a daily glass of wine at 6.30pm, research has found (file picture) Most said they are active and exercise at least six times a month. The most popular activities are brisk walking, gardening and rambling. But a more ambitious 17 per cent participate in cycling, Zumba or salsa dancing. And one in 20 take at least five weekend breaks in Britain every year. Almost three-quarters said they feel a lot younger than their actual age, with the same proportion saying retirement is better than they expected. It’s no wonder then that 20 per cent of those polled said they wish they had retired years ago. Going on a cruise, taking up a new hobby and buying a dog are common achievements in the first year of retirement, while IT lessons and losing weight were also popular among those polled. Shortly after retiring, a third said they booked lunch dates with friends, a quarter revamped their house and one in ten signed up to Facebook. A glamorous few said they plan to or had already invested in makeovers or cosmetic surgery. Senior Railcard, which runs a rail discount scheme for train companies, polled 1,260 pensioners. Andrew Robertson, of Senior Railcard, said: ‘Our poll showed that adults in their 60s, 70s and 80s are determined to make the most of life in retirement and have no intention of slowing down. ‘For so much of our lives we are restricted by our working hours, so if pensioners are filling their time with holidays, day trips and meals out, that can only be a good thing. ‘This research shows that retirees place a lot of importance on travel when they finish work.’ A separate report published yesterday said the average pensioner had made almost £1,200 a month from their home in the last six months. Soaring property prices meant London homeowners were the biggest winners, making £20,700 a month since August, financial specialist Key Retirement said. Going on foreign or UK travel . Meeting friends for lunches . Decorating the house . Buying a new car . Renovating the house . Taking up a new hobby . Joining Facebook . Going on road trips . Going on a cruise . Losing weight . Visiting work colleagues . Going on a luxurious holiday . Buying a smaller house . Getting a dog . Getting a lesson in IT or the internet . Buying a bigger house . Moving nearer to the grandchildren . Joining Twitter . Buying a holiday home . Buying a motorhome .

Survey found typical pensioner enjoys three 'slap-up' meals out per month . They also plan two weekends away per year and 17 day trips, poll showed . A quarter decide to redecorate their home while one in ten join Facebook . 20% of those polled also said they wished they had retired 'years ago'

, and there are others who enjoy having a celebratory tipple at all times of the day.
There are plenty of great wine bars in the UK to be sure. But if you want to make sure the wine you buy is going to be enjoyed in the best setting possible – right from the comfort of your own home – there’s one place you should turn to.
And that’s Tesco. A recent survey by the retail giant found that British pensioners had an ‘unparalleled love of great British wine’. 78% of respondents declared their preference for locally produced vino, and 71% declared that the wine of the region they called home was the most important aspect of the bottle.
And it’s not just those in their golden years who enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the day; 63% of respondents revealed that a glass of wine at the end of a working day was their most pleasurable experience and 40% revealed that it was the way that they ‘wind down’ at the end of the working day. The research also revealed the reasons for the British love of wine.
While one-third of the nation said that they love wine for its taste, it’s the social side of sipping wine that seems to really entice pensioners. Over half of all respondents said that wine was for them a sociable thing, and 30% said that it was the friends they have while they were drinking wine that was important.
Wine has been a part of life in the UK for centuries, and that is certainly reflected in our growing love of the stuff. But wine really comes alive when it is enjoyed in the right setting. And so, it’s only right that the UK’s love of wine should be enjoyed right here, in the UK!
So what makes a wine British, and what are the best examples of British wine? There are a few different answers to this question, but a number of people would say that there is one thing that really makes a wine British. And that’s the fact that it is produced in this great country.
When you think of British wine you think of English wine, and that is a particular term for the wine which is made in this great nation. But there are other wines which have been produced in the UK which are also worthy of the name ‘British wine’. For example, there are a number of Welsh wines which are now known for being amongst the best in the world.
So it


When Adam Scott waved a short putter to magical effect during the first round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral on Thursday, he effectively consigned to history one of the most contentious subjects the game has known. Nine months ahead of the official death knell for long putters, the great and good have seemingly imposed their own sanction. The banishment was started by Ernie Els and Webb Simpson, who snapped his over his knee to ensure he would not be tempted any more. Then came Keegan Bradley, leaving Scott as the last man standing in terms of players who won majors using a long putter. Australian Adam Scott putts for birdie on the eighth green during the WGC-Cadillac Championship . Scott watches his tee shot on the 14th hole in the second round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship . It was this group who forced the hands of the governing bodies when they claimed all four majors between them in the space of just 18 months, from Bradley's PGA Championship triumph in 2011 through to Scott's Masters victory in 2013. The authorities were persuaded by the powerful evidence that less nerve was needed in anchoring a long putter to the body and the plain inequity that such a crutch could prove decisive at a major. Hence the ban on anchoring which, by extension, meant the end for long putters. Scott was the most high-profile since his long putter was the ugliest contraption of all. As long as he kept turning up with it in his bag, the subject rumbled on. It was during a three-month break that the genial Australian decided it was time to change. His caddie Steve Williams had announced his retirement while Scott's wife had given birth to their first child, Bo. 'Everything was getting a little boring so I thought why not change everything completely and ditch the putter as well,' said Scott (right), wryly. At home he experimented with a range of 50 different putters. He tried various grips and methods. By the time he arrived in Miami, Scott was confident enough to announce he was going back to the short putter he last wielded in competition in 2011. Scott plays his second shot on the 10th hole in the second round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship . The Australian chips the ball out of the bunker and onto the 11th green at the WGC-Cadillac Championship . The 34-year-old admitted to some first-hole nerves and genuine concern as to how it would hold up over long putts. As things turned out, it went better than he could have imagined. Using the 'claw' grip favoured by Sergio Garcia, the putting stroke looked pure and he had just 27 putts in an opening round of 70. 'I'm really pleased,' Scott said afterwards. 'I've tried not to clutter my mind and I've shown myself it is not that big a deal. It helps that I used a short putter for years, so the adjustment was really to do with muscle memory.' One or two middle-ranking players such as the Swede Carl Pettersson and South African Tim Clark still use long putters. But even here they will surely take encouragement from the example of those at the top. As for Scott, did he ever feel like following Simpson's example and snapping his putter in two? 'It treated me pretty well, so I don't think it deserves a snapping,' he said, smiling. Scott's two-under-par round left him in the top 10 but still eight strokes behind runaway leader JB Holmes, who carded a 62. 'That's the most unbelievable round I have ever seen,' said Ian Poulter, who opened with a 74 — one worse than world No 1 Rory McIlroy. For Holmes, it was another heartening milestone in his remarkable recovery from brain surgery three years ago. The 34-year-old Scott watches his tee shot on the 12th hole at the WGC-Cadillac Championship .

Adam Scott is now using a short putter at the WGC-Cadillac Championship . The transition has gone very smoothly for the US Masters Champion . He shot two under round off the back of a strong short game at Doral . Short putters will be introduced across golf by January 1, 2016 .

 the scheduled introduction of anchored-putt rules, at Doral in the final round last Sunday, Scott took a 40-foot putt and holed it from off the green. Golfers who have taken to the anchored putter are now feeling distinctly uneasy at the prospect of losing their edge.
In 2012, for instance, the US Golf Association (USGA) has banned the flat-stick in all amateur events. The R&A has yet to confirm whether its equivalent – the Open Championship – will follow suit. A more definite statement of intent was issued by the PGA of America when it introduced a ‘trial of rules’ at its national championship, to become a permanent one at the majors and US Opens in 2013. If they work as advertised, the PGA’s anchoring bans will be extended to professional events next year.
For now, only the long putters are banned. As a result, most of those who have abandoned the traditional belly putters and the short ones that are effectively a cross between a long and short, are playing with some form of extra-long putter. These clubs are designed to be swung through from a relatively upright stance by a player who is holding the putter with his hands held in a position somewhere between ‘cross-cane’ and ‘tennis’ grip. The PGA tour allowed the extra-long clubs on its cards for only a limited time last year but the change has since proved a success. Players who took one to the Players Championship at Sawgrass said it helped with their stance on the greens, while others have reported increased distance control.
The extra-long putter, in other words, can be more effective but, in the US, the length is controlled by a rule that means any putter with a head weighing more than 45 g is illegal. The USGA is planning to review the restriction but is not expected to relax it as far as the proposed ‘trial of rules’ would allow.
This month, the USGA issued another edict that has the potential to limit even the flat-stick’s effectiveness. Its decision to banish the claw- and bridge-type mallets from the practice green prompted consternation among many players who are unable or unwilling to adjust to the flat sticks that many of their counterparts around the world have opted for. Among the game’s elite, the trend is clear. ‘This is the way things are going,’ the world No.


Forensic tests on the body of Argentine state prosecutor Alberto Nisman who accused the President of a cover-up with Iran indicate that he was murdered, his ex-wife said today. He was found shot dead in the bathroom of his locked apartment in January, hours before he was due to testify against President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in the Argentinian Congress. He was trying to arrest the President after claiming she helped cover up Iran's alleged role in a 1994 bombing which killed 85 at a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Mr Nisman's death unleashed a storm of conspiracy theories. His ex-wife, Sandra Arroyo Salgado, hired a private team to analyse the autopsy results and run additional tests. On the offensive: Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (left) has denied claims helped Iran cover up a terrorist attack. The claims were made by Alberto Nisman (right) - who was mysteriously shot dead . Argentine authorities have not released full results of his autopsy, more than six weeks after he was found sprawled in a pool of blood in his flat. The few details made public so far have suggested suicide, although the lead investigator into Mr Nisman's death said she could not categorically say if he shot himself in the head or was killed. But today, his ex-wife - the mother of their two children - said: 'Nisman didn't have an accident. He didn't commit suicide. They murdered him.' Earlier today, Ms Arroyo Salgado, who is a judge, deposited the forensic evidence backing up her allegations at the state prosecutors' office in Buenos Aires. She did not give details of the findings to journalists. Yesterday, a full-page advert, signed by the Government of Argentina and bearing an Argentinian flag, questioned Mr Nisman's motives and attacked his argument. 'One must ask oneself what objectives Nisman was pursuing with a complaint plagued with contradictions, lacking logic and without legal basis,' it declared. Mrs Kirchner: The president's name was on a draft warrant discovered in the home of Alberto Nisman . 'Can one think of a hypothesis other than seeking to generate a destabilising political effect?' Mr Nisman had accused the President and top administration officials of helping Iranian officials hide their and Iran's alleged role in the country's worst-ever terrorist attack. His 289-page investigation, which was published a few days after his death, was based on wiretaps of top administration officials that he argued proved the secret deal with Iran. According to Mr Nisman, the President allegedly orchestrated the deal in exchange for economic trade. Ms Kirchner rejected the allegations, and Iran denied any role in the bombing. The prosecutor was found shot in the head in his apartment in the capital's upmarket Puerto Madero district on January 18, triggering protests in the streets. His mysterious death triggered a PR fightback by the government, whose officials said the prosecutor was trying to smear the nation. Senior government official Gustavo Lopez claimed last month the allegations were part of an attempt to unseat the President and bring neoliberals back to power. 'We are facing an attempted coup d'etat, that aims to get rid of the president,' he wrote. But the alleged smears have upset other politicians. Cornelia Schmidt-Liermann told the Associated Press: 'It's awful to see so many accusations against a person who can't defend himself. 'Instead of clarifying anything, Fernandez is damaging the investigation into Nisman's death.' Anger: Protesters clashed with police after the death of the prosecutor in his locked apartment in January . Horror: The 1994 bombing of a Buenes Aires Jewish centre, run by the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, left 85 dead and remains the country's most deadly terrorist attack. Iran has denied it was involved . Yesterday's newspaper advert highlighted a judge's ruling which said Mr Nisman's argument had a lack of 'coherence and integration'. Judge Daniel Rafecas, who made the ruling, said: 'There is not a single element of evidence, even circumstantial, that points to the head of state.' That ruling was appealed yesterday by prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita, who has taken up the case following Mr Nisman's death. He said the judges' decision was 'premature' and an investigation was needed to 'prove or disprove the facts'. The appeal sends the case to the Federal Chamber of judges, which can uphold or reject last week's decision by federal Judge Rafecas. Argentinians will go to the polls in October, but the President is barred from running for a third term by the country's constitution and will have to step down. She has nevertheless gone on the offensive, accusing opposition parties of using the row for political gain and claiming the U.S. and Israel were meddling in Argentina's affairs.

Alberto Nisman's body found in January a day before Congress hearing . Claims over 1994 Jewish centre attack which killed 85 in Buenos Aires . He accused Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner covering Iran's alleged role . Forensic tests on body indicate he was murdered, his ex-wife said today . New advert attacks his claims which were 'plagued with contradictions'

 his home.
“We are waiting for the results of the forensic tests. We do not know when they will be out. I know it is going to be very important. It is going to be the proof that I am asking for,” said Nisman’s ex-wife in an interview broadcast by Argentine broadcaster Telenovelas.
The cause of Nisman’s death is still unknown, with authorities continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. The autopsy was held on Friday at the National Medical Center, the same facility that also performed it for the 41-year-old prosecutor in January. Nisman was found dead in his home in the exclusive neighborhood of Barrio Parque on January 18.
Telenovelas said Nisman, who had been investigating Iran’s alleged role in a 1994 bombing that killed 85 people at the Jewish center in Buenos Aires, had been shot with his own gun. She said he had been murdered, and ruled out suicide or any other explanations of death. “He killed himself,” she said in reference to the prosecutor. She said she would release Nisman’s suicide note if a judge granted her the request.
Nisman was found dead in the bathroom of his apartment with a bullet wound to his head and a gun in his hand, although there were no signs of a struggle.
She said she had been informed about his death by the Argentine media. “I woke up and read it, like everyone else in Argentina,” she said, saying he was murdered as a result of his investigation.
“We’re not going to wait any longer. We are getting to the bottom of this,” she said.
“The next few weeks will be very difficult for me because I know very well that the state of his body was different when they carried him out.” She said that Nisman’s body was in bad condition when it arrived at his house.
“He was murdered. He was murdered. He left here to go to his office, to the ministry of Justice,” she said.
“I am the only one who can speak, but it is very difficult. I did not want this to happen, but I think we are going to find the truth. I have a feeling of great anguish because I did not think this would happen,” she said.
The prosecutor was one of the most important figures of the judicial investigation into the 1994 bombing which targeted the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires.
The state


A grieving woman who overate following her mother's death told of how after dropping FIVE dress sizes in just one year her breasts shrunk from a 38E to a 34B – so she used her mother's inheritance to get implants. Emma Thair-White, 43, was prompted to lose weight after she gorged so much that whole pieces of food rose back up into her throat when she bent over to tie her shoelaces. The mother-of-two, who said she over-ate while grieving following her mother's death, was hugely successful and went from a 15-stone, size 22 to a ten-stone, size 12. Emma Thair-White piled on the pounds after the tragic loss of her mother, however, the 43-year-old has now dropped five dress sizes and had a boob job to lift and enlarge her sagging chest . Emma was left devastated after the death of her mother, Ethel (right) and turned to drink and food for comfort . But her breasts also took the hit – and shrunk from a 38E to a 34B. 'I didn't want to look in the mirror – I didn't like what it the weight loss had left,' she said, adding she was disgusted with her 'saggy' breasts. 'Every bra I put on, the skin just sat in there. I'd never lost my boobs throughout any diet, so it was a shock.' In 2014, she decided to use part of her mum's inheritance to get a breast uplift and 34F implants. Mrs Thair-White, from Grays, Essex, said: 'I wasn't sure about spending part of the inheritance on the operation but my husband Shane encouraged me,' she said. 'He said: 'You've always put the kids first, now it's time for you.' Mrs Thair-White told how she struggled to shift the pounds she had gained while pregnant with her children Eva, 16 and Max, 10, but her binge eating spiraled out of control after she lost her beloved mother Ethel to brain cancer in 2009. Emma, pictured here with her two children Eva (left) and Max (right) decided to lose the weight in 2013 after she became so big that she couldn't tie her shoelaces without food coming up into her mouth . Emma proudly shows off her weight loss holding up an old pair of her jeans, she was previously a size 22 but has now slimmed down to a size 12 . Emma is now a keen exerciser and a slim size 12, after realising in 2013 that she needed to do something about her weight . She was so devastated by the loss that she secretly turned to drink to ease the pain. 'It started off that I had a bottle of wine to toast [my mum], and things seemed a little bit rosier and it wasn't so painful,' she said. 'That one glass in the evening turned to two, then three, then four and then before I knew it I'd be ordering three bottles of wine in the shopping then, unbeknown to my husband, going and buying another three. 'I used to make sure if there was a lot of bottles in the recycling bin I'd put the rubbish straight in after. He didn't have a clue.' In 2010, she broke down and confessed all to her GP, who prescribed her a course of anti-depressants. 'One day I just woke up and decided I wasn't going to do it anymore and I needed help,' she said. She cut out drinking straight away. Emma was suffering from depression when she decided to give up drinking, however, she then turned to take-aways eating them two or three times a week . Emma is now happy to show off her slimmer figure in a variety of outfits, including this fancy dress costime . However, Mrs Thair-White was still battling with her weight – a fight she believes was made harder by her anti-depressants. 'The takeaways went from weekends to two or three times a week,' she said. It wasn't a few scoops of Ben and Jerry's, I'd have the tub. 'With my appetite, there is no off button. It is all down to my self control.' Classmates at son her Max's school even made cruel comments about him having a 'fat mum.' The final push she needed to kick-start her weight loss came in December 2013. She had been stocking the house with sweets and chocolate in the run-up to Christmas, but could not resist binging on the treats. 'I stacked up my cupboards and I used to sit and eat every night until I felt sick,' she said, 'We were going somewhere and I bent down to tie my shoes then all my food came back into my mouth because my tummy was so big. 'I just remember saying to my husband: 'I can't do this anymore.' Emma used some of the inheritance money left by her mother to pay for a boob job after her chest was left sagging following her weight loss regime . Emma's two children and husband encouraged her in her weight loss, they joined their mother on her healthy eating regime, promising her they would lose weight as a family . Her 42-year-old husband and two children also joined in with her new healthy regime, promising they would lose weight as a family. Mrs Thair-White threw herself into exercise, taking the family's dog Morris with her on speed walks. Progress was slow at first. When she had only managed to shed a stone after several months, she turned to Forza Raspberry K2 diet supplements. 'At the beginning when I wasn't on [the supplements], it was very slow,' she said, 'But after I started, it came off in leaps and bounds. 'The shape change spurred me on. I had a waist – it was a good feeling. The biggest thing is excuses. 'I've had so many people approach me and say they want to do it but there's all these 'buts', and I'll say to them that they're not ready. 'You've got to be in the frame of mind to do it. I've proved that you don't have to run – I speed walk. 'Even just walking helps, it's just making yourself active. I just want people to know there is always light at the end of any tunnel no matter how big or small, and looking after yourself really does make all the difference. Don't give up. It can be done.' Emma proudly shows off her slim size 12 frame in a pair of skinny jeans and high heels .

Emma Thair-White piled on the pounds after losing her Mum, Ethal . She had a drink problem and later would start to gorge on take-aways . Now Emma has cut the junk and dropped an impressive five dress sizes . Mother-of-two has also had a boob job after being left with saggy breasts .

 fund a top-up surgery to boost them back up again.
Erika Tarantino, 54, of Perth, Australia, was forced to use the savings which her late mother, Gloria Tarantino, earned from her death to pay for the "lifesaver" boob job.
Gloria, 77, tragically lost her life in 2010 after a long battle with Alzheimer's, but before she died she made sure her daughter was not in need of any cash.
Erika says she used her mother's inheritance to afford the procedure – but has regretted her decision ever since.
"I wanted breast implants to be more like my mum – she had a bigger bust and the implants made me feel a little more like her," she told the Sun UK.
The mum, who has five children, said she never wanted her kids to see her in her underwear, but her boob job, has made her feel more confident.
She said: "With the implant, I get the feeling of having breasts.
"I didn't want them like my mum's – she had a really big bust – but having them feels more like having my mum back with me."
Gloria made sure to create a Will and the money was set aside for Erika - but she went ahead and spent the inheritance on her own body.
The grandmother-of-five, who weighed 21 stone, slimmed down to a size 14 after her mother's death.
The mum-of-five says her weight loss has made her feel "more confident"
(Image: Sun UK)
Erika's health and happiness took a turn for the better after she lost the weight, but she has been left in debt ever since - spending the equivalent of a £10,000 per year to keep her implants intact.
She was originally fitted with implants worth £1,300 in 2013.
But then she got a top-up in 2015 and another last summer - costing her a total of £8,000.
Erika said: "This is a lot of money for implants.
"They're a lifesaver – I wouldn't be able to get along without them. But it's a lot of money for implants.
"My breast implants are a lifesaver, really. They've really helped with my confidence."
The mum


As one of the industry's most esteemed supermodels who balances her career with motherhood, who could be more qualified to design a line of children's clothes than Jourdan Dunn? However, rather than following in her esteemed colleagues' footsteps (Cara Delevingne has designed for Mulberry and Suki Waterhouse for Superga), Jourdan  will be focusing on children's attire. The 24-year-old beauty - who has a five-year-old son called Riley - will be partnering up with an independent licensing agency, Fluid World, to produce at least two apparel collections. Scroll down for video . Jourdan Dunn - who has a five-year-old son, Riley - will be creating at least two children's clothing collections with agency Fluid World . The collection will be aimed at 'children and young adults' and the deal was negotiated by the model's London agency, Storm Model Management. The  beauty has said: 'I love kid's clothes and have been obsessed with them ever since my son was born. 'Through my career in fashion I have come to love and respect great design, and as a mum I also expect great quality and value for money, as well as the coolest clothes for my son Riley. 'I am thrilled to be working with Fluid World, and I am looking forward to developing my own collection and turning my ideas into reality.' The 24-year-old model will be using her extensive expertise in the fashion industry to  inform her designs . According to Vogue magazine, the model is planning to release a full range, which will include, jeans, jackets, T-shirts, leggings and accessories. Fluid World's CEO, Andrew Lane, said: 'Jourdan Dunn is a fashion icon who sets trends and influences style. 'I am delighted to be working with her on this exciting project and bringing her cool urban style to a wider audience.' Jourdan revealed her plans to FEMAIL earlier this year. She explained: 'I am collaborating on a sunglasses range and designing my own kidswear line. My son is really involved and has been helping me choose the colours and designs.' The model is planning to release a full range, which will include, jeans, jackets, T-shirts, leggings and accessories . Balmain Color Block Fringe Dress . From the Fall 2015 collection . Visit site . Jourdan Dunn is the latest in a long line of supermodels to capitalize off their fashion sense in the design world. But the mom to adorable little Riley will focus on his peers when she produces her new children's range. Judging from her personal style choices, the blonde beauty should have no trouble with her own kids collection. The top catwalker has worked with all of the major labels and is friends with fashion's elite including Cara Delevingne and Karlie Kloss. Jourdan was recently spotted in an alluring  patchwork dress ripped straight from Balmain's Fall runway. The shimmery mini featured a color block pattern and fringe details, two huge trends that are en vogue right now. The flirty frock is not available just yet but you can shop the brand at Net-A-Porter with a click to the right. Then have a peek through the edit below for some chromatic alternatives from the high street to high fashion. Try Charlotte Russe's shiny sequin number if you're looking to save or Lanvin's fringed creation if you want to splurge. Love Sadie Patchwork Gypsy Dress at Shopbop (now $70.80) Visit site . Topshop Color Block Tunic Dress at Nordstrom . Visit site . Charlotte Russe Sequin Color Block Shift Dress (now $25.99) Visit site . Lnavin Fringed Dress at Farfetch (now $3117.50) Visit site . As a Vogue regular, who was scouted in Primark in her teens, Jourdan was on the road to success very early in her career. She's clocked up campaigns for Balmain, DKNY, Victoria's Secret and Topshop and walked in the Olympics closing ceremony alongside Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. She is currently the face of Maybelline. When she's not on the catwalk, Jourdan is a proud mother to her son, who was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. This has led to Jourdan’s active involvement as the Parent Ambassador for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and the future is looking bright for the young starlet. (L to R) Television presenter Alexa Chung, model Pixie Geldof, model Kendall Jenner, model Cara Delevingne, businessman Sir Philip Green, model Jourdan Dunn and editor Alexandra Shulman at the Topshop show .

The 24-year-old supermodel is partnering with British agency Fluid World . Dunn is mother to five-year-old son, Riley . The partnership will result in at least two apparel collections .

that would be Victoria Beckham's childrenswear collection for Target, for instance), the model and new face of Marc Jacobs Beauty opted to create a line of childrenswear that's fun, playful, and reflective of her own style.
The results are chic, stylish and undeniably cool. "I wanted to create something that was not just for children but for children as well," Dunn explained to PEOPLE of her desire to create a line for "not just kids in my family but other people's children as well," but "one that has some fun and color." So what did she do? First she partnered with fashion icon Marc Jacobs, whose influence is unmistakable in the collection. "The Marc Jacobs collection is such a staple in the industry and for people," Dunn explained. "I wanted to take that and make it playful for the kids."
Dunn's collection for Marc Jacobs includes everything from classic pieces (like a red blazer and white shirt) to casual yet luxe items that perfectly embody the model's casual-cool style. "I did a capsule collection, and I feel it is a capsule collection because there is so much to it," Dunn told PEOPLE. There are 27 pieces in total that include a variety of blouses, skirts, jackets, accessories, and even a pair of overalls.
Not only that, but as a working mom herself, Dunn was keen on creating pieces that reflected her busy lifestyle. "You have to live in the clothes, you have to be able to move in the clothes," she told PEOPLE. And when it comes to creating a collection that's both comfortable and easy for kids to wear, she took her own experiences as a mom into consideration. "In the winter when the kids are cold," she explained, "I wanted them to be comfortable."
The entire collection is available in both Marc Jacobs' brick-and-mortar stores, as well as on the site. However, there are a few special pieces that Dunn designed exclusively for her line with Target, including a black bow coat and a black fur vest. "I feel like the world should see this," Dunn told PEOPLE of the clothing line. "My love of black is just my thing."
While there is no shortage of supermodel kids' collections (Victoria Beckham's line for Target is also still available), Dunn's collection stands apart thanks to its fashion-forward appeal. "When kids do wear a Marc Jacobs collection, people


We’ve known for centuries that man’s best friend is the dog - right? Not necessarily, according to a latest YouGov study, which found that lobsters were the preferred animals for men - when compared to the choices by women - followed by alligators, sticklebacks, sharks and eagles. For women, meanwhile, the results were a bit more timid - with miniature pigs, cats, ponies, donkeys and chinchillas making up the top five. Man's new best friend? Dogs may have once ruled the roost, but now according to a YouGov survey of people in the UK, men prefer lobsters as their favourite animal - when compared to female choices - which may be because they associate them with fine dining (picture of red reef lobster shown) The study involved a poll of 190,000 YouGov members in the UK, which the company says is ‘perhaps the largest dataset ever collected of people’s passions and phobias in the animal world’. Overall, when gender is not taken into account, the nation’s favourite animals are dogs, tigers, elephants, cats and dolphins. The least favoured are eels, millipedes and spiders. When male choices were compared to female choices, however, there was a surprising battle of the sexes on what the most popular animals were. The data showed that lobsters were the most popular animal among men when compared to those less liked by women, followed by alligators, sticklebacks and so on. For women, compared to men, it was miniature pigs at the top of the list, followed by cats and ponies. As for the most popular animals, the study found that things like dogs and snails were slightly more popular among women than men. Men were more likely to prefer 'heroic', 'aggressive' or 'creepy' animals, while women preferred 'cute', 'beautiful' and 'exotic' species. In the episode of The Simpsons titled Lisa Gets an 'A' (seventh episode of season 10), Homer Simpsons gets a pet lobster that he names Pinchy, and unfortunately ends up cooking him towards the end of the episode. While his actions seemed bizarre, did Homer actually predict that the animal was favoured by men? For women, when their choices were compared to men, their favourite animals were miniature pigs (shown), followed by cats, ponies, donkeys and chinchillas . ‘Animals with violent defensive abilities - sharks, eagles and piranhas - are particularly favoured by men,’ noted Will Dahlgreen in an article for YouGov. ‘The only mammal in the top 20 most uniquely male animals is the Narwhal, while every animal in the corresponding female list apart from the penguin and butterfly is mammal.’ Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Dahlgreen added that his suspicion as to why men are more likely to have a positive impression of lobsters is because they associate them with fine dining . 'As for why miniature pigs score so highly on female uniqueness, this isn’t because men are particularly likely to dislike them, but because women are more likely to be drawn towards cute animals,' he continued. 'We can’t tell for sure, but I suspect this is because it is easier to anthropomorphise these animals, in other words to ascribe human emotions to their facial expressions.' This chart shows the full scores for the 'uniquely male' animals, which were the ones that scored especially high with men but not high with women . Conversely, this chart shows those animals favoured by women, but not liked so much by men. It should be noted that none of the animals were 'disliked' - the survey asked for positive results only .

YouGov survey asked 190,000 people in the UK which animals they liked . For both genders the most popular animals were dogs and tigers . But when the genders were correlated, the results were surprising . Men preferred lobsters, alligators, sticklebacks, sharks and eagles . Women were in favour of miniature pigs, cats, ponies and donkeys .

. The study revealed that lobsters were the most popular animals for men, with 42 percent of the males surveyed selecting the ocean-dwellers. The list of animals favored by women also included cats (21 percent), and horses (14 percent), rounding out the top three choices. So, it looks like men are more likely to be "cat people", and women are more likely to favor dogs. But just how much can this list of favorite animals predict what our owners do for a living? We'll let the experts break it down.
RELATED: 6 Things You Didn't Know About the Human Body
What Your Favorite Animal Says About You
Horse People
"Horse people are likely to be quite independent and self-sufficient. They can do just fine on their own without help from others," said astrologer Susan Miller, "They do not mind solitude and generally get their own way. They are also adventurous, athletic, and enjoy being in the outdoors. Horse people tend to have more freedom than others and are usually very happy with their lives."
Cat People
"Cat people are great problem solvers and are very resourceful. They like to take their time to think over different possibilities of any situation until they are sure they have made the right choice," said Miller, "Most likely a cat person will be someone who is artistic, creative, and a born leader. They are also quite determined, and they are usually good friends and loved by others. If they are in a relationship, cat people often enjoy the security and happiness their partner brings them. They will not tolerate anything that threatens their relationship."
Dogs
"Dog people tend to be caring and compassionate," Miller added, "They generally enjoy making friends and are good companions. Dog people tend to be more responsible than others. They can be quite protective of their partners and will stand by them until the end of the relationship. They are usually very hardworking people who never give up until they are certain they have achieved their goals and are also the ones who are likely to take the lead in a team or group. They enjoy being in control and can be quite forceful with their opinions."
Fish People
“People who love fish can be quite moody and unstable," said Miller, "In fact, they are often very unpredictable. Those who love fish tend to want to feel that they are in control of their relationships. They also like to be dominant, and they enjoy having the upper hand in any situation. They will


A four-year-old girl made a life-saving 999 call after her mother collapsed - before telling the operator about Frozen, her pet dog and Santa. Megan Stratton has been handed an award and praised for summoning emergency crews to her mother Charlotte, 32. Mrs Stratton had been feeling unwell before she collapsed at her home in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and started to have a seizure last Christmas. Megan Stratton (centre) saved the life of her mother Charlotte (left) after she collapsed at home. Her husband Trevor (right) was out collecting medication at the time . Her husband Trevor, also 32, was out fetching some medication - but Megan knew what to do and calmly dialled 999. The youngster gave call handler Alan Austin her address before explaining that her mother was unwell and her father was out. When asked if she had any older siblings Megan tells the operator: 'Lulu is here with me, but she is my pet dog'. And when asked her mother's age, she replied: 'I don't know how old she is. Because she never tells me. I want to know how old... when she's better'. OPERATOR: Police emergency. Hello. Can you hear me? MEGAN: She’s struggling... she had another seizure. My dad has gone to get some medicine to eat . O: Is there someone else there? Have you got a big sister? A big brother? M: Lulu is here with me, but she is my pet dog . O: Oh. Lulu is your pet dog, is she? And how old are you? M: Four . O: Four. You’re doing really well for four. Mummy has epilepsy? M: No. But she has a seizures all day. Sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn’t . O: Ok what’s your name? M: Megan . O: Megan. That’s a pretty name. And you’re four are you? I’m going to get somebody to you. I’m going to get an ambulance to you to make sure mummy is alright. Ok, is the door open? M: The door isn’t open . O: Is she a young mummy? M: I don’t know how old she is. Because she never tells me. I want to know how old... when she’s better . O: When mummy has these seizures. Does she lay on the floor? M: She lays on the sofa sometimes. She’s laying on the floor now . O: Is mummy having a drink or is she just laying there? M: Just laying there . O: We’ve got policemen coming to you. I want you to stay on the phone until police get with you alright? M: Ok . O: And we’ve got an ambulance coming to you as well. That will come and make mummy better won’t they? M:... I want to put the cushion back. I will talk to you in a second . O: Yeah. You go and do what you’ve got to do for mummy, but don’t put the phone down. Come back and talk... You put mummy’s head on a cushion? M: She hasn’t got a cushion. I’ll just get her a cushion . O: Get her a cushion, yeah . M (to her mother): Mummy, cushion . M (to the operator): She’s got a cushion now . O: Have you? Well done. You’ve done really well. Megan, are you able to unlock the door so that the ambulance men can come in and see mummy? M: No I can’t unlock it because the key is on something really high so I can’t do it... O: We’ve got policemen coming. Alright. We may have to make a little bit of noise to get in to see mummy alright? M: Ok... I don’t know how you can get in to see mum because my dad is out . O: That’s ok. We’ve got lots of things we can do to get in, but it may make a little but of noise... So I want you to stay on the phone to me. Who’s mobile are you on? Is it mum’s phone? M: Yeah, its mum’s phone. Not dad’s because he’s got his with him . O: Do you need to go and stroke mummy to make sure she’s happy, because you can go and kneel down with her with the mobile. You can make sure, mummy is ok, can’t you? And still talk to me... Is mummy talking to you? Can mummy talk to you? M: No she can’t talk when she’s struggling. O: She can’t talk when she’s struggling. Alright. What you doing? You stroking mummy’s head or her arm? M: I’m stroking just her back because you’re allowed to stroke her back . O: Yep. You stroke mummy’s back, just so that she knows you’re there. You’re doing really well. Really well. M: (asks how they will open the door) O: That’s ok. Don’t worry about us opening the door. It might just be a little bit noisy. But I’ll tell you. Alright? M: Ok. But I won’t be able to hear you, because it is very noisy. O: There might be just a bang when they come in, but we need to do that so we can help mummy don’t we? M: l... I will just get my blanket ok? O: Yeah, you go... and keep mummy warm . M: Hang on, I’m just putting it on mummy . O: You put the blanket on mummy. Keep her nice and warm . M: I’ve now done it . O: You’ve done it. Well done... M:... she’s got nothing on her feet . O: She’s got nothing on her feet? She’s got no slippers on her feet? M: No. she hasn’t got any bedtime socks on. It’s not really bedtime . O: Oh, no, it’s not bedtime yet. So have you covered mummy’s feet up to keep them warm?... Just keep her really warm, won’t you? And keep talkin. Keep stroking mummy’s back so she knows you’re there. Have you got your Christmas tree up? M: Yeah... I made some baubles at my house . O: Did you? And they’re at your house ready for Santa to see? M: Yeah? O: And have you been eating chocolate today out of your advent calendar? M: Yeah. But I got a Frozen one. But it’s just Elsa and Anna on . O: Wow. My little girl has got an Elsa calendar as well... Is mummy still struggling? Or is she ok now? M: She’s not shivering. She’s still not talking. But she’s still struggling. But she’s not shivering. She’s just blinking . O: She’s just blinking is she? I think you’ve done really well. I’m going to have to tell Father Christmas how well you’ve done, aren’t I? M: Yes. But I’m already on his good list . O:... I should think you’ll be even higher now . M: Yeah. I will be right at the top . O: You will be right at the top. You’ve done a really good job looking after mummy haven’t you? M: What if someone else is already at the top? O: Well you’ve just really, really done well and I’m going to make sure Father Christmas puts you at the top of the list... M: He won’t know because he is not coming to see you or will you go in the ambulance and go to the North Pole to see him at his house? O: I don’t know if I can go to his house but I’ve got ways of talking to Father Christmas from here so I can tell him... I can send him a special message. Has anybody knocked on your door yet my darling? M: No . O: Are you still there? M: Yeah . O: Right, the policemen are outside... But they may have to make a noise to come in. M: Ok. (dog barks) Oh, that’s just my dog . Megan stayed with her mother, talked to her to keep her calm, stroked her back and fetched her a cushion and a blanket during the incident on December 15 . Police and ambulance arrived at the address just as Mr Stratton returned home and his wife was given the attention she needed. This week, officers presented Megan with the Chief Constable's Certificate of Appreciation and her mother says she could not be prouder. Mrs Stratton has suffered from seizures in the past and had told Megan what to do if she ever fell ill when nobody else was around. She said: 'Suffolk Police called me back and explained what she'd done and I was a bit stunned and once we knew we were really, really proud. Megan Stratton is  pictured receiving an award and praised for summoning emergency crews to her mother Charlotte, 32 . 'We knew I have seizures regularly so what we do is, on the emergency button on the mobile phone, we have daddy's number programmed and the ambulance, so it was quite easy for her to do.' Call handler Alan Austin added: 'You quite often get young children phone up, but none as calm and composed as Megan. 'It's not very often you get a four-year-old who you can talk with quite so easily, who can guide you while you guide her and it made life so much easier.' Temporary Chief Constable Gareth Wilson also praised the youngster and said the award went some way towards recognising her bravery. He said: 'Megan's call to police was truly exceptional to listen to - it is very rare to hear a child handle a call in such a calm manner. 'Megan gave a lot of information to Alan for a child of her age and our Chief Constable's Certificate of Appreciation goes some way toward recognising her and saying well done.'

Megan Stratton called 999 after mother collapsed at home with a seizure . The four-year-old gave operator her address and explained the emergency . She stayed with her mother, Charlotte, and talked to her to keep her calm . Youngster also told the operator about her pet dog and Father Christmas .

 her home to help a 28-year-old woman who had collapsed and gone into cardiac arrest.
Megan made the call to police in South Yorkshire after her mother, Natasha Stratton, collapsed after a night out with friends in Barnsley, South Yorks., in December.
The young girl told the operator her mother’s name and that she had collapsed in the front room after she returned home from the pub. She then described her mother as a woman in her mid-20s with blonde hair.
She told the operator, whose call was recorded, “She’s had a heart attack.” She also told the operator: “I think she’s had a stroke, she looks very pale.”
Megan said her mother had not eaten anything except toast for lunch and a hot dog with extra onions for dinner.
Her call was recorded in its entirety by operator Julie Wilson after the youngster told her about her mother’s dog, “Frozen,” her dog’s name, her pet rabbit, “Pigley,” and about her pet dog, “Santa.”
At the end of the call, Megan told Julie: “Bye bye love,” before putting the phone down.
She was told by the operator: “Well done for remembering the important things.”
Megan’s mother, Natasha, was rushed to hospital and made a full recovery after receiving an injection that kept her alive.
The youngster’s selfless action was praised by officers who helped to get her mother’s life back on track. Her father, Darren Stratton, was also there during the call but was not able to answer as he was driving.
Natasha said: “I can’t tell Megan thank you enough. That little girl could have potentially saved my life. The first time she called was to tell me she loved me but I wasn’t there. She knew I’d been taken to hospital so she said it again before she realised I couldn’t hear her. But the last time I spoke to her she knew I’d heard her first time and she told me she loved me and she was so proud of me.”
Detective Inspector John Kearney told the force: “Megan’s actions made a vital difference to her mother’s recovery. If it wasn’t for Megan calling 999 she may have died. It’s a testimony to Megan’s maturity.”
Speaking from her home in South Yorkshire, Natasha said her