British shark attack victim was saved by two pensioners - and a seal

SHARK attack Brit Michael Cohen’s life was saved by two hero friends who pulled him from the water – and a seal.

Horrified witnesses told how the nine-foot great white was poised to strike again but got distracted when the mammal swam between it and the victim.

The seal then circled Michael and rescuers Douglas -Drysdale, 61, and Hugh Till, 66, as they dragged him to the shore with the deadly shark lurking just feet away.

They had bravely waded into the bloodied water after the beast had ripped off Michael’s right leg and badly mauled his left ankle.

The quick-thinking pair tied a makeshift -tourniquet around the accountant’s severed limb, a move doctors say saved his life.

Kyle James was on the beach near Cape Town, South Africa, when he saw the giant fish swim silently up behind Michael.

He said: “The shark lunged for the swimmer, shook him once, then let go and moved off five or 10 metres away.”
Two men pull out Mark Cohen after shark attacked him in Cape Town (Pic: Noble Draper)

Former South African surfing champion Tracy Sassen also witnessed the attack.

She said: “I saw a burst of water and thought it was a seal taking a fish.

“Then people started rushing into the sea and pulling this guy out. He was crying and pleading, ‘Please help me.’ Half of one leg was missing.”

Craig Lambinon of South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute spoke of the seal’s intervention. He added: “Witnesses said the seal circled the man and his rescuers as they waded ashore with the shark close by.”

Douglas and Hugh had shouted warnings at Michael from a cliff where they were sitting. But by the time they got into the water, the shark had struck. They made their tourniquet from the leg of a wetsuit and two belts. Trauma surgeon Professor Andrew Nicol, who spent four hours operating on Michael, said: “They saved his life. He is very lucky to be alive.

“We replaced his entire blood volume almost twice.”

A regular swimmer at Fish Hoek beach where he was savaged on Wednesday, Michael was in the water despite the beach being closed after three sharks were spotted. He is said to have once told friends: “If a shark takes me, then blame me, not the shark.”

Michael studied at university in South Africa but lived in London for a while. He has a British passport but lives in South Africa.

Eurozone holds its breath for German vote on rescue package

The German parliament will hold a crucial vote today on whether to approve an extension of powers for the eurozone's financial rescue fund.

The Bundestag is expected to pass the legislation, backed by the opposition Social Democrats and the Green party – but the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is still struggling to persuade her own ruling coalition to vote in favour. If she is unable to win the support of her Christian Democrat party and their coalition partners, the Free Democrats, Ms Merkel would be expected to hold a parliamentary vote of confidence in her government. The expectation is she would lose such a vote, which would mean early elections.
The Chancellor can afford no more than 19 of her coalition MPs to rebel if she is to carry the vote in her own right. In a trial vote earlier this week 11 members of Ms Merkel's party rejected the legislation. And between two and five Free Democrat members are expected to do the same, which emphasises just how close today's vote is expected to be for the Chancellor.

Meanwhile, the "Troika" – a delegation from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – will return to Athens to decide whether the Greek government has made sufficient progress in sorting out its public finances to justify the release of the latest €8bn (￡7bn) tranche of EU/IMF bailout funds. The return of the Troika has been interpreted as a sign that the funds will be forthcoming, but the group will not make a final decision on whether to release the loans, which Athens needs to avoid national bankruptcy, until next month.

Financial markets have perked up in recent days in response to talk of a grand plan to increase the powers of the stability fund, but investors were rattled yesterday by reports of a division among European policymakers over the scale of the write-downs that should be imposed on Greek creditors.

Eurozone leaders agreed in July that the holders of €340bn of Greek bonds should accept a 21 per cent "haircut" as part of the agreed second bailout for Greece. But now some German politicians are reported to be pushing behind the scenes for a larger writedown to be imposed on Greek creditors. This is being resisted by the French government and the ECB, who fear that reopening July's deal would further destabilise financial markets. French and German banks, which hold around €20bn worth of Greek bonds, would be particularly hard hit by a more extensive writedown.

The head of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, told the European Parliament yesterday that the EU is facing the "greatest challenge" in its history in the debt crisis, and urged the ECB to recognise its responsibility to prevent the break-up of the eurozone. He said: "We trust that the European Central Bank will do whatever is necessary to ensure the integrity of the euro area and to ensure its financial stability."

The mooted plan involves the ECB lending money to the €440bn eurozone stability fund, extending its firepower by up to four times.

Mr Barrosso also backed a financial transaction tax which he said would raise €55bn a year, arguing that the European financial sector must "make a contribution" in the fight to save the eurozone, and reiterated his support for a eurobond. "Once the euro area is fully equipped with the instruments necessary to ensure both integration and discipline, the issuance of joint debt will be seen as a natural and advantageous step for all," he said.

A hard road ahead: major obstacles still to be overcome

Hurdle 1: Bundestag vote on second Greek bailout

Today's vote is only Part One of the process of securing German parliamentary approval for the eurozone rescue efforts. Next month, German lawmakers will vote on the second Greek bailout, worth €109bn (￡94.92bn), agreed by European leaders in Brussels in July. Then the Bundestag will vote on establishing a European financial stability mechanism, which will take the place of the present temporary bailout fund. This third vote is not expected before December. A rejection of any of these measures from the eurozone's key economy would give financial markets a seismic shock.

Hurdle 2: The Troika decision on releasing bailout funds

The delegation made up of officials from the European Central Bank, European Commission and International Monetary Fund, will decide next month whether to release €8bn in bailout funds to Athens. If that money is not delivered, Greece will run out of money to pay debtors and default on its loans. That would send financial markets into meltdown. Release of the funds depends on the Greek government meeting commitments to make massive cuts to state spending and push through large tax rises. The Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, promised German leaders this week that Greece will "meet all its commitments".

Hurdle 3: Greece votes on austerity budget

On Tuesday, the Greek parliament approved a key new revenue-raising property tax. However, the country's Finance Minister, Evangelos Venizelos, said this week that pivotal elements of the latest government budget plans will not be presented to lawmakers for approval until the end of October. Meanwhile, pressure is growing on Greek politicians from the street. Protesters continue to gather in Athens' Syntagma Square and more public sector strikes are promised by unions. The Socialist government, whose majority consists of just a handful of deputies in the 300-seat Greek assembly, is extremely fragile.

Hurdle 4: Slovakian parliament votes on bailout

The Slovakian government, driven by a hardline Eurosceptic coalition partner, is playing a game of wait and see. It has put back its own parliamentary ballot on the July bailout package until 26 October because it wants to see how other member states vote first, and also whether Greece is fulfiling the stringent conditions which have been imposed upon it. Slovakia has benefited from increased foreign direct investment since joining the currency zone in 2009. Despite this, there is popular resentment at the prospect of putting taxpayers' money on the line to rescue wealthier eurozone nations.

Michael Jackson's doctor goes on trial for the King of Pop's death

A CHILLING picture of Michael Jackson lying dead in hospital was shown to a jury yesterday as his doctor went on trial accused of causing his death.

The photo shows the King of Pop in a white surgical gown, a sheet slung loosely around his legs, and with tape or tubing partly covering his face.

The packed courthouse in Los Angeles was also played a haunting tape of the singer – described by one witness as “like a lost boy” – sounding heavily sedated.
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The grim opening to what has been dubbed the Trial of the Century came as Jackson’s personal physician, Dr Conrad Murray, faced a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the 50-year-old’s death on June 25, 2009.

Deputy district attorney David Walgren said: “The evidence will show that Michael Jackson literally put his life in the hands of Conrad Murray.

“Michael Jackson trusted his life to the medical skills of Conrad Murray. The evidence will show that misplaced trust had far too high a price to pay.

“It cost Michael Jackson his life.”

Jackson’s family – including his father Joseph, mother Katherine and siblings Janet, La Toya, Tito, Randy and Jermaine – were all in court for the opening statements in the trial, which is expected to last six weeks.

Mr Walgren claimed the evidence would show that the “acts and omissions” of Dr Murray directly led to Jackson’s premature death. He accused the medic of being -incompetent and unskilled and insisted he “repeatedly acted with gross negligence”.

Describing the days leading up to Jackson’s death, Mr Walgren said the singer had displayed increasing signs of ill health.

He said that on June 19, “Michael showed up for his rehearsal and he was not in good shape, he was not in good shape at all.

“He had chills, he was trembling… he was rambling.”

Kenny Ortega, manager of the star’s proposed This Is It tour, expressed concern, but Murray allegedly told him that Jackson was “physically and emotionally fine”.

Ortega told the court he was so worried about his friend he sent an email to AEG Live president and CEO Randy Phillips.

He warned them that Jackson would be “unable to rise to the occasion” – meaning the tour – and that he should be given an “immediate psychological examination”.

He added: “There is no one caring for him on a regular basis. There were four security guards outside his door yet no one to bring him a cup of hot tea. He is terribly frightened this will all go away. It would shatter him, break his heart if we pulled the plug. He really wants this. He was like a lost boy.”

Ortega said Dr Murray was stern with him next day after he stopped Jacko rehearsing – and accused him of trying to be an amateur doctor or psychologist.

“He told me Michael was physically and emotional capable of handling his responsibilities. I was shocked because Michael didn’t seem to me to be stable.

Ortega added: “I told Michael I loved him and was concerned for his safety. He said, ‘I’m fine Kenny, I promise you” and gave me a hug and I left.”

The jury was told of shipments of propofol – a powerful drug normally only administered in hospital – that were sent to Murray. He is said to have received more than 15 litres of the anaesthetic in the time he worked for Jackson.

The court heard that Murray initially requested a ￡3.2million salary, but finally settled for ￡95,000 a month – although his contract was never signed and he was never paid by the singer.

Defence lawyers say he will strenuously refute all accusations. They claim there is nothing he could have done to save the singer’s life.

Murray, who faces up to four years’ jail if convicted appeared to weep at times and dabbed his eyes with a tissue. His legal team will argue that Jackson was addicted to various painkillers and sedatives and gave himself the fatal dose of propofol, possibly by swallowing it.

Leading defence attorney Ed Chernoff told jurors that Jackson swallowed several lorazepam pills on the morning of his death. He claimed Jackson also “self-ingested” propofol – creating a “perfect storm in his body” that killed him instantly.

Mr Chernoff said during legal arguments that Jackson was “desperate” around the time of his death.

Court papers include a statement by the defence which reads: “We think that Michael Jackson was involved in certain acts that ended his own life.”

The trial is expected to hear testimony from the paramedics who transported Jackson to the hospital, as well as medical experts, Jackson’s choreographer and Murray’s girlfriends.

Celebrity attorney Mark Geragos, who once represented Jackson and has closely watched the criminal case against Murray, said that Jackson’s 13-year-old daughter Paris may also be called to testify.

She was inside the house with Jackson when he stopped breathing. Mr Geragos added: “She not only has things to say, but she can say it in a compelling way.”

Jackson’s eldest child, Prince Michael, 14, and Paris have each reportedly told their grandmother Katherine of their desire to testify.

But website RadarOnline has quoted a source close to the Jackson family claiming that the children have warm recollections of the medic.

The source said: “Prince and Paris adored Dr Murray and thought he was a godsend for their father. It was only after their father’s death that they formed another opinion of him.

“Both Prince and Paris could take the stand and wind up providing evidence which supports the doctor.”

Prosecutors are also said to be concerned about their case being damaged if Jackson’s children are cross-examined about their father’s long-term drug use.

The insider told RadarOnline that if Prince testifies he will tell the court what he saw when he walked into his father’s bedroom in the middle of the doctor’s doomed attempts to revive him.

The source said: “Prince and Paris knew their dad relied on Dr Murray to survive and knew their father adored him. Their comments could save him from jail because it would work well in the eyes of a jury.”

Murray has insisted Prince Michael and Paris were bundled from the room after the star’s daughter burst into tears and screamed “Daddy!”.

Their aunt La Toya, who believes her brother was unlawfully killed, has reportedly said it would be good for the children to, “Get what is inside them, out of them”.

Medical examiners have determined Jackson’s death at his rented LA mansion was due to an overdose of propofol and sedatives. Prosecutors say Murray caused Jackson’s death by giving him propofol as a sleeping aid, and failing to monitor him properly.

There were angry scenes outside court, as Jackson fans waved a banner saying: “Doctors are expected to heal, not kill.”

A rival group held aloft the slogan: “Fair trial for Dr Murray”.

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/09/28/michael-jackson-chilling-picture-of-singer-lying-dead-in-hospital-shown-at-his-doctor-s-trial-115875-23450979/#ixzz1ZDsW4PIY
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