A Royal Caribbean passenger’s heart stopped nearly three hours after security guards piled on top of him during a drunken rampage caught on video.

Passenger Michael Virgil’s cause of death was ruled a homicide caused by the ‘use of force by others’ that directly contributed to his inability to breathe and his heart stopping suddenly, according to a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner autopsy report obtained by the Daily Mail.

Virgil was caught on camera in a drunken meltdown while on board the Navigator of the Seas in December 2024. The ship had departed San Pedro for a three-day trip to Ensenada, Mexico.

Attorneys for Virgil’s family, who filed a wrongful death suit last week in Florida against Royal Caribbean, allege ship staff served the 35-year-old father 33 drinks over a seven-hour period, causing him to become confused and agitated as he searched for his cabin.

The lawsuit claims the Royal Caribbean crew ‘negligently’ over-served Virgil even though he was visibly intoxicated.

‘The first domino that fell in terms of causing his death was mechanical asphyxiation, and that is where approximately five, maybe more, Royal Caribbean employees were trying to restrain him by putting their full body weight on him,’ attorney Kevin Haynes told the Daily Mail. ‘And they did that for three minutes.’

‘Everyone remembers that very tragic story with George Floyd, and this is similar in the sense that they suppressed someone against their will, restrained him and caused him to stop being able to breathe.’

Michael Virgil, 35, was on board the Royal Caribbean ship with his family in December 2024 for what was supposed to be a three-day trip from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico 

The lawsuit, filed by the Texas-based firm Kherkher Garcia, LLP, claims the cruise line deliberately markets its ‘all you can drink’ beverage packages and ensures every nook and cranny of the ship contains bars.

Haynes said Royal Caribbean staff had the right to refuse service to anyone who was visibly intoxicated but failed to do so, allegedly leading to Virgil’s death.

In a statement to CBS News, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said, ‘We were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting further on pending litigation.’

Virgil boarded the Navigator of the Seas on December 13, 2024. While waiting for their cabin, he decided to relax at one of the ship’s bars, Haynes told the Daily Mail.

Ship receipts showed 33 drinks were served to Virgil over seven hours, the lawyer said. It is unclear if he consumed all 33.

Haynes said they have requested video footage from Royal Caribbean, but the company has refused to release it.

Video recorded by another passenger showed a visibly drunk and shirtless Virgil punching cabin walls as he searched for his room.

‘His behavior was out of character for him,’ Haynes said. ‘He was scared and acting out of fear. Whatever Michael may have done during that stressful time, fueled by alcohol, it shouldn’t have given him a death sentence.’

Virgil, of Moreno Valley, California was on a trip with his fiancée, Connie Aguilar, their son and other family members

According to the lawsuit filed by Michael Virgil’s family, the 35-year-old was allegedly served 33 drinks while onboard the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Sea cruise ship

An autopsy report obtained by the Daily Mail showed the cruise ship doctor pronounced Virgil dead about two and a half hours after the altercation with Royal Caribbean security

An autopsy report obtained by the Daily Mail showed the cruise ship doctor pronounced Virgil dead about two and a half hours after the altercation with security.

Virgil’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.182 to 0.186 percent, roughly double California’s legal driving limit.

‘While not lethal on its own, this level of intoxication can depress respiratory drive, impair coordination and diminish the individual’s ability to respond to distress during restraint,’ the report said.

However, Los Angeles legal analyst Lou Shapiro said the forensic evidence does not support the theory he consumed all 33 drinks, estimating instead six to eight.

According to the autopsy, body compression lasted about three minutes before Virgil was handcuffed and placed on his side or back. He was still breathing when moved to the ship’s medical bay.

Haynes said Aguilar learned of the incident only when her name was called over the ship’s intercom.

When she arrived, she saw Virgil on a gurney with zip ties on his wrists.

A snapshot from a video showed Virgil kicking a cabin door

The lawsuit filed by Virgil’s family claims four or five security guards placed their full weight on Virgil during the incident

‘They assured her, “Everything’s going to be fine, we’re going to give him a sedating injection, just go back to your cabin,”‘ Haynes said. ‘The next phone call she gets, he’s dead.’

Medical records show staff injected Virgil with haloperidol and succinylcholine, a sedative and a muscle relaxer, and used three cans of pepper spray to subdue him, according to the autopsy.

The report found no drugs in his system. It also noted several contributing factors: multiple people compressing his body, an enlarged heart, obesity and an adrenaline surge during the struggle.

The ship was more than three miles offshore when Virgil was pronounced dead at 8:32 pm.

A devastated Aguilar, caring for their autistic son, asked staff to return the ship to Long Beach. ‘They would not do it,’ Haynes said. ‘They put Michael in a refrigerator and continued the cruise for multiple days.’

Royal Caribbean faces another lawsuit involving alcohol and the death of 66-year-old Dulcie White, who went overboard during a Taylor Swift-themed cruise in October 2024.

Haynes said Virgil’s family hopes the lawsuit forces the cruise industry to overhaul training and safety protocols.

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‘Misuse’ of a Blue Badge is considered a crime

Blue Badge users must bear in mind an important three-month rule(Image: Getty)

Brits who use Blue Badges, whether behind the wheel or as passengers, are being urged to remember a three-month regulation that could potentially leave them without valid documentation. Disabled parking permits, commonly referred to as Blue Badges, enable people facing mobility challenges or living with disabilities to access parking with greater ease.

According to the Daily Record, recent figures from the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland reveal that upwards of 3.2 million Blue Badge holders exist throughout England and Scotland. Eligibility criteria for Blue Badges were extended in 2019 to include those with non-visible disabilities such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia and epilepsy, allowing more people to park closer to their destinations regardless of whether they’re driving or being driven.

Blue Badges allow people with various mobility issues or disabilities to park more easily(Image: Getty)

Whilst most holders understand their Blue Badge remains valid for three years from the date of issue, many remain unaware that renewal doesn’t happen automatically and applications need to be lodged three months (12 weeks) before expiry to ensure a replacement arrives whilst the existing permit is still legitimate.

Those continuing to display their Blue Badge after it has expired risk facing a hefty £1,000 fine, as presenting an out-of-date Blue Badge is classified as “misuse”. Transport Scotland guidance states: “Misuse of a badge is a crime. You may be prosecuted if you misuse a badge.”

If your Blue Badge is due to expire at the start of the new year, it’s crucial to submit your renewal application promptly to ensure you receive it before the expiry date. This is particularly important given the reduced working hours over the festive season and potential postal delays due to high volumes of mail.

Renewal is not automatic and an application should be made three months (12 weeks) before it expires(Image: Getty)

The replacement badge won’t become valid until the current one expires (it will have a start date on it), so you can keep it safe knowing the transition will be smooth. Each time a renewal application is submitted, eligibility for a Blue Badge is reassessed.

As per guidance from MyGov.Scot: “Your Blue Badge is not renewed automatically. You need to reapply for it every three years.

“Your eligibility will be checked every time you reapply. This is to make sure you can still get a Blue Badge. Your local council processes your application and decides if you can get a Blue Badge.

“You should reapply 12 weeks before your badge expires.” In England, a Blue Badge costs up to £10, in Scotland they are priced at £20, while in Wales they are issued free of charge.

For more information about applying for Blue Badge renewal, visit the Government website here.

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👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈

Donald Trump was back on the stump for the first time in months on Tuesday. The polls all say Americans are unhappy with his presidency, and with his economy. Can he reverse the tide?

But before that he was sitting down for a blockbuster interview with Politico. In it, the president eviscerates Europe, and Europe’s leaders.

Even the Pope is getting involved.

What does this mean for the US-European relationship… and is this the beginning of a big, messy break up?

You can also watch all episodes on our YouTube channel.

Email us on trump100@sky.uk with your comments and questions.

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Ukrainian leader responds to US President Trump’s suggestion that he is using the war as an excuse to avoid elections.

Published On 10 Dec 202510 Dec 2025

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared that his government was prepared to hold elections within three months if the United States and Kyiv’s other allies can ensure the security of the voting process.

Zelenskyy issued his statement on Tuesday as he faced renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump, who suggested in an interview with a news outlet that the Ukrainian government was using Russia’s war on their country as an excuse to avoid elections.

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Wartime elections are forbidden under Ukrainian law, and Zelenskyy’s term in office as the country’s elected president expired last year.

“I’m ready for elections, and moreover I ask… that the US help me, maybe together with European colleagues, to ensure the security of an election,” Zelenskyy said in comments to reporters.

“And then in the next 60-90 days, Ukraine will be ready to hold an election,” he said.

In a Politico news article published earlier on Tuesday, Trump was quoted as saying: “You know, they [Ukraine] talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy any more.”

Zelenskyy dismissed the suggestion that he was clinging to power as “totally inadequate”.

He then said that he would ask parliament to prepare proposals for new legislation that could allow for elections during martial law.

Earlier this year, Ukraine’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a resolution affirming the legitimacy of Zelenskyy’s wartime stay in office, asserting the constitutionality of deferring the presidential election while the country fights Russia’s invasion.

In February, Trump also accused Zelenskyy of being a “dictator”, echoing claims previously made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskyy and other officials have routinely dismissed the idea of holding elections while frequent Russian air strikes take place across the country, nearly a million troops are at the front and millions more Ukrainians are displaced. Also uncertain is the voting status of those Ukrainians living in the one-fifth of the country occupied by Russia.

Polls also show that Ukrainians are against holding wartime elections, but they also want new faces in a political landscape largely unchanged since the last national elections in 2019.

Ukraine, which is pushing back on a US-backed peace plan seen as Moscow-friendly, is also seeking strong security guarantees from its allies that would prevent any new Russian invasion in the future.

Washington’s peace proposal involves Ukraine surrendering land that Russia has not captured, primarily the entire industrial Donbas region, in return for security promises that fall short of Kyiv’s aspirations, including its wish to join the NATO military alliance.

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Australia’s nationwide ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16 took effect on Wednesday.

The country passed the law, that blocks minors from having social media accounts on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Reddit, last year.

If companies fail to comply with new rules to keep minors off their platforms, they face fines of up to A$49.5 million (€30 million).

“This is indeed a proud day to be Australian,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, as he described the measure as a major step toward improving online safety for young people.

Here are the key points:

• Australia blocks under-16s from major social media platforms
• Platforms face fines of up to A$49.5 million for noncompliance
• Children began losing access as the law took effect Wednesday
• Tech companies and rights groups have criticized the move
• Other governments are studying Australia’s model

Albanese called the reform “one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced.” 

Major platforms required to block minors

Ten of the largest platforms were ordered to adopt age-verification measures from midnight local time.

TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and Reddit are all included, alongside streaming platforms such as Twitch and Kick.

WhatsApp, email services, online games and educational tools have been exempt from the ban.

Hundreds of thousands of young users were automatically logged out when the law came into force. In the hours before the cutoff, some children posted farewells to their online audiences, using tags such as “#seeyouwhenim16.”

Australia’s under-16s forced offline by social media ban

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Government cites growing concerns about online harms

The Albanese government said the restrictions aim to reduce exposure to cyberbullying, distressing content and other risks linked to heavy social media use among teenagers.

Albanese acknowledged challenges in implementing the ban, saying: “It won’t be perfect. This is a big change. Success is the fact that it’s happening. Success is the fact that we’re having this discussion.”

X, Meta and digital groups criticize law

Major platforms and civil liberties groups have criticized the law.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said the rules could push children toward less regulated online spaces. 

X, owned by Elon Musk, said the cutoff was mandated by Canberra: “It’s not our choice — it’s what the Australian law requires.”

Companies have told the government they will use age-inference tools, selfie-based estimation and optional ID checks to determine a user’s age. Canberra says the list of covered platforms will evolve as new products attract young audiences.

Legal challenges and global attention

Reddit has said it cannot confirm reports it may challenge the ban in Australia’s High Court. A digital-rights group has already filed its own bid for reinstating teen access.

Several governments, including New Zealand, Denmark and Malaysia, have signaled they may study or emulate Australia’s approach.

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen previously said she was “inspired” by the Australian move to impose age restrictions.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar

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Uber has introduced a new, phone-free way to book an Uber – somewhat reminiscent of the days when travelers would wait in line to hail a taxi.

The rideshare giant announced Tuesday that it plans to install physical kiosks, starting with one at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, to help travelers request rides without downloading the Uber app onto their phones.

The first kiosk will make its debut at Terminal C in LaGuardia Airport, though future rollouts are being planned for “hotels, ports and international airports in the coming months,” Uber said.

Uber touts the new way of booking a ride as “perfect for international visitors arriving without a local data plan.”

“Simply walk up to the kiosk, enter your destination, then start your ride type. The kiosk prints a paper receipt with your trip details, making the experience as straightforward as possible,” Uber said while announcing the news.

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Uber on Tuesday announced its launch of a new Uber Kiosk, which will allow customers to book rides with Uber without using their phones (Uber)

The San Francisco-based ride-hailing company did not immediately return an inquiry from The Independent. It was not immediately clear when the first kiosk could be expected at LaGuardia, or when the additional rollout would commence.

Major events scheduled for next year, including the World Cup, are expected to bring many international travelers into the U.S., providing a “strong opportunity” for Uber to expand their business, a spokesperson for the rideshare told Bloomberg.

The company will own and maintain the kiosks to start, though the operational model may evolve, the spokesperson added.

Uber on Tuesday announced several other changes set to make holiday traveling easier, including a new Uber Shuttle at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

The shuttle already exists at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airport, making all three major New York City-area airports accessible by Uber’s shuttle service.

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Crowds of taxis waiting for business used to be common sights at airports like LaGuardia (Getty Images)

Uber also announced a new update that will allow users to tip their driver from the lock screen of their phone before the trip ends, instead of waiting until after.

“With tipping now just a tap away, more riders can show appreciation in the moment – early pilots showing that this simple change has increased tips for drivers,” Uber said.

The rideshare giant announced other big changes earlier this year, including that its autonomous taxi would be launched in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2026.

The company had announced in July that it was developing a robotaxi with electric car company Lucid and self-driving technology company Nuro Inc. The vehicle will be exclusive to Uber, but based on the Lucid Gravity SUV.

While the program will first launch in the Bay Area next year, within six years, Uber says it plans to issue more than 20,000 of the autonomous taxis in multiple locations, with the vehicle being available to customers through the Uber app.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Former Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken decided during President Joe Biden’s administration that the State Department would use Calibri as the official communications font
• However, the current Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, reportedly said on Tuesday, Dec. 9, that the department would return to its previous use of Times New Roman
• Rubio said the decision to return to Times New Roman is “to restore decorum and professionalism”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reversed one of his predecessor’s orders: the State Department’s official communications font.

Rubio issued a memo on Tuesday, Dec. 9, saying that the department would not be using the sans-serif font Calibri. Instead, it would be returning to Times New Roman “as its standard typeface,” according to The New York Times. 

The reversal is “to restore decorum and professionalism to the Department’s written work products and abolish yet another wasteful D.E.I.A. [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility] program,” Rubio’s memo read, per the outlet.

“This formatting standard aligns with the President’s One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations directive, underscoring the Department’s responsibility to present a unified, professional voice in all communications,” the memo read, according to Reuters.

Former President Joe Biden’s Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, decided to use Calibri in 2023 to improve accessibility for readers with disabilities, per the NYT. It is a sans-serif font, and those have been recognized as easier to read, according to a 2022 National Institutes of Health study. 

Times New Roman versus Calibri font.

Rubio stated in the Dec. 9 memo that the previous switch to Calibri has “achieved nothing except the degradation of the department’s official correspondence.” He said that serif fonts are used by the White House, Supreme Court and other state and federal government entities, and are “generally perceived to connote tradition, formality and ceremony,” according to NYT.

In addition to changing the font type, Rubio has reverted the typeface to 14-point, instead of Blinken’s 15-point requirement.

Times New Roman was the department’s official typeface for nearly two decades. The department switched from Courier New to Times New Roman in 2004.

Times New Roman was designed by Victor Lardent and typographic adviser Stanley Morison in 1932 for the Times of London newspaper, according to Adobe. Calibri was designed by type designer Lucas de Groot in 2004, The New Yorker reported.

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PEOPLE reached out to the State Department for comment.

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Its dazzling colour schemes, period fixtures and fittings and tented ceilings might hint at the work of an expensive interior designer.

But what the marketing agent describes as a ‘bespoke home that effortlessly honours its Edwardian roots’ was a run-down house of multiple occupancy before Rita and David Wagstaff set to work.

Earlier this week the Daily Mail told how the semi-detached property’s unassuming exterior belied the ‘showstopping entrance hallway’ and the rest of the elaborately decorated home.

And, after the property was put on the market following the death of widower Mrs Wagstaff, the story behind the home’s incredible interior can now be outlined.

The former college secretary and her husband bought the four-bedroom property in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, in 1984 and immediately set about restoring it to its former Edwardian grandeur.

Mr Wagstaff, an engineer, worked on the house each evening and through the weekends, even replacing a rotten bay window himself.

Both keen bric-a-brac and antique shop browsers, the couple also sourced most of the furnishings themselves, and usually bagged a bargain – including a slate fireplace for £10.

In the 19 years since the death of her husband in 2006, Mrs Wagstaff, 92, lived in the property on her own with a succession of rescue dogs and her beloved cockatiel, Percy.

But hours after the 25-year-old bird had to be put down in March, the pensioner is thought to have suffered a massive stroke and was found unconscious at the property.

Police forced entry after her daughters, Francesca Cox, 59, and Caralyn Wagstaff, 68, were unable to contact their mother. She passed away in hospital in Coventry without regaining consciousness.

Rita Wagstaff had ‘style and taste’ and was ‘very proud’ of her home, her daughter Caralyn said 

The unassuming property blends into the street scene in Nuneaton Warwickshire 

The crimson-coloured front reception room boasts a commanding bay window, high ceilings and a meticulously restored period fireplace 

Mrs Wagstaff pictured with garndson Red around ten years ago 

Ms Wagstaff, a fashion designer, told the Daily Mail this week how her ‘fashionable’ mother and father were ‘so, so proud of what they created in their house’.

She told how a cast-iron fountain in the courtyard garden was sourced from Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. 

‘It was originally a wash stand where factory workers would clean their hands’, she said. ‘I have no idea how my father managed to move it to his garden in Nuneaton!’

At the front, the house looks out on a main road and features an ordinary walled and railed front courtyard with a traditional tiled path leading to the front door.

But Ms Wagstaff, who runs a bridal boutique, said of the house’s flamboyant interior design: ‘People are a bit shocked when they see it – it’s certainly not to everyone’s taste.

‘It’s very Marmite. The estate agent couldn’t get over it.’

Ms Wagstaff said she arranged for a photographer friend to take pictures of its unique interior so the family would always have a record of what her parents had created.

Some of these pictures have been used by Carters Estate Agents to market the house, which is now for sale for £320,000.

Ms Wagstaff added: ‘My mother has always collected antiques, but since taking the pictures we have cleared out the items of value.

‘She was a character. There was a tailor’s dummy in the entrance hall and another one on the landing.

‘Mum was the artistic one but it was my Dad who did all the work on the house.  They did it with love.

In the rear bedroom there is a walk-in closet and fireplace. Fascinating religious imagery also hangs on the walls

Caralyn Wagstaff’s childhood doll sat in a crib in her mother’s home

A tailor’s dummy, clad in a bishop’s robes, stodd at the top of the stairs in the elaborately decorated home

Rita Wagstaff (right) with daughter Caralyn lived in the house for over 40 years

‘It was just their dream house. They made it how they wanted it.’

Ms Wagstaff said her parents met at a party and settled in Nuneaton because they couldn’t afford to buy a house in her mother’s home town of Solihull, West Midlands.

She said their first home in the Warwickshire town was also ‘smartly decorated’, but that things went up a level when they moved to the property which is now for sale.

At one point an air raid shelter in the garden was repurposed into a garden room, while the main bedroom was originally two rooms which were knocked through, making the house a three-bedroom property these days.

The home featured in House Beautiful magazine in December 1997 and the Wagstaffs also showcased their home on a television programme in the late 1980s, their daughter said.

A corner bath takes pride of place in the tiled bathroom, compelte with tented ceiling

On entrance, the property showcases a bespoke breakfast kitchen appointed with rich, walnut-style cabinetry and a ‘striking centre island’ as a focal point

The black cast-iron foundation in the garden was originally a wash stand from a Victorian factory in Birmingham

‘But Mum didn’t live in the past’, Ms Wagstaff, who lives with partner Richard Parsloe, 66, an enginee, in Cheltenahm, Gloucestershire, added. 

‘There was a dishwasher, microwave and TV in the house.

‘Mum was still driving. She just had style and taste.  Even though she was in her 90s she would still do her make up and would even wear knee-high leather boots.’

The grandmother-of-four ‘loved animals’, Ms Wagstaff added. ‘Mum always had rescue dogs and was well known in her local area.

‘She would stop to talk to the neighbours when she was out with the dogs.’

Carters describe the period home, built in 1905, as a ‘masterclass of heritage revival…with bespoke, artistic flourishes and meticulous craftsmanship throughout.’

The agent adds: ‘Entering the property, you’re greeted by a showstopping entrance hallway, where original Minton tiled flooring, plaster wall panelling, intricate cornicing, and picture rails immediately set the tone.’

Other highlights include a ‘beautifully restored period fireplace’, galleried landing and a ‘period-inspired family bathroom featuring a corner bath and vanity unit with tiled surrounds’.

The agent said: ‘Viewing is essential to appreciate the incredible character, craft, and uniqueness this remarkable home has to offer.’

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Millie Joy Gribble’s father described his daughter as “mischievous and yet loving” in an emotional tribute yesterday after Stephen Worden was jailed for causing her death by careless driving

Millie Gribble died after she was hit by a flatbed truck(Image: Lancashire Constabulary)

A truck driver who fatally ran over a little girl when she stepped of a bus was jailed yesterday.

Stephen Worden will spend 12 months in custody and is also disqualified from driving for two years following the crash that led to Millie Joy Gribble’s death. The six-year-old girl stepped off a stationary double decker bus when Worden mounted his white Iveco Daily truck on the nearside grass verge and struck Millie and two other children.

A court heard the youngster died in hospital six days later, with her parents by her bedside, and the two other children — a boy now aged 16 and a girl now aged 15 — were also left with serious injuries.

Worden, 61, appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday where he was sentenced for causing death by careless driving. The truck driver was caged for 12 months.

READ MORE: Warning to drivers over festive period with little-known mistake that could cost you £2,500READ MORE: Coroner’s swipe at ‘silly’ selfie culture after teen kills three pals in horror crashStephen Worden, 61, appeared in court on Tuesday for sentencing(Image: Lancashire Police)

The court yesterday heard Millie suffered a catastrophic head injury when she was struck by Worden’s vehicle on the A6 in Bilsborrow, Lancashire on August 15, 2023. Worden was later charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He was also charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving which he was later found not guilty of following a trial at Preston Crown Court in October.

But Worden, who is from Preston, Lancashire was sentenced at the same court yesterday after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving and two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.

Following this, Millie’s dad, Joseph Gribble, said: “Millie was my heartbeat, my world, my reason to improve my life in every way. The pain and the heartbreak of losing Millie cannot be put into words, but I will do my best.

“Millie was so close to all our family and the apple of my eye. Millie was my world, and we did everything together, from playing football, swimming, new adventures and movie nights when she was with me.

“Millie could do no wrong in my eyes, with her mischievous and yet loving nature. I am so proud to call Millie my daughter and always will be. Millie was adored by everyone who met her.”

READ MORE: Mercedes driver admits killing couple in horror crash while ‘hurrying to salon’Floral tributes to Millie were left at the scene in Bilsborrow, Lancashire(Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)

He continued: The hours, the days, the weeks have passed now, and the pain is always there, there is no getting away from it. For myself, I now don’t know what I want from my life. My life is ruined, and I’ve lost all purpose of it. Every day is hard, some harder than others and I have to dig deep for my family and for my beautiful, amazing little girl, who never had the chance to live her life to the full.

“I keep going to make her proud of me. It has changed all my beliefs, and I am struggling to keep them. I can’t wait to see her again and I know that I’m wishing my life away, but all I want is to be with my beautiful Millie, the most important part of my world.”

In her statement, Millie’s mum Sam Edmundson wrote: “I am mummy to Millie Joy Gribble the most beautiful six-year-old girl you could ever wish to meet, a little girl with a head full of thick, long, dark brown hair, gorgeous big blue eyes with a twinkle in them, and a big cheeky smile that would melt your heart. Millie was someone who could light up a room simply by just walking in it. Everyone knew Millie and everyone loved Millie.”

Millie’s family paid tribute to the little girl(Image: Lancashire Constabulary)

She continued: “It truly breaks my heart and my heart aches knowing none of her dreams for the future are ever going to happen now. Millie loved all her family so much and this is something she would say almost every day and we, as a family, love her infinitely.

“My beautiful little girl Millie wasn’t just my daughter, she was my best friend, my everything. I miss her bright, cheerful, innocent energy, the sound of her voice, her giggle, the feel of her hand in mine. I miss our cuddles. I just miss everything about her. I just want my beautiful little girl back.”

The other two children hit by the flatbed truck sustained serious injuries, which weren’t life-changing. Sergeant Martin Wilcock, a senior investigating officer at Lancashire Police’s road policing unit, said: “While I know today’s media focus will be on Worden and the sentence he has received, my thoughts are very much with Millie and her loved ones.

“Millie’s death has had and continues to have a profound impact on her family. It is clear to me that if you knew Millie, you loved her. And she is someone who is incredibly missed.

“While it is not for me to comment on a sentencing, I hope Millie’s tragic death will focus people’s minds on the dangers of careless driving.”

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Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Russian, Chinese planes entered its air defence zone during the joint exercise.

South Korea and Japan separately scrambled fighter jets after Russian and Chinese military aircraft conducted a joint air patrol near both countries.

Seven Russian and two Chinese aircraft entered South Korea’s Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) at approximately 10am local time (01:00 GMT) on Tuesday, according to the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul.

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The planes, which included fighter jets and bombers, were spotted before they entered the KADIZ – which is not territorial airspace but where planes are expected to identify themselves – and South Korea deployed “fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies”, according to reports.

The Russian and Chinese planes flew in and out of the South Korean air defence zone for an hour before leaving, the military said, according to South Korea’s official Yonhap news agency.

Japan separately deployed military aircraft to “strictly implement” air defence measures “against potential airspace violations”, following the reported joint patrol of Russia and China, Japanese Minister of Defence Shinjiro Koizumi said.

In a statement posted on social media late on Tuesday, Koizumi said two Russian “nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers” flew from the Sea of Japan to the Tsushima Strait, and met with two Chinese jets “capable of carrying long-range missiles”.

At least eight other Chinese J-16 fighter jets and a Russian A-50 aircraft also accompanied the bombers as they conducted a joint flight “around” Japan, travelling between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island, Koizumi said.

“The repeated joint flights of bombers by both countries signify an expansion and intensification of activities around our country, while clearly intending to demonstrate force against our nation, posing a serious concern for our national security,” he added.

9日（火）の午前から夕方にかけて、ロシアの核兵器搭載可能な爆撃機Tu-95×2機が日本海→対馬海峡を飛行し、中国の長射程ミサイルを搭載可能な爆撃機H-6×2機と東シナ海において合流したあと、沖縄本島・宮古島間→太平洋の四国沖まで我が国周辺を共同飛行しました。… pic.twitter.com/6RcWJbM99b

— 小泉進次郎 (@shinjirokoiz) December 9, 2025

Koizumi’s statement comes just days after he accused Chinese fighter jets on Sunday of directing their fire-control radar at Japanese aircraft in two separate incidents over international waters near Okinawa.

On Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Defence said that it had monitored the movements of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and accompanying support vessels near Okinawa since Friday, adding that dozens of takeoffs and landings from Chinese aircraft on the carrier were monitored.

Japan said it was the “first time” that fighter jet operations on a Chinese aircraft carrier had been confirmed in waters between Okinawa’s main island and Minami-Daitojima island to the southeast.

Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning sails through the Miyako Strait near Okinawa on its way to the Pacific in this handout photo taken by Japan Self-Defence Forces and released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defence Ministry of Japan on April 4, 2021 [Joint Staff Office of the Defence Ministry of Japan via Reuters]

China’s Ministry of National Defence said on Tuesday that it had organised the joint air drills with Russia’s military according to “annual cooperation plans”.

The air drills took place above the East China Sea and western Pacific Ocean, the ministry said, calling the exercises the “10th joint strategic air patrol” with Russia.

Moscow also confirmed the joint exercise with Beijing, saying that it had lasted eight hours and that some foreign fighter jets followed the Russian and Chinese aircraft.

“At certain stages of the route, the strategic bombers were followed by fighter jets from foreign states,” the Russian Defence Ministry said.

Since 2019, China and Russia have regularly flown military aircraft near South Korean and Japanese airspace without prior notice, citing joint military exercises.

In November 2024, Seoul scrambled jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defence zone. In 2022, Japan also deployed jets after warplanes from Russia and China neared its airspace.

China and Russia have expanded military and defence ties since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. Both countries are also allies of North Korea, which is seen as an adversary in both South Korea and Japan.

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