Latest news with #BenPearson
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Shock moment idiot influencer Colton Macaulay wrestles deadly CROC & calls it a ‘little b***h' as wild stunt sparks fury
THIS is the shocking moment influencer Colton Macaulay wrestles a deadly croc, sparking widespread outrage. Alarming footage shows the 27-year-old pulling the Advertisement 5 This is the shocking moment an influencer handles a wild croc Credit: YouTube 5 The video sparked widespread outrage with many calling him a 'moron' Credit: YouTube 5 The stunt was filmed for the influencer's millions of followers Credit: Instagram The dangerous stunt was filmed in Australia earlier this year and amassed almost half a million views before it was deleted. An unnerving video captures the shirtless The Speaking in a voiceover, Colton said: "Hey guys, I'm in Australia right now, and we just yoinked a freshwater croc,' Macaulay explained in a voiceover. Advertisement "I don't think he was happy about it because he started making these sounds like a chainsaw. Or maybe that's the sound they make when they decide to cry like a little b***h.' The bizarre video, captioned "catching crocodiles in Australia", has since received a barrage of criticism. One concerned viewer said: "How stupid are you?" While others condemned the act as "thoughtless", calling the influencer "stupid" and a "moron". Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Meanwhile, World Animal Protection Australia director Ben Pearson slammed the handling of the croc as "unacceptable", calling it "cruelty for the sake of content". He told the American influencer sparks outrage in Australia after taking baby wombat from its mom- heads to follow "Crocodiles are not a photo prop or plaything, and they should be treated with respect. "Just a quick look at this influencer's account and you can see multiple videos where they're interfering with Aussie wildlife in their homes , from cassowaries to wobbegong sharks . Advertisement "Our iconic Australian animals, like all wildlife, are best loved from a distance." Freshwater crocodiles are native to northern Australia and whilst not considered dangerous they can bite if they feel threatened. A permit is required to handle them. Colton's shocking video comes just months after an Advertisement Sam Jones, who claims to be a "wildlife biologist and environmental scientist" posted the now deleted video on Instagram capturing the moment she picked up the animal and ran with it as it dangled around in the air. After racing across the road with the startled wombat, Jones held it up to the camera and said: "I caught a baby wombat!" Meanwhile, the Read more on the Irish Sun This was noticed by the man filming the video who said: "Look at the mother, it's chasing after her." Advertisement Jones said: 'OK mama's right there and she is p***ed, let's let him go." 5 Freshwater crocodiles are native to northern Australia Credit: YouTube 5 'This is cruelty for the sake of content,' said World Animal Protection director Ben Pearson Credit: YouTube
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Shock moment idiot influencer Colton Macaulay wrestles deadly CROC & calls it a ‘little b***h' as wild stunt sparks fury
THIS is the shocking moment influencer Colton Macaulay wrestles a deadly croc, sparking widespread outrage. Alarming footage shows the 27-year-old pulling the exotic animal out of the water before parading it and calling it a "little b****" to his 15 million followers online. 5 5 The dangerous stunt was filmed in Australia earlier this year and amassed almost half a million views before it was deleted. An unnerving video captures the shirtless influencer standing barefoot in the water before forcefully plucking the animal from the creek. The creature appears distressed as he flails his tail, while being gripped firmly around the neck. Speaking in a voiceover, Colton said: "Hey guys, I'm in Australia right now, and we just yoinked a freshwater croc,' Macaulay explained in a voiceover. "I don't think he was happy about it because he started making these sounds like a chainsaw. Or maybe that's the sound they make when they decide to cry like a little b***h.' The bizarre video, captioned "catching crocodiles in Australia", has since received a barrage of criticism. One concerned viewer said: "How stupid are you?" While others condemned the act as "thoughtless", calling the influencer "stupid" and a "moron". Meanwhile, World Animal Protection Australia director Ben Pearson slammed the handling of the croc as "unacceptable", calling it "cruelty for the sake of content". He told the Mail Online: "This is cruelty for the sake of content, and we know the general public would agree handling freshwater crocs in this way is unacceptable. American influencer sparks outrage in Australia after taking baby wombat from its mom- heads to follow "Crocodiles are not a photo prop or plaything, and they should be treated with respect. "Just a quick look at this influencer's account and you can see multiple videos where they're interfering with Aussie wildlife in their homes, from cassowaries to wobbegong sharks. "Our iconic Australian animals, like all wildlife, are best loved from a distance." Freshwater crocodiles are native to northern Australia and whilst not considered dangerous they can bite if they feel threatened. A permit is required to handle them. Colton's shocking video comes just months after an American hunting influencer sparked outrage after she filmed a video of herself snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, who claims to be a "wildlife biologist and environmental scientist" posted the now deleted video on Instagram capturing the moment she picked up the animal and ran with it as it dangled around in the air. After racing across the road with the startled wombat, Jones held it up to the camera and said: "I caught a baby wombat!" Meanwhile, the baby wombat's mother chased after Jones, appearing extremely distressed. This was noticed by the man filming the video who said: "Look at the mother, it's chasing after her." Jones said: 'OK mama's right there and she is p***ed, let's let him go." 5 5
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
British couple in their 30s buy entire French 'village' in tourist hotspot for just £67,000 after quitting the rat race
A British couple quit the rat race and bought a French 'village' for just £67,000 - so they can retire and have a 'peaceful life'. Ben Pearson, 39, and his husband, Nathan, 31, had always dreamed of moving to France and stumbled across the abandoned farmhouse in Sainte Segros. When they started seriously looking to buy two years ago the property came on the market and the couple were able to purchase the 'village' - which comes with five outbuildings and two hectares of land. They have spent the last two years going through paperwork but finally got the keys in December 2024. Currently the property - which dates back to the 1600s - has no toilet or heating but Ben plans to transform it into a three-bed home all by himself. They hope to eventually turn the outbuildings into Airbnb 's and guesthouses. Ben, a RAF aircraft engineer, from Hull, East Yorkshire, said: 'It's getting out of the 9 to 5 rat race in England. 'There is no way we could afford something like that in the UK. You can barely buy a flat for €80k. Currently the property - which dates back to the 1600s - has no toilet or heating but Ben plans to transform it into a three-bed home all by himself 'It's a nicer way of life - there is no running around. It will be a peaceful life and no stress - once it is built.' Nathan, an English tutor, said: 'When we dreamed of a simpler life, we somehow ended up buying a small village - we wouldn't change it for the world.' Ben's mum, Karen Pearson, 62, moved out to France 10 years ago and the couple stumbled across the farm in her village seven years ago. They loved the house but were not ready to move. Three years ago they started searching for their dream retirement home and initially couldn't find anything but when the farmhouse came back on the market they couldn't believe it. They put in an offer in February 2022 which was accepted but have spent the last two years 'on tender hooks' while the paperwork was sorted. They sold up everything in the UK and are now moving in July to start work on their home. Nathan said: 'It's the oldest property in the little commune. The main house is early 1800s and the farmhouse is 1600s. 'There were old pots and pans, mason jars all left on the shelves.' Ben said: 'It had never been modernised. There is one tap, no toilet. No heating - apart from an open fire.' Ben is retiring in July and the pair will move out to France to start work on the main house. It will need a new roof, septic tank and heating put in. They hope to have a liveable room within six months and will live in a caravan while working. They plan to restore the home in keeping with its history - and even hope to frame some of the old contracts they have found. Nathan said: 'We want to keep the grandeur of it all.' The couple have £100k saved to start with the restoration work but are under no delusion that it will likely cost a lot more. But they can't wait to move and get out of the UK. Nathan said: 'Even when you go to the nearest town the people are friendly and welcoming. 'There is the perception that the French are snobbish but it's the opposite..' Ben said: 'This is the sort of thing we'd been looking for. We never dreamed it would come true.'
The Sun
12-05-2025
- The Sun
We quit rat race to buy entire VILLAGE worth just £67,000 in holiday hotspot – now we'll rake in £1,000s from Airbnb
A BRITISH couple have packed in the 9 to 5 and bought themselves a whole village in France — all for just £67,000. Ben Pearson, 39, and his partner Nathan, 31, struck gold when they bought a rural French property for just £67,000. 5 5 5 The deal included a 17th-century farmhouse, five outbuildings and two hectares of land — more than they ever imagined owning. The couple first discovered the tucked-away treasure while visiting Ben's mum, Karen Pearson, 62, who moved to the same French village over a decade ago. They loved the charming, timeworn property as soon as they saw it seven years ago, but at the time, weren't quite ready to make the leap abroad. Three years ago, they started seriously looking for a retirement escape. To their shock, the farmhouse came back on the market. Ben, an RAF aircraft engineer, said: 'It was like fate. We had looked everywhere and just couldn't find anything like it. "When we saw it was up for sale again, we couldn't believe it.' They put in an offer in February 2022, which was accepted, but the deal took two years to finalise due to complex French property paperwork. The couple finally got the keys in December 2024, and are now preparing to move out permanently in July. The site is full of rustic charm — but needs serious work. We ditched the UK and bought a 200-year-old French village for just £22k The house has no toilet, heating or even running water beyond a single tap. 'There's no way we could ever afford this in the UK,' Ben said. 'You can barely get a one-bed flat for £80k back home. "Over here, we've got land, buildings, peace and a real chance to build something special.' Ben is retiring from the RAF this summer and plans to take on the renovation himself, converting the main farmhouse into a three-bed home. In the meantime, the couple will live in a caravan on the land while getting a liveable room finished within six months. The house, which dates back to the 1600s, has never been modernised. Old pots, mason jars and paperwork were still on the shelves when they moved in. Nathan said: 'It's the oldest property in the little commune. "The main house is from the early 1800s, but the farmhouse is even older. 'There's a real sense of history. "We're planning to frame some of the old documents we found — like the original land contracts.' They hope to restore the property in a way that preserves its heritage — and eventually convert the outbuildings into Airbnbs or guest houses. 'We're not under any illusions — we know it's going to cost more than we've saved,' Nathan said. 'But it's the lifestyle we want.' The couple have set aside £100,000 to start the restoration but admit it'll be a long-term labour of love. Ben added: 'We want to do it all properly — new roof, new septic tank, heating, everything. But we'll keep the soul of the place.' Despite the challenges, they say the move is the best decision they've made. 'There's no running around, no stress,' Ben said. 'It'll be a peaceful life. That's all we want.' Nathan, an English tutor, agreed: 'Even when you go into the nearest town, people are lovely and welcoming. "There's this myth that the French are standoffish — we've found the complete opposite.' The couple have documented their journey from Yorkshire to the French countryside on social media — and are already inspiring others to follow their dreams. Nathan said: 'We came here dreaming of a quieter life. "Somehow, we ended up buying a village. We wouldn't change a thing.' 5 5
Wales Online
12-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Wales Online
Couple buy French 'village' for €80,000 - 'cheaper than a flat in UK'
Couple buy French 'village' for €80,000 - 'cheaper than a flat in UK' They said it was all about escaping the 9 to 5 in England Nathan in the French 'village' they bought (Image: Ben Pearson/SWNS ) A British couple quit the rat race and bought a French 'village' for just €80k - so they can retire and have a "peaceful life". Ben Pearson, 39, and his husband, Nathan, 31, had always dreamed of moving to France and stumbled across the abandoned farmhouse in Sainte Segros. When they started seriously looking to buy two years ago the property came on the market and the couple were able to purchase the 'village' - which comes with five outbuildings and two hectares of land. They have spent the last two years going through paperwork, but finally got the keys in December 2024. Currently the property - which dates back to the 1600s - has no toilet or heating but Ben plans to transform it into a three-bed home all by himself. They hope to eventually turn the outbuildings into Airbnb's and guesthouses. Ben, a RAF aircraft engineer, from Hull, East Yorkshire, said: "It's getting out of the 9 to 5 rat race in England. There is no way we could afford something like that in the UK. "You can barely buy a flat for £80k. It's a nicer way of life - there is no running around. It will be a peaceful life and no stress - once it is built." Nathan, an English tutor, said: "When we dreamed of a simpler life, we somehow ended up buying a small village - we wouldn't change it for the world." Article continues below Ben Pearson (right) and his husband Nathan (Image: Ben Pearson/SWNS ) Ben's mum, Karen Pearson, 62, moved out to France 10 years ago and the couple stumbled across the farm in her village seven years ago. They loved the house, but were not ready to move. Three years ago, they started searching for their dream retirement home and initially couldn't find anything, but when the farmhouse came back on the market, they couldn't believe it. They put in an offer in February 2022, which was accepted, but have spent the last two years "on tenterhooks" while the paperwork was sorted. They sold up everything in the UK and are now moving in July to start work on their home. Nathan said: "It's the oldest property in the little commune. The main house is early 1800s and the farmhouse is 1600s. There were old pots and pans, mason jars all left on the shelves." Inside one of the buildings (Image: Ben Pearson/SWNS ) Ben said: "It had never been modernised. There is one tap, no toilet. No heating - apart from an open fire." Ben is finishing work in July and the pair will move out to France to start work on the main house. It will need a new roof, septic tank and heating put in. They hope to have a liveable room within six months and will live in a caravan while working. They plan to restore the home in keeping with its history - and even hope to frame some of the old contracts they have found. Nathan said: "We want to keep the grandeur of it all." Ben Pearson and his husband Nathan's French 'village' (Image: Ben Pearson/SWNS ) The couple have £100,000 saved to start with the restoration work, but are under no illusion that it will likely cost a lot more. But they can't wait to move and get out of the UK. Nathan said: "Even when you go to the nearest town, the people are friendly and welcoming. There is the perception that the French are snobbish, but it's the opposite." Article continues below Ben said: "This is the sort of thing we'd been looking for. We never dreamed it would come true." Follow @frenchfarmhouserenowithwine on Instagram and YouTube.
