Latest news with #amnesia
The Sun
07-07-2025
- The Sun
Sales exec killed colleague when he ploughed BMW into 26-tonne truck in 100mph horror crash – but walks free from court
A SALES executive killed his colleague in a 100mph horror crash after ploughing his BMW into a 26-tonne truck. Ivan Zailac, 24, was driving Stephanie Nye-Diroyan, 21, through Enfield, North London, when he lost control of the car. 3 A fellow colleague at second hand car dealership Big Motoring World was Facetiming the pair when she heard Stephanie scream. Zailac has now walked free after the court heard he suffers from amnesia after suffering a brain injury in the crash. He had been ruled unfit to stand trial but a jury found he did cause Stephanie's death by dangerous driving. Judge Sarah Munro KC passed a supervision order that means Zailac will be supervised by a nominated social worker and the Hillingdon mental health team for two years. She said: "This is the only way your mental health can be restored in order for a decision to be made as to whether there are further legal consequences for you to face." Prosecutor Frederick Hookway told the court that the Crown intends to put Zailac on trial if he recovers. In a harrowing victim impact statement, Stephanie's mum Nicholle Diroyan sobbed as she paid tribute to her only child. She told how her daughter was an "incredibly happy child" with an "inquisitive mind and thirst for learning". Nicholle said: "Stephanie and I shared a special unbreakable bond, she was my best friend and our connection was based on mutual care and support. "Stephanie was the best of us and the love she gave will never be forgotten. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew her. "Over two years after losing her I am still fighting in court and I am still struggling to understand how the person responsible for her death has shown no remorse or taken any responsibility for his actions. "The lack of accountability from those who caused the death and the pain from the injustice makes the loss even more unbearable. "I have tried to do everything I can to pursue justice. "No amount of time or legal proceedings will ever bring Stephanie back but I will keep fighting in the hope no other parent will ever have to face this dreadful loss without the accountability that is so desperately needed." The court heard on October 23, 2022, Zailac was driving Stephanie in his dad's powerful BMW when the horror unfolded. He had been speeding at around 98mph on a 40mph road when he lost control and drove into the path of an oncoming lorry. Stephanie, who was sitting in the front of the car, tragically couldn't be saved and was declared dead at the scene. Dr Jaleel Mohammed told the court Zailac had suffered a brain injury and amnesia that stopped him from remembering the crash. He confirmed the amnesia was a neurological condition and not a psychiatric one. Sentencing, Judge Munro said: "This court deals with many, many cases where lives have been taken at the hands of others but rarely do we deal with cases as tragic as this one. "Stephanie's joyful life was snuffed out in an instant. Her mother will never recover from her grief and as a result of losing her beloved daughter her life will never be the same again. "What's clear to me is that Stephanie lived life to the full. She had her whole life ahead of her and would undoubtedly have shone in her working and personal life. "Perhaps the only comfort is from Stephanie making the most of every moment for her life, that she lived life to the full and had so many best nights of her life - but far too few." 3
The Sun
04-07-2025
- The Sun
Venomous snake bite wiped my memory – so I got to ‘meet' my girlfriend for a second time & fall in love all over again
A MAN who was bitten by a venomous snake and left with no memory of his girlfriend said he got to "fall in love" all over again. Mark Pelley unintentionally "ghosted" his now-wife Rebecca following the near fatal attack in Melbourne, Australia. 8 8 8 The snake hunter had just started dating his partner when he was bitten by a tiger snake and lost the ability to breathe. Unbeknown to his new love interest, he was rushed to hospital where he battled multiple organ failures and was left with temporary full retrograde amnesia. The condition causes individuals to lose the ability to recall memories or information from before an injury. Mark was reminded of his relationship when, after 10 days of not hearing from him, Rebecca texted him accusing him of "ghosting" her. The text read: 'Well if you don't want to talk to me anymore, you could have let me know.' The two then went on to 'fall in love all over again' and tied the knot this week. 'Before we met [again], I went through our texts so knew we were dating – and it was obvious in our messages how much I liked her,' Mark said. He added: 'I could see that I was chasing after her and she was playing a bit hard to get. 'When we met, I had to explain from the beginning how not only did I get bitten and get seriously injured, but I lost a huge part of my memory for a while and didn't remember her at all. 'I went through the whole ordeal and said 'I know from my journal notes that I'm in love with you, but I look at you right now and can't tell you a single thing about yourself or us. Gran, 55, found dead with head in the jaws of 23ft long python after she vanished while working in her garden 'I understand if that's too much to take in and because I don't remember you, it would be okay if you left'. 'Rebecca remained quiet for a bit and then said 'I look forward to making you fall in love with me all over again'.' Describing it as 'one of the most incredible moments' of his life, Mark said the moment he touched her hand again, he "instantly" felt love in his heart. He said: 'It shot from my palm of my left hand up my arm through my shoulder into my heart. What is amnesia? AMNESIA refers to the loss of memories, including facts, information and experiences, according to Mayo Clinic. Symptoms include, trouble learning new information and trouble remembering past events and previously familiar information. Most people with amnesia struggle with short-term memory and can't retain new information. Recent memories are most likely to be lost while ingrained memories may be spared. Individuals may recall experiences from childhood or know the names of past presidents. But they may not be able to name the current president, know the month or remember what they ate for breakfast. People with amnesia usually can understand written and spoken words and can learn skills such as bike riding or piano playing. They may understand they have a memory disorder. 'My heart recognised Rebecca even though my mind didn't. 'It was a very strange feeling love, but not know who I was in love with.' Rebecca said she felt 'awful' that she'd had no idea what was going on. She said: 'I don't watch the news so even though Mark's snake bite made headlines internationally, I was oblivious and thought he just stopped liking me.' Mark was bitten by the snake at a property in northern Melbourne after a piece of his equipment broke in March 2024. This was the first serious incident he had experience in his 14 years as a snake hunter. 8 8 8
The Sun
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Britain's best dad revealed as father who bravely battled back from horror head injury to care for sons
NICK McMAHON is today revealed as Britain's best dad after caring for his sons despite crippling memory loss. The 47-year-old has had amnesia since suffering a life-changing head injury in a 2011 motorbike smash. 4 4 Damage to his brain's frontal lobe means Nick sometimes forgets he is married, or even where he lives. But his proud sons Connor, 20, and 15-year-old Ryan, say that despite his agonising daily battles, the one thing he always remembers is to be a 'super dad' to them. After being told he was the winner of our Father's Day competition, Nick beamed: 'I'm thrilled beyond words. 'Being a dad is my proudest achievement. I know what happened to me has been tough for them. 'Being a dad means the world to me and being called a 'Dad Idol' is just amazing. Thank you.' Connor and Ryan nominated Nick, together with their mum Emma, saying Nick has been 'brave' and 'brilliant' despite the challenges. Ryan told the Sun on Sunday: 'Dad is amazing as he always wants to talk to me and I can talk to him about anything. We know how tough it is for him, but he always puts us first and has fun with us. He is the best dad in the world. 'He's their rock' 'We know how heartbreaking it is for him not to be able to remember things. It is frustrating, too. 'We are going to capture so many memories thanks to the prizes, and we can't thank the Sun on Sunday enough for picking him. He really is a super dad to us.' Former roofer Nick, of Dinnington, Tyne and Wear, came off his motorbike when the boys were aged just six and one, landing on his head. Drawing pictures on holiday found to be the best way to retain memories - instead of taking smartphone pictures Despite wearing a helmet, his brain smashed against the inside of his skull, causing irreparable damage to the part which controls memory and emotions. Emma, 46, who gave up her banking job to become a full-time carer, says that from the moment he had the terrifying accident, Nick vowed to be the best dad he could. She said: 'His entire focus in life became us. All he wanted to do was be the best dad he could, in any way he could. "Everything was about the boys. He changed their nappies, he walked them to school with me. 'He loves supporting them — at sports day, through exams and guiding Connor at university. He is doing a course in paramedic science because of what happened to Nick.' 4 Emma said it was witnessing his father having a fit that drove Connor to pursue a career in health. She added: 'He was there during one of Nick's seizures, and the relief he felt when the paramedics arrived is what led him to follow this career — it sparked something in him. He wants to help others and says his dad is his inspiration. 'With Connor, he shared his love of rock music and metal bands. With Ryan he learned about Xbox and PC games. Despite what has happened to him, Nick is their rock. They can talk to him about anything. 'He does the small but important things, like making Ryan's packed lunch each day, and is helping him as he goes through his mock GCSEs. They've always sat down and watched Marvel films together. 'As a result of the accident, Nick also developed epilepsy. His consultant said that the fitter he was, the less likely he was to have seizures. 'So as soon as they were old enough, he started training with the boys in the gym. 'Ryan sometimes runs with his dad too, because Nick is training for an Ironman event in July.' Describing what Nick means to his boys, she added: 'He inspires them. "Nick has completed marathons, half marathons and triathlons, raising money for charities such as Epilepsy Action and the Great North Air Ambulance.' I am hoping one of the Dad Idol prizes will spark something so I can gain another memory with my sons that I can cherish. I truly hope so. Nick Amazingly, Connor and Ryan have learned DIY tricks from their father, too — even though he has to relearn the skills to do odd jobs every time they come up. Once a task is complete, he forgets how he did it. Amazingly, he has managed to fit a bathroom, fixes taps and does the painting and decorating at home. Emma said: 'He does it by putting on YouTube videos and then copying what they show.' 'He doesn't remember to do things, though, so we leave notes, like to do the washing up. And he always needs one of us to guide him if he goes out. 'It means he spends more time with his sons than your regular father. Their bond is so strong and something I always love to see. 'We live in the moment — and that is a positive thing. We've been told Nick's memory will never come back, but we never give up hope.' What he won Four tickets to Butlin's Big Weekender worth £1,000 Dinner, bed, breakfast and golf at Celtic Manor Hotel worth £500 Safari Tent at Lovat Parks worth £700 Four tickets to Shocktober Fest in Sussex worth £600 Four Micro Scooters worth £1,000 Home technology Netgear upgrade worth £1,200 Rock Face men's grooming products worth £400 Instant Pot Grind and Brew coffee machine worth £150 Instant Pot multi cooker worth £250 Char-Broil gas BBQ worth £665 Vax SpotWash Home pet and car cleaning kit worth £220 Our Super-Dad has won an amazing prize worth nearly £7,000, including four tickets to the Butlin's Big Weekender music festival this summer. He also gets a trip to Celtic Manor hotel in Newport, a stay in a safari tent at Lovat Parks in Cornwall or the New Forest, plus micro scooters, home tech, grooming gear, a coffee machine, a top gas barbecue and Vax cleaning kit. And he hopes one of the prize experiences will trigger his memory. 4 Nick explained: 'Virtually everything since the accident in 2011 is blank. "I can't remember anything ten years before my accident either. 'While I can remember meeting Emma, I can't remember our wedding day or the birth of my sons, which is just awful. "I am hoping one of the Dad Idol prizes will spark something so I can gain another memory with my sons that I can cherish. I truly hope so.' Nick relies on a memory bank of photos to piece his life together. He said: 'I have 41,000 images just on my phone. When I need to remember something, I can scroll through them and fill in the gaps. 'Creating new photographs is so important to me — they are the memory bank of my life.' As the thrilled family posed for a photograph together, Britain's best dad Nick said: 'I will be putting this in my memory bank, too, to remember today. I am so grateful to the Sun on Sunday.'
News24
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Prince Kaybee opens up about amnesia struggle
Despite being a talented DJ and an award-winning artist, he is fearful of potentially missing out on opportunities due to his current medical condition. He previously gifted us with hit songs such as 'Charlotte,' 'Banomoya,' and 'Club Controller,' but he is now grappling with a new challenge—amnesia—which makes it difficult for him to remember his own life. Renowned South African DJ and music producer Kabelo Motsamai, popularly known for his stage name Prince Kaybee, recently shared his emotional struggle with serious memory loss, sparking a wave of public concern and support. In a heartfelt thread on X (formerly Twitter), Prince Kaybee revealed his growing fear of amnesia, sharing how it's slowly unravelling his life. He expressed frustration and emotional weight, saying, 'I suffer with serious amnesia, and I am a bit emotional and frustrated at how my memory is deteriorating, man. I am scared this will lead to missing life opportunities, which will make me very incompetent, and I hate that. I have some underlying condition affecting my brain (experts say), I wonder how long I can keep what is left of my memory bank.' Moreover, as a father, Prince Kaybee's condition is particularly daunting. He fears being unable to be present for his children, missing milestones, and failing to provide emotional guidance. He added, 'Not going to lie, this is rocking me, man. I have kids to raise.' Read more | Reality TV star Nozipho Ntshangase's husband, Zola Ntshangase, has taken a second wife Fans and followers have rallied around him, offering words of encouragement and practical tips on coping with memory loss, with some suggesting he documents daily tasks and thoughts in notebooks or phone apps to help stay organised. I suffer from SERIOUS AMNESIA and I am abit emotional and frustrated at how my memory is deteriorating man.💔 I am scared this will lead to missing life opportunities which will make me very incompetent and I HATE THAT. — K A B I L L I O N (@PrinceKaybee_SA) June 2, 2025
