An American man who suffered horrific third-degree burns to 70 percent of his body in a childhood accident has faced his fears by becoming a firefighter. Terry McCarty was just six years old when he was engulfed with flames after his brothers filled a bowl with kerosene, which was set alight and accidentally knocked on to him. After the accident, the 29-year-old from Hawthorne, Nevada, endured 58 operations as well as cruel taunts from bullies who called him Freddy Krueger, because of the scars on his face, body and arms. But Terry was determined to overcome the harrowing experience and bravely became a firefighter to face the fears that crippled his confidence for years.
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
HOTSPOT MEDIA - FUNKY BUMP: FROM MIRROR bellies to rainbow bumps these pregnancy casts of stone and bronze could be the funkiest way to preserve your bump for posterity .
A cheeky gorilla sticks her tongue out and plays up for the camera at Bronx Zoo .
Gigantic 100ft waves create the perfect playground for dare-devil surfers from across the world .
HOPPING onto the scales, these adorable baby Humboldt penguins are ready for their first weigh-in .
IN a galaxy far, far away, this collection of stunning interstellar formations will leave you STARSTRUCK .
CAUSING a splash, this determined kingfisher goes hunting for dinner .
A Romanian photographer has captured the unique patterns of hundreds of human eyes in a series of striking macro shots .
A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
These are the men with one of the most unpleasant jobs in the world .
From giant mountains to vast deserts, an American photographer spent a year capturing the diverse and beautiful landscape of the United States .