AN Irish woman has become the first adult in the world to receive a revolutionary REMOTE CONTROLLED 'ROBO SPINE', which uses magnets to combat the effects of scoliosis. Deirdre McDonnell, 34, from Drogheda, County Louth, can now stand tall for the first time after undergoing the pioneering MAGEC rod operation. The operation, also known as the magnetic expansion control system, involves the insertion of a magnetic rod that is screwed onto the spine and controlled externally in order to correct the curvature caused by scoliosis. Up until now, the £15K procedure has only been performed on children, as it was thought only to be effective for early onset scoliosis - typically diagnosed before the age of ten.
This cheeky macaque gets up close and personal as he examines the dental hygiene of his fellow primate .
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .
A project to create an underwater tribute to the stone Moai statues of Easter Island ended in disaster when 15 replica structures were destroyed after toppling from a boat and into the sea .
Exploding out of the water, a great white shark performs a backflip during a hunt for seals .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
Southern England, the south-west and west Wales have been warned to expect more wild weather, with heavy rain and high tides possibly leading to coastal flooding and travel disruption over the weekend .
A dog was SOW close to death after she dangerously swallowed a two-inch NEEDLE-Cute Shih Tzu Daisy could have pierced her intestines after eating the long needle and thread after finding it on the carpet .
Sitting all alone on drift ice in the Arctic Ocean, this lonely little fella looks lost .
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and for this greedy camel he can't get enough of his morning feed, as he gate crashes his owner's mealtime .
WITH HIS PAW covering his mouth, this cheeky cub looks amused by something .
A Canadian couple celebrated their engagement by recreating iconic moments from the film The Notebook .
