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.
CAUSING a splash, this determined kingfisher goes hunting for dinner .
FLAUNTING its new accessory, a fashionable green dumpy tree frog poses for the camera while wearing a SNAIL as a hat .
THIS ONE of a kind experience brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'a coffee to go' .
SQUABBLING over the last piece of grain, these hungry squirrels are determined to stock up on as much food as possible .
HUNDREDS of hot air balloons decorate the sky above Turkey as the rising sun illuminates the spectacular scenery below .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .
WELCOME to the drawing room that is home to the £100K world’s greatest collection of Margaret Thatcher autographed objects .
BURSTING colours of reds, pinks and purples give the illusion of a collection of stunning flowers .
An Italian photographer travelled to the highlands of New Guinea where he met an Indonesian tribe untouched by the modern world .
TUGGING at his exhausted mum's ears, a beautiful baby orangutan refuses to settle for a nap as he begins a game of peek-a-boo .
WELCOME to the 125 decibel boombox bus that could damage your hearing if you party too close to its giant speakers .