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.
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 .
VENTURING into the ocean with self-made spears and nets, the fishermen of Zanzibar put their lives on the line when they catch food for their families .
Meet the real life anime girl who looks like a living cartoon character despite never going under the knife .
A woman who was cyberstalked before being shot and paralysed by her ex-husband is campaigning to raise awareness for stalking victims .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
INTIMATELY showcasing personal artefacts from a family's life, this abandoned bungalow has been left to rot for almost a decade .
A support worker was stunned to discover she was eight months pregnant after she was rushed to hospital with 'stomach cramps' .
Beautiful turquoise waves rise and fall in a series of stunning images taken along the coastline of south-eastern Australia .
These adorable pictures show the moment two cuddly red panda cubs take their first look at the outside world and are weighed for the very first time .
WEARING tiny Christmas accessories, these adorable babies get into the spirit of the season .
A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy .
An adorable red squirrel says goodbye to the summer as he shelters from the rain underneath a small blue umbrella .