A pensioner who got trapped under his own sofa survived for two and a half days by drinking a conveniently-placed bottle of whisky

Whisky: usefull if, say, you're trapped under a sofa for two days

A pensioner who got trapped under his own sofa survived for two and a half days by drinking a conveniently-placed bottle of whisky.

Joe Galliott first became ensnared by his sofa when he tripped over a phone cord during a power cut, sending him tumbling onto the sofa. This made the sofa flip over, landing on top of him and trapping him underneath.

While he was unable to get out from under the furniture, and had no food or water, Galliott was fortunate enough to have knocked a bottle of whisky within reach of his sofa-prison as he fell.

He told The Sun: 'I didn't have the strength to shift anything. I never had anything to drink except from that bottle of whisky, and I sipped on that.'

The 65-year-old was finally rescued from his ordeal when his grandson paid him a visit and called for help. He spent five days in hospital recovering from his sofa hell.

Beware: The daft egg-box warning that contents 'may contain eggs'

In these health-conscious times food companies are increasingly keen to warn consumers if ingredients may cause allergic reactions.

But one firm has gone a step further by advising shoppers that its boxes of eggs contain...egg.

The Happy Egg Company’s six-pack of eggs – which features the company’s name and is decorated with a picture of an egg and a cartoon chicken – contains the message ‘allergy advice: contains egg’ inside the lid of the boxes.

Crazy: Warning inside the egg box lid

Mail on Sunday food expert Tom Parker Bowles said: ‘It does get to the point when warnings go too far. We don’t need to be told a peanut contains nuts or eggs contain egg.

‘Perhaps as a nation we should stop being so overexcited about the bureaucracy of everything.

‘The company probably feel they need to cover their backs to escape the wrath of health-and-safety rules.’

The firm initially claimed that supermarkets’ strict labelling criteria were to blame for the overzealous warning.

A spokesman said: ‘Some retailers insist on this information within their packs as part of a due diligence procedure. Any products deemed as potentially allergenic are included in this. A crazy world, but occasionally we have to do silly things to cover ourselves.’

Later The Happy Egg Company admitted it had chosen to print the advice of its own volition – after the supermarkets involved said they only demand producers comply with the law – adding: ‘We have to state the obvious to cover all eventualities.’

But bizarrely, the company has not printed the warning in its boxes of ten eggs.

When asked why the advice had not been repeated, the spokesman reiterated his initial claim that it was due to the retailers’ requirements.

Happy Egg products, which are free range, are on sale in Asda and Morrisons stores and will be in Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Somerfield from next month.

Regulations issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) watchdog require manufacturers to state on packaging if goods contain allergens.

These consist of 14 substances including eggs, milk, shellfish and nuts, which are recognised as causing allergic reactions.

A spokesperson for the FSA said: ‘Allergen advice has to be stated, but it can be anywhere, including in the ingredients list and in the name of the product.

'As long as the box says “eggs” that is sufficient. Companies just need to use common sense with their labelling.’

Lindsay McManus, from charity Allergy UK, said: ‘It does seem silly but they’re being extra-careful and making absolutely sure they’re covered.’

Earlier this month Cadbury said it was including a warning, in yellow capital letters, stating that its Dairy Milk chocolate bar ‘contains milk’

Be careful around squirrels? Minnesota has it’s share of odd laws

WINONA, Minn. — Minnesota law requires all bathtubs have feet.

It is also illegal to sleep naked, tease a skunk or cross state lines with a duck on your head.
They may sound absurd, but these are actual laws on the books in Minnesota. Well, mostly.

Strange laws like these are widely circulated around the Internet, said Michelle Timmons, state revisor of statutes, and each must be taken with a grain of salt. Especially the duck one.

“We researched and researched on that one,” Timmons said. “That must be an odd interpretation of (a law) on the books.”

Some antiquated laws claimed to have been found by people simply don’t exist, she said. Others are legitimate, including these from the Winona city code:

- Any cottonwood tree which “sheds its seeds profusely” is a public nuisance.

- It is illegal to trap, kill or molest squirrels in any way.

- No one shall allow the mating of cattle or horses within the city except in a properly enclosed building and out of the public view.

Most of the wackier laws aren’t enforced, of course. In fact, Timmons’ office is responsible for eradicating antiquated laws. The revisor’s office has the power to edit some laws out of existence that require minimal revision, but if a law needs to be repealed, it requires legislative approval, Timmons said. Every year a Revisor’s Bill of miscellaneous statute fixes is submitted to legislators in an omnibus bill.

Sometimes legislators try to repeal the laws. In 2003, Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, tried to eliminate a 1913 law requiring canvas manufacturers label the weights of their products, which were used as awnings, wagon covers and tents, according to the Feb. 7, 2003, edition of the House’s “Session Weekly” publication. The law was designed to protect consumers from dishonest salesmen.

“We have tried to find anyone opposed to (repealing) it and couldn’t,” Seifert was quoted as saying in “Session Weekly.” The House of Representatives voted 124-0 to expunge the law 11 days later.

Most antiquated laws had a purpose at one time, Timmons said, but changing societal standards and technology make some laws obsolete.

“Something important in 1858 and very commonplace just seems funny now,” she said.

Two Burglars Dressed As Firefighters Steal TV's

Video Gallery <1> Two Burglars Dressed As Firefighters Steal TV's 2:17

Metro says two men dressed as Clark County firefighters stole two flat-screen TV's from an apartment complex near Flamingo and Cambridge. Now police are asking for the public's help to identify the men.

The fire department says this case causes them serious concern. While two TV's were stolen, the department fears the larger impact could be on the public trust.

The two men were captured by a security camera on January 9, 2009 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The photos show what appear to be two Clark County firefighters inside a hallway as police say they were in the process of stealing two flat-screen TV's.

SLIDESHOW: See Photos of the Suspects

"One suspect stood by the side and was a lookout. The other suspect entered the workout facility and attempted to remove a flat screen TV off the wall. He was unsuccessful. They both left and approximately and hour and half later returned again, this time with a tool which enabled them to remove the TV," said Metro Officer Barbara Morgan.

CCFD Scott Allison says the department fears this incident could cast suspicions on real firefighters who are doing their jobs, "They seemed to know what they were doing. Their mannerisms, the way they moved through this complex and everything, they looked like firefighters. And if I was just Joe Blow citizen, passing them in a hallway, I might not question it either."

Until the men are caught, officials say there's no way to know if the shirts they were wearing were legitimate and, if they were, where they may have come from. But the two men had other markings of real firefighters, right down to the dark pants, boots, and even what appeared to be a two-way radio.

"Everybody is going to be a little upset that there are actually two individuals out there impersonating and trying to put a black eye on our department for doing something illegal," said Allison.

Police say the men were seen leaving the apartment complex in a burgundy or dark red pickup truck. The fire department says all of its vehicles are clearly marked and all of its employees carry identification.

Police are asking that anyone with information on this crime to contact them at 702-828-3287.

150 Hungry Elephants Trample Village - 3 Dead

GAUHATI, India — A herd of nearly 150 hungry elephants rampaged through a village in India's remote northeast, trampling to death a young family as they slept in their hut, a resident and a wildlife official said Saturday.

The Asiatic elephants destroyed four homes in Assam state's Karbi Anglong village Friday night, said resident Rimi Marak.

"The herd was just too large. The villagers could do nothing," Marak said. A farmer, his wife and their 5-year-old daughter died in the incident, he said.

The herd left a nearby forest reserve in search of food nearly two weeks ago, said state forestry officer M.K. Dhar.

Forest guards had tried in vain to drive the elephants back using firecrackers and lighting torches, Dhar told The Associated Press.

The region is home to some 5,000 wild elephants, whose natural habitat has been increasingly diminished by human development. Conservationists say wild elephant attacks have killed more than 700 people in Assam in the past 17 years.

"We take pride at the large elephant population in our region, but the increasing man-elephant conflict following the shrinkage in their habitat due to the growing human population is turning out to be a huge challenge," said Pradyut Bordoloi, a former state forest and environment minister.

GAUHATI, India — A herd of nearly 150 hungry elephants rampaged through a village in India's remote northeast, trampling to death a young family as they slept in their hut, a resident and a wildlife official said Saturday.

The Asiatic elephants destroyed four homes in Assam state's Karbi Anglong village Friday night, said resident Rimi Marak.

"The herd was just too large. The villagers could do nothing," Marak said. A farmer, his wife and their 5-year-old daughter died in the incident, he said.

The herd left a nearby forest reserve in search of food nearly two weeks ago, said state forestry officer M.K. Dhar.

Forest guards had tried in vain to drive the elephants back using firecrackers and lighting torches, Dhar told The Associated Press.

The region is home to some 5,000 wild elephants, whose natural habitat has been increasingly diminished by human development. Conservationists say wild elephant attacks have killed more than 700 people in Assam in the past 17 years.

"We take pride at the large elephant population in our region, but the increasing man-elephant conflict following the shrinkage in their habitat due to the growing human population is turning out to be a huge challenge," said Pradyut Bordoloi, a former state forest and environment minister.

Imagery by the National Remote Sensing Agency shows that nearly 691,880 acres (280,000 hectares) of thick forests in Assam state were illegally cleared for human settlements from 1996 to 2000.

In 2001, villagers in Sonitpur district poisoned to death 19 wild elephants after the hungry animals feasted on standing crops and demolished several homes.

Man stabbed at York Hotel ignores wound to finish his beer

A man who was stabbed at the York Hotel Saturday night opted to return to the bar to finish his beer rather than seek medical attention.

Police responded to 10401 96 St. hotel just after 9 p.m. with reports that a man had been stabbed.

When they arrived, they found the victim at his table drinking beer.

"He's got a minor poke to his chest, but he's not giving us any details," said Staff Sgt. Regan James. "You can imagine the level of his concern was not that high."

No suspects had been located and the victim was uncooperative with police

Woman, 81, killed in street mugging 'ignored by passers-by as she called for help'

An 81-year-old woman, who died after being mugged in the street, was ignored by passers-by as she cried for help.

Police said that Molly Morgan sus­tained head injuries suffered in the attack on her from behind - yet people who could have helped her thought she was drunk.

She was left on the pavement for 10 minutes before eventually being taken to hospital on Thursday evening, but died the following day from her injuries.

A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as head injuries. She also had a broken left arm and mul­tiple fractures to the left side of her face after being dragged to the ground during the attack.

Ignored: Pensioner Molly Morgan died following a street mugging. Many passers-by refused to help her because they thought she had been drinking

Her bag contained just an electrical exten­sion lead and a Primark umbrella.

Today her only daughter Hilary, an artist from Surrey, pleaded for anyone with information about the mugging in Harrow to come forward.

She also released a painting of her mother’s bag, which police are searching for.

She said: 'My mum was so active and full of life. I still can’t believe she has been taken away from me. I am her only daughter and we were close. She encouraged me in my dream of going to art school.

'If this painting helps to catch the person who killed her, it’s the most important painting I’ve ever done.'

Mrs Morgan, who had lived in the area for more than 50 years, was on her way to Kenton Library for a lecture.

Vital clue: A painting of the missing bag belonging to Molly Morgan

The 'active' and 'agile' pensioner had trained as an architect but gave up work to become a full-time mother.

She was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and sat on the London committee of the Worker Education Association, a group that supports adult education.

For more than 40 years she was married to William Morgan, who died in November 1997.

Detective Chief Inspector Jessica Wadsworth - from the Met’s Homi­cide and Serious Crime Command, which is leading the investigation - said some passers-by refused to help Mrs Morgan because they thought she had been drinking.

She said: 'When Mrs Morgan was attacked she fell to the ground, and we believe she was on the pavement for about 10 minutes before anyone came to her aid.

'While at hospital, Mrs Morgan told police that a man walked right past her and didn’t stop, even when she asked for help.

'I need to trace this man, and any other people who saw Mrs Morgan lying on the pavement, since they are vital witnesses and will be able to help me find who killed her.

'It is our belief that this man, and other people in the area who didn’t assist the victim, may tragically not have realised that Mrs Morgan had been attacked and was in consider­able pain.

'We know from some witnesses that they had assumed she was merely a drunk on the street.'

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.