WEIRD STUFF

Man survives three days trapped in ravine

A 77-year-old man has been hailed a miracle survivor after spending three days trapped at the bottom of a ravine in southern France -- kept alive by little more than the contents of his shopping bag and a few bottles of red wine.

The pensioner, who has not been identified, set off to do his grocery shopping in La Grand-Combe, in the Gard region, and was cycling home to Saint-Julien-des-Points when he missed a bend on the RN106 road. He plunged 40 metres down a steep embankment into the bed of the Gardon River.

His bicycle was left mangled in the fall, and unable to climb out, he spent three freezing nights calling desperately for help whenever he heard passing cars. No one heard him.

Exposed to the cold and damp, he survived by rationing the food and wine from his shopping bag -- the bottles miraculously remaining intact during the fall.

He was finally found on Tuesday afternoon after road workers heard faint cries for help and spotted the wrecked bicycle below. Firefighters from Sdis 34, assisted by a civil security helicopter, airlifted him to Ales Hospital for treatment.

Dr Laurent Savath, chief medical officer of the Herault fire brigade, said: "He's a miracle. In the cold and damp, with almost nothing to eat or drink, he proved remarkably resilient."

Despite falling into the water several times while attempting to climb out, the man escaped with only minor injuries and mild hypothermia. After three days alone in the wilderness, rescuers described his survival as "nothing short of extraordinary".

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'The Holiday' inspires new generation of home swappers

Nearly two decades after The Holiday first hit cinemas, young Brits are bringing the film's festive fantasy to life -- swapping homes in search of new experiences and even romance.

According to home-swapping platform Kindred, there has been a surge in millennials and Gen Zs inspired by the movie's transatlantic exchange between Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) and Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet).

New research found that 44 per cent of millennials and Gen Zs say the film has inspired them to consider a home swap, while 27 per cent of Gen Zs admit they've already tried it. Homes featured in The Holiday topped the list of movie houses Brits most want to stay in -- ahead of Home Alone and The Summer I Turned Pretty.

The trend comes amid a 124 per cent year-on-year increase in UK Kindred members planning December trips, and an 85 per cent surge in those heading to Los Angeles -- mirroring the movie's California-to-Cotswolds trade.

Justine Palefsky, CEO of Kindred, said: "The magic of The Holiday isn't just the escape -- it's the feeling of belonging. When you swap homes, you step into someone else's everyday world. Travel becomes richer, more human -- about discovering new versions of yourself."

More than one in 10 Brits (11 per cent) say they're more open to finding love while on holiday -- rising to 20 per cent among Gen Zs -- proving that the spirit of The Holiday is alive and well.

Hidden heart damage in midlife linked to dementia risk

Middle-age adults with hidden heart damage could be unknowingly increasing their risk of dementia decades later, a major British study has found.

Researchers at University College London (UCL) discovered that people with signs of heart muscle injury in their 40s, 50s, and 60s were 38 per cent more likely to develop dementia later in life.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal and funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), suggests these early warning signs can appear up to 25 years before diagnosis.

Scientists measured levels of troponin, a protein released into the bloodstream when heart muscle is damaged. While high troponin levels are typically used to diagnose heart attacks, even mild elevations in otherwise healthy individuals indicated silent, ongoing heart stress -- and a higher risk of future cognitive decline.

Among nearly 6,000 civil servants tracked for 25 years, those who developed dementia consistently had higher troponin levels long before symptoms began. Brain scans also revealed that participants with the highest levels had smaller hippocampi, the brain's memory centre, 15 years later.

Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the BHF, said: "This study is an important reminder that our heart and brain health are inseparable. Damage in midlife can set the stage for decline decades later."

Lead author Professor Eric Brunner added: "Dementia develops slowly over many years. Controlling midlife risks like high blood pressure could slow or even stop both heart and brain disease."

Experts say the findings underscore the importance of a healthy lifestyle -- through exercise, diet, weight control, and avoiding smoking -- to protect both heart and mind as we age.