Dead Pool 29th July 2018

A surprised welcome to this weeks issue. Surprised because nobody had listed the world’s oldest living person, now dead. Never mind, she’d have only scored you 33 points anyway and she only became the oldest person on April, so maybe I’ll forgive you.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Chiyo Miyako, 117, Japanese supercentenarian, world’s oldest living person.  
• Lucy Ferry, 58, British model and socialite, apparent suicide by gunshot.  
• Mary Ellis, 101, British WWII era transport pilot (R.A.F., A.T.A.).  
• Ellie Soutter, 18, British snowboarder (Team GB), suicide.   
• Alastair Yates, 66, British news anchor (BBC News, Sky News, About Anglia).

In Other News

Pop singer Demi Lovato is being treated in a Los Angeles hospital after a suspected drug overdose. The Los Angeles Police Department responded on Tuesday to a medical emergency in the Hollywood Hills, where the Sorry Not Sorry singer lives. The 25-year-old was reportedly found unconscious and treated at the scene with naloxone, an anti-opioid medicine. She is awake and breathing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a family spokesman has said. “Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers and support,” the spokesman told us at Dead Pool Towers. Lovato has struggled with substance abuse for years, and was feared to have relapsed in recent weeks. Her fans say the singer’s battles with bipolar disorder, bulimia and addiction – often documented in her music – have helped them with their own entitled little struggles. It is unclear what drugs Lovato overdosed on. Early reports said it was heroin but this was later contradicted.      

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he would “not be sitting here today” without the “great care” of hospital staff after his surgery for a brain haemorrhage in May. Ferguson, 76, has spoken publicly for the first time since going home from hospital in a video on social media. The Scot also thanked well wishers “for the support you have given me”. “It has made me feel so humble, as have all the messages I have received from all over the world,” he added. Ferguson had emergency surgery on 5th May and was in intensive care for several days at Salford Royal Hospital. If any of you  give a  shit, Ferguson retired as United manager in May 2013 after winning 38 trophies during 26 years in charge. The most successful manager in the history of the British game, his trophy haul at Old Trafford included 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups.    

Lightning strikes have forced Sir Tom Jones to cancel his comeback concert in York. The 78-year-old star had been due to return to performing on Friday, with a show at York Racecourse after a series of cancelled concerts due to illness. York Racecourse apologised and said it took the decision to cancel “given the atrocious weather conditions”. Singer James Arthur also had to cancel his open-air gig in Scarborough on Thursday because of lightning. Perhaps Mother Nature has a good music taste  after all…. Sir Tom pulled out of five shows this month after a bacterial infection, for which he was admitted to hospital. York Racecourse said it “shares the disappointment of the thousands of fans” for the last-minute cancellation and offered a “50% refund”. Fans took to social media to voice their frustrations over the cancellation and “poor” repayment offer. 

On This Day

• 1921 – Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party. We all know that went well…. 
• 1967 – During the fourth day of celebrating its 400th anniversary, the city of Caracas, Venezuela is shaken by an earthquake, leaving approximately 500 dead. 
• 1981 – A worldwide television audience of over 700 million people watch the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. We all know that went well… 

Deaths

• 796 – Offa of Mercia (b. 730) 
• 1890 – Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter and illustrator (b. 1853)  
• 1982 – Harold Sakata, American wrestler and actor (b. 1920)  
• 1983 – David Niven, English military officer and actor (b. 1910)  
• 2007 – Mike Reid, English comedian, actor, and author, Rrrrrriccccckey!!! (b. 1940)    

Last Week’s Birthdays

Daniel Radcliffe (29), Woody Harrelson (57), Charisma Carpenter (48), Ronny Cox (80), Slash (53), Jo Brand (61), Selena Gomez (26), Willem Dafoe (63), Rhys Ifans (51), Terence Stamp (80), Danny Glover (72), Louise Fletcher (84), Kate Beckinsale (45), Jason Statham (51), Sandra Bullock (54), Helen Mirren (73), Kevin Spacey (59), Eve Myles (40), Nana Visitor (61), Mick Jagger (75), Matt LeBlanc (51), Iman (63), Tera Patrick (42), Lynda Carter (67), Jennifer Lopez (49), Anna Paquin (36), Summer Glau (37), Danny Dyer (41), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (48), Taylor Schilling (34) and Donnie Yen (55).