Laura Nuttall, a brain cancer campaigner, has tragically died at the age of 23 after a long battle with the disease.
The inspirational young woman, who has been raising awareness for glioblastoma multiforme ever since she was diagnosed in 2018.
Her health has been failing in recent weeks and this morning, her mother Nicola shared the sad news that Laura has passed away.
She wrote that her daughter died in the early hours of this morning, and said that it was ‘the honour of my life to be her mum’.
Nicola, who tweets as @shitscaredmum, wrote: “I’m heartbroken to share the news that we lost our beautiful Laura in the early hours of this morning.
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“She was fierce & tenacious to the end & it was truly the honour of my life to be her mum.
“We are devastated at the thought of life without our girl, she was a force of nature.”
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I'm heartbroken to share the news that we lost our beautiful Laura in the early hours of this morning. She was fierce & tenacious to the end & it was truly the honour of my life to be her mum. We are devastated at the thought of life without our girl, she was a force of nature💔 pic.twitter.com/8nQvIZZ4zh
Laura has been working as an ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity and last summer also graduated from The University of Manchester.
She has faced all of her treatment and illness with bravery and courage, and fought to tick off bucket list dreams like presenting the weather on the BBC.
Laura’s journey has even drawn support from Peter Kay who hosted two special Q&A concerts and a dance event in aid of her battle.
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Her course of treatment for the aggressive brain cancer included multiple brain surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy in Germany, paid for by kind donations from the public.
Tributes are already pouring in for the brave and inspirational campaigner.
Laura Nuttall. Credit: The University of Manchester
Actress Diane Morgan, of whom Laura was a huge fan, wrote: “I’m so sorry. I feel like I got to know her a little bit through your posts.
“She was an amazing person. I could see that. And she couldn’t have had more loving parents. Sending you tonnes of love and support xxx”
Another person wrote: “I am so so sorry for your loss. Laura was incredible and it has been an honour to see her grow up into such an amazingly strong and beautiful woman.
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“No words will come close to describing how strong she was. Sending my love and hugs to all of you.”
Featured image: Twitter, @shitscaredmum
News
Man named and charged with ‘brutal’ murder at Peak District stone circle on summer solstice
Emily Sergeant
A man has been formally named as he’s charged with murder after a man’s life was taken in ‘the most brutal way’ following a summer solstice event.
He has been named as Szymon Babynko – a 23-year-old Polish national who now lives in London.
Babynko was named as part of an ongoing investigation, which was launched after Derbyshire Police were called to reports of a man’s body being found at Nine Ladies Stone Circle in the Peak District at 1:38pm on Monday 22 June, and when emergency services attended the scene, a 26-year-old man was found and pronounced dead.
The man was identified as Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, with police assuring his family are being supported by specialist officers.
Babynko was arrested on Thursday 25 June in connection with the incident, before being charged with murder today (29 June).
He has also been charged with attempted murder in relation to another incident on Hady Lane in Chesterfield on Thursday 25 June, the same day he was arrested.
Investigators say they still remain ‘keen’ to hear from anyone who was at the stone circle site over the weekend – which was notably the weekend of the summer solstice – as well as anyone with video footage from the event, and dashcam footage of vehicles arriving and leaving over the weekend.
A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up where members of the public can send information to police directly.
Babynko has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Derby Magistrates Court this week, with more updates on the case to follow.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Man jailed after violently assaulting two female police officers at Manchester Airport
Emily Sergeant
A man who assaulted two female police officers at Manchester Airport in a high-profile case back in 2024 has now been jailed.
PCs Lydia Ward and Ellie Cook – who each have eight years of experience and service at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) – were part of a team of officers based at Manchester Airport who responded to a report of a headbutt in Terminal 2 on the evening of 23 July 2024.
When officers went to arrest the man, named as 21-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz from Rochdale, he initially resisted before turning and attacking police.
During the shocking incident, PC Ward – an unarmed officer – suffered a broken nose after being subjected to actual bodily harm by Amaaz, while PC Cook, who was armed, suffered an injured jaw after being assaulted.
Many may remember that a short clip of the incident – which was recorded by a bystander – went viral after it was uploaded to social media without any wider context, leading to the officers involved becoming subjected to online abuse and condemnation.
A CCTV image of the brawl in action / Credit: CPS
PC Ward described the whole situation as ‘so confusing’.
“I have never seen anyone so violent,” she added in a victim impact statement. “I have never been so scared. It was utterly terrifying.”
PC Cook explained that she was left ‘traumatised by the incident’, adding: “I hate that we were judged by everyone. We were just doing a job – we were trying to protect the public.”
Last week (Friday 26 June), Amaaz appeared at Liverpool Crown Court where he has sentenced to three and a half years in jail for his role in the incident.
Speaking on the sentencing, GMP’s Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson commented: “This incident began after a man was headbutted in a public place in front of his family.
“Our officers were responding quickly to precisely the sort of outrageous criminal behaviour that rightly offends the public. In undertaking their duties, officers were met with resistance and violence, followed by online vilification, condemnation and adverse commentary from those who did not have the full facts.
Read more:
Rochdale man, 20, found guilty of assaulting police officers at Manchester Airport
“It is vital that officers get the respect and support they deserve for routinely putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public.
“Assaults on police officers are sadly all too common – 35 of my officers are assaulted every week across GM – and such incidents can never be justified.”
Daisy Jackson -
22nd May 2023 
