30/05/2014 Spotlight

than 40,000 have made the journey so far this year.

Six months off work recoverhng from her life changing injuries after

Now a woman from Cornwall c`lls for a change in the law.

Good evening and welcome to Spotlight.

Emma Smith spent several months in hospital after life saving

surgery and is only now well enough to talk about her ordeal.

She wants farmers to stop pttting aggressive animals

in fields with public footpaths after her traumatic experience.

I looked up and start what on earth is going on? It was kneeling beside

me and I realised with horror that it will was going to roll on top of

me. That is what happened. H lost me. That is what happened. H lost

consciousness at that point. The Devon County Show ground to

a halt early. We'll look

at the price now being paid. You can split the skin. You need

stitches. My mother is worried about stitches. My mother is worrhed about

that with my beauty job. She stitches. My mother is worried about

that with my beauty job. Shd is that with my beauty job. Shd is

asking how I can do that if I have black eyes and stitches!

A young woman from Cornwall

who suffered life changing injuries after being

Emma Smith needed surgery and spent three months in hospital

after being trampled on by the cows on a public footpath near her home.

A man was killed by being attacked by cows on a walking holiday also.

A man was killed by being attacked by cows on a walking holidax also.

Emma Smith and her dog were walking near her house. She says thdy are

near her house. She says they are cows with calves so she kept her dog

on a lead. She was walking slowly when one of them charged her. He

charged from behind and I w`s when one of them charged her. He

charged from behind and I was lying charged from behind and I w`s lying

in a heap on the ground, quite in a heap on the ground, quhte

winded. I was aware of a cow to the right of me. I went up in the ear

when he charged again and l`nded right of me. I went up in the ear

when he charged again and landed in when he charged again and l`nded in

the heap again. They were rearing the heap again. They were rdaring

and stamping their hooves on me. I and stamping their hooves on me I

looked up and thought what on earth is going on? It was kneeling beside

me and I realised with horror that it was going to war on top of me.

That is what happened. `` to rule on top of me. I lost consciousness at

that point. But game and managed to drag herself to the side of the

field and made it to a Road, where she was rescued by a neighbour. She

had multiple injuries. Both of her lungs had been punctured, her back

lungs had been punctured, hdr back was broken in three places. She

spent three months in hospital. Emma says the footpath is clearlx signed

says the footpath is clearly signed and is well used by local pdople.

The National Farmers' Union does issue guidance to farmers about

grazing livestock in fields with public footpaths is of the livestock

are likely to become aggressive Emma and her family say they need

more than guidelines, they need rules.

I have lived in the countryside all of my life and it is farmers' land,

they have a right to graze what they want. But if there is a public

footpath across it, they had a duty of care. The recommendations is that

cows and calves are not to graze on a field with the footpath. Farmers

have got to graze their cattle, that is what they do and what fidlds are

is what they do and what fields are for. We welcome walkers and want

them to have a good time and enjoy the countryside but at the same

time, they have to exercise responsibility and farmers have to

exercise a duty of care. Thd owners exercise a duty of care. Thd owners

of the herd of cows involved have declined to be interviewed. Emma is

a midwife and I had just started a new job two days before the attack.

She is still receiving treatment for her injuries and does not know when

she will be able to return to work. It was a day which was meant to be

a highlight of the year, Today the organisers of the Devon

County Show revealed the financial They had no wet weather

insurance and are ?500,000 down. While visitors can recover

the money they spent on tickets, no`one knows whether

the same will be true for traders. John Henderson met one

of them back in the warm and dry. Pig farmer Andrew is one

of many traders who lost out when the Devon County Show was

cancelled for Saturday. It is the date

when traders make their mondy. It is also the biggest day

for organisers. The estimated loss to the group,

as a business, Waterlogged fields meant

parking was a nightmare. One week after organisers wdre

forced... Almost a week

on and people are still vexdd. Here are some of the comments on BBC

Radio Devon's lunchtime phone in. There was no organisation for people

stuck in traffic whatsoever. The word that came to my mind

all the way through was gredd. Because they were trying to maximise

the number of people in the field to get the maximum

amount of money out of them. If they had gone ahead

the previous week, even though the sun was shining, there would

have still been a few probldms. Torrential rain on Wednesdax and

Thursday night was the problem but it has also emerged that thd show

was not insured for wet weather. Considering we have been here

for 25 years and it is the first time we have had to cancel,

the premiums we would have paid over those 25 years would bd well

in excess of our loss this year. Next week,

organisers will be contacting It is not clear what

they will be offered. Some say the key thing is

the show goes on. But we have had 190

in a row that were not. Let's just put it

down to experience and move on. Organisers say that

despite this year's huge loss, A children's charity is reporting

a big increase in the number of referrals to the police and local

authorities of children suffering In the last 12 months the NSPCC

says 625 cases were so serious they This compares with 444 the

previous year in the South West Earlier, I spoke to Sarah Allum

from the NSPCC. Emotional neglect is where

a child is perhaps ignored, not There is little or no communication

between the carer and the child. Emotional abuse is little or no

communication between the carer That they are worthless, unloved and

that nobody cares about them. and that nobody really has any care

for them whatsoever. Why do you think we

have seen this rise? The data we have has not

been fully analysed. What we are clear about is there has

been an increase in calls to help lines in the last year, quite

significantly possibly based on some cases nationally that we

have heard about, have been severely emotionally

abused, leading to their deaths, It might be that the public are

more aware and more able to come forward and talk confidenti`lly

to somebody on a helpline who Can emotional abuse be as b`d

as physical abuse? A child who is severely emotionally

abused in their younger life may not grow up with physical scars

but certainly they may suffer long`term mental health isstes

and potentially also suicide. Are there any particular ardas

of concern in the South West? We have seen a significant increase

in the last year, particularly in Plymouth, where

calls that have had to be referred out to Children's Services or

the police have increased bx 60 . As I said,

it may just be that the public are more prepared to come forward

and we can then refer their concerns But there can be a happy outcome,

can there not? Children's Services,

the National Health Service and voluntary organisations such

as the NSPCC are working to try to help provide treatment and

therapeutic services for these young

people. We need to work together

much more to ensure better outcomes. Over the centuries,

the River Tamar has played an important role in the industrial

development of the South West. Its rare and important marine life

is now protected but scientific findings just

released now point to high levels Our environment correspondent

Adrian Campbell investigates. Was back some sections have to be

dredged to allow big ships to get in and out of the port. Environmental

campaigners say that this could be disturbing settlement and spread

spreading it. The Tamar is designated as one

of the most protected marind But routine sampling from

the surface of the sea bed just published by the Marine Management

Organisation shows in some places high amounts of heavy metals

and other contaminants. well above the action level set

by the at which material must not

be dumped at sea. Mercury was more than twice

the level. Lead was three times as high

and zync was also high. Other contaminants such as `rsenic,

copper Some people may be surprised to hear

that on top of the sea bed, where samples were taken,

there were examples of very high Environmental campaigners say it

is difficult to get reliabld and But they say these figures,

mainly from 2010, support their campaign to stop dredged material

from the dokyard being deposited off south east Cornwall, near to

a marine conservation zone. It is very wrong. It

has come to light that therd are Unfortunately,

they are not going to listen to us. That is why we have, with

the support of the Environmdntal Ore Foundation, we have had to write to

them and say that unless yot listen to us we are going to have to take

it to judicial review. The campaigners say it is ilpossible

to prevent these contaminants from spreading, even if dredging

avoids the most affected areas. It is hard to know

about any long`term health effects from too much exposure to mdrcury

and lead in the food chain. An expert in the study of toxins in

the marine wildlife say thex are seven times what you would expect

around In principle,

taking contaminated sediment and moving it somewhere else does not

really make the problem go `way And so we should avoid, for example,

disposing of contaminated sediment The MMO insists

the most contaminated areas were Campaigners say silt moves on

every tide and there is no certainty If you've just joined us, wdlcome to

the programme tonight, with All the sport still ahead,

including: Trelawney's army marches

on Twickenham yet again And join the live in Plymouth, where

final preparations are underway ahead of the York race on Sunday.

of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has resigned over the

Rik Evans is angry that so`called hotel services `

which include cleaning, catering and housekeeping ` will be

In recent weeks, staff and the unions from hospitals

run by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has been expressing

their anger at the nonclinical services being privatised.

Staff are worried about their future terms and conditions.

I signed up with the NHS and I want to retire with the NHS.

If it was not for the cleandrs, there would be no hospital.

This man has been on the trust board for six years

and has served on Cornish hdalth boards for more than 25 years.

But after yesterday's meeting, he resigned in protest.

Money that we pay for running the NHS, as taxpayers,

should not be being used to pay huge, inflated salaries of senior

I have seen a figure of ?1.5 million of a senior director

of a company, which outsources its services for NHS use.

It should be being used for nurses, doctors, to pay them and get more

in our hospitals, cleaners `nd of other things we need.

In statement, the chairman thanked him for his service and said they

They are currently in a procurement process

so any announcement about a final announcement would be premature.

They recognise that not everyone agrees with their position but

believe that the decisions they are taking are the right ones for the

patients and families that they serve.

A decision over who will run these services is expected

The contract will start in the autumn.

A chief executive at Torbay Hospital who was suspended on full pay

Paula Vasco`Knight was being accused of nepotism

after she recruited her daughter's boyfriend to a job at the hospital.

She was suspended back in Fdbruary after being accused of nepotism. She

after being accused of nepotism She was on the board that recruited

after being accused of nepotism. She was on the board that recruhted her

daughter's boyfriend at the hospital. She was suspended on full

pay. Her salary is ?165,000. At a tribunal earlier this year, she was

criticised for her treatment of two whistle`blowers. Reminders of the

background. The tribunal in January found

Claire Sardari and Penny Gates had been victimised

as a result of whistle`blowing. The South Devon Healthcare NHS

Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, was found to have

dishonestly suppressed a report Its chairman, Peter Hildrew,

resigned immediately Earlier this month it was believed

Dr Vasco`Knight was challenging It says no payments have bedn made

to her, other than what she's entitled to

under her contract of emploxment. The hospital says it is unfortunate

that her achievements have been overshadowed by

the employment tribunal judgment but it wishes to place on record that

considerable success was achieved Dr Vasco`Knight has moved to

the north`west of England The tribunal will now hold a remedy

hearing at the end of August to determine what compensation the two

whistle blowers should be awarded. Incidentally both have

since left the NHS. Cornwall dominates today's sport,

with the Duchy's rugby team Dave's been to the west

of the county to reflect th`t and to meet a world class kick boxer

from Penzance. Here we will be meeting a

22`year`old kick boxer, who is on the way to becoming world number

one. She is a beautician from Penzance. That is coming up. First,

thousands of rugby supporters are heading to Twickenham for the second

year running. This Sunday, it will year running. This Sunday, ht will

be against the same opposition had be against the same opposithon had

they lost to last year, Lancashire. They will be led by the forler

They will be led by the former Plymouth Albion court. He h`s

They will be led by the forler Plymouth Albion court. He has been

Plymouth Albion court. He h`s been telling me how special this occasion

will be for him. `` coach. Slightly apprehensive taking this appointment

at the beginning of the season. But I have got to say that the Cornwall

guys have really embraced what I have got to say. They seem to anyway

and seem to listen. They seem have got to say. They seem to anyway

and seem to listen. They sedm to and seem to listen. They sedm to

want to play for the shirt so I am really looking forward to it. You

played for Cornwall at Twickenham, what was the most memorable occasion

for you? We lost the final hn 1 89 for you? We lost the final hn 1 89

against Durham. We should not have but we did. Then we got back in

1991, played Yorkshire, a vdry but we did. Then we got back in

1991, played Yorkshire, a very good side, and we missed a conversion at

the end of normal time. It went into extra time and then we went on to

win the game. That was a fabulous moment. I just wanted to do well ``

want them to do well, do themselves want them to do well, do themselves

justice. I think it is a good team for this level and I think they are

good enough to win it. It is relief for the supporters. Not just the

supporters but the people of Cornwall. It is a beautiful place

and it is the identity, really, and Cornwall is a special place. BBC

radio Cornwall will be therd on radio Cornwall will be therd on

Sunday. Staying in Cornwall, Lucy is ranked in the top three kick boxer

is in the world in her discipline. She already holds three different

titles but has two different sides to her persona. In normal working

day for Lucy, 22. She works as a beautician giving my servicds

day for Lucy, 22. She works as a beautician giving my services and

manicures to clients. The mood has a effect. This is the current side of

Lucy. She is a professional kick boxer. She is ranked number three in

the world but world champion in the different versions of the sport. She

different versions of the sport She has just returned from Connecticut

has just returned from Conndcticut in America, where she lost on a

split decision in a nontitld in America, where she lost on a

split decision in a nontitle fight against a rival, Tiffany. Ltcy is

against a rival, Tiffany. Lucy is the top British kick boxer by far

but is fully aware of how dangerous but is fully aware of how dangerous

this board can be. Obviously when you are fighting in the top class,

you are throwing elbows and knees to the head, so that will hurt. If you

take an elbow, you can split the skin and needs stitches. My mother

is worried about that with my beauty job. How can I be a beauty therapist

with black eyes and stitches? ! It is all part of the sport. If you

train hard and hopefully we'll be all right. Her coach is the husband

of a former world champion, also from Penzance. She is now retired

from Penzance. She is now rdtired but Lucy shows all of the attributes

to be just as good. When you to be just as good. When you

consider that the original best in the world female at 23 and Lucy is

22 at the moment and already number 22 at the moment and alreadx number

three, it just shows the potential. As she develops as the women and

kids stronger, she will be amazing. That is that from me. Have ` great

That is that from me. Have a great weekend.

Thank you very much. Amazing young woman!

And so brilliant to see those rugby pictures from 1991. Come on,

Cornwall. Now, a lot of people

like to race coast to coast but we are the British Isles, so we

have a coast you can race around. And yachts have been gathering

in Plymouth ready to do just that. And if you thought it was gdntle

being close to home, try the seas Anyway, how else would you want to

spend the first two weeks of June? Scott Bingham is near the start and

the finish line, for us tonight. I am here in Plymouth and bdhind me

are just some of the vessels that will be taking part in the 2014

round Britain and Ireland race. round Britain and Ireland race.

There is a real European fl`vour round Britain and Ireland r`ce.

There is a real European flavour to There is a real European fl`vour to

the line`up this year. Todax, I have been meeting some of the crews as

they make final preparations ahead of the start of the race on Sunday.

The race, as the name suggests, is a 2000 mile test of endurance and

seamanship. It goes around the whole of Great Britain and Ireland and is

held every four years, starting and finishing in Plymouth. It is open to

both between 30 feet and 50 feet with a crew of two. Neal, from

Exmouth, and his co`skipper are taking part for the first thme.

Exmouth, and his co`skipper are taking part for the first time. We

have a philosophy with the board. We look after it and it looks `fter us.

look after it and it looks after us. We look after each other and feel

the board will. If that gets us a good result then that is good. The

race is run under a handicapping system so everybody is in whth a

system so everybody is in with a chance of winning. Richard was

pleased with his performance chance of winning. Richard was

pleased with his performancd in chance of winning. Richard was

pleased with his performance in the pleased with his performance in the

last race in 2010. He is quhetly last race in 2010. He is quietly

confident this year. We havd last race in 2010. He is quhetly

confident this year. We have got last race in 2010. He is quietly

confident this year. We havd got a good chance of getting good results.

We did well in another race last year. But there is a good fleet.

Some boards have come from Durope. year. But there is a good fleet

Some boards have come from Durope. A good, international fleet. Quietly

confident but it will not bd easy. confident but it will not be easy.

The record is 15 days and sdven The record is 15 days and seven

hours. Most competitors in this year both Maxfield are expected to finish

in around three weeks. `` this year's field. The race has been

organised since 1966 by the header Royal yacht club. Just how tough he

race is this in terms of endurance? This is a 2000 mile race. They set

off from here, go around Ireland, off from here, go around Ireland,

around the Hebrides, up over the top of Scotland. It is pretty tough. Not

of Scotland. It is pretty tough Not for the faint`hearted? Definitely

not. It looks like a smaller field and a fuel is experienced sailors.

and a fuel is experienced s`ilors. Not as many big names as 2010. Any

Not as many big names as 2000. Any reason? There is a general falling

away in some of these races. What we have got is a very experienced

field. We have got people coming back for the third or fourth time.

They are obviously keen on this race. There is a general decline in

some racing. People are still prepared to come from all over

Europe? We have got people from Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium,

Holland, Germany and a good sprinkling of British people also!

Holland, Germany and a good sprinkling of British peopld also! A

sprinkling of British people also! A good mixture of boats and ability.

There is a handicap system operating? Anyone could win. Some

obviously taken more seriously as a race than others but yes, there is a

handicap system and everybody is in with a chance. Thank you for joining

us. There is a chosen charity for this event. This year, the RNLI. You

this event. This year, the RNLI You may just have noticed the plan is

all`weather lifeboat behind me. On board, with

all`weather lifeboat behind me. On board, with a full forecast, is

Daniel. As I say, this is and all`weather

lifeboat. Not expecting any extremes there is weekend. So this board

should not be going anywherd while there is weekend. So this board

should not be going anywhere while I should not be going anywhere while I

am honoured! The race set s`il should not be going anywherd while I

am honoured! The race set sail on am honoured! The race set s`il on

Sunday at 12pm. The race should be fair, maybe a bit cloudy. The lack

of wind could be the only problem. We are not expecting too much to

give those yachts the things they need to set. Let's look at the

weather for the rest of us. `` the wind they need to set. Do not expect

wall`to`wall sunshine. Therd is wind they need to set. Do not expect

wall`to`wall sunshine. Therd is a lot of cloud trapped under that

cloud. We should see some breaks with some sunshine but therd

cloud. We should see some breaks with some sunshine but there is

with some sunshine but therd is still the risk of one or two showers

cropping up in places. Lookhng at cropping up in places. Looking at

the big satellite picture, ` cropping up in places. Lookhng at

the big satellite picture, a fairly the big satellite picture, a fairly

settled picture over the UK at the moment. Notice the cloud out to the

west as some low pressure approaches, Britney has closed and

rain. There is the high pressure, the front we have seen living to the

south. Into Sunday, the next front will age its way in, bringing us

more cloud and eventually some showers and sun rain. Let's zoom in

on the satellite. You can see the on the satellite. You can sde the

amount of cloud we have had it today. There has also been `

amount of cloud we have had it today. There has also been a few

showers around. We have seen a few showers but also some breaks in the

cloud. Here in Plymouth, in the last few hours, we have seen the sun

trying to be done at break its few hours, we have seen the sun

trying to be done at break its way through. Into the night, sthll

trying to be done at break hts way through. Into the night, still a

fair amount of clouds but the winds are quite late so there could be

some mist and coastal fog forming in places. Temperatures holding up for

most buyers. Tomorrow, little change. Still a fair amount of cloud

and we should see any mist turning away fairly quickly. Some breaks in

that crowd in some favouritd places. that crowd in some favourite places.

Where we see sunshine, tempdratures Where we see sunshine, tempdratures

will respond accordingly. Feeling will respond accordingly. Fdeling

warm in the light winds. If you hop across to the Isles of Scilly, the

chance of a fair amount of cloud for the day but we sued the some breaks

and sunshine at times. It is predominantly dry with light winds.

Tide times... For this service, it is clean but

swells only about one or two feet. For our coastal waters...

I will leave you with the outlook for the remainder of the wedkend.

for the remainder of the weekend. For Saturday and Sunday, it is

generally calm with light winds. We generally calm with light whnds We

will see a bit of brightness and sunshine here and there but start to

change on funding night. The next change on funding night. Thd next

weather front approaches, thickening up the cloud and bringing a few

showers. They will be with ts on showers. They will be with us on

Monday and it is rather unsdttled as Monday and it is rather unsdttled as

we go into next week, into Tuesday. Feeling a bit cooler also. That is

it from ours. Back to you in the studio.

Thank you. Thank you very much indeed. Good

luck to everyone on Sunday and luck to everyone on Sunday and

Cornwall for the rugby. We will see you next week. Have a good weekend.

CAR HORN BLARES Whoa!

HE GASPS Driving parents crazy.

You have to tell the police whatever it is that you know.