A surprising and unsettling incident occurred when Neville Linton, a 63-year-old man from West Midlands, England, discovered a snake in a bag of broccoli he had purchased from Aldi. This unexpected encounter left him frightened, particularly because he had a fear of snakes.
Linton, who works in industrial cleaning, immediately sought help from his relatives, who assisted in safely removing the snake from his kitchen. He expressed his relief that the snake hadn’t been left loose in the house, as it posed a risk to the vulnerable individuals living with him, including his disabled son and mother-in-law.
After identifying the snake, Linton and his sister, Ann-Marie Tenkanemin, 57, trapped it in a plastic container and returned it to Aldi. Although he received some compensation, Linton believes the situation should warrant more due to the potential risks it posed to his family and the emotional impact it had on him.
Aldi responded by stating that this was an isolated incident and that their supplier has robust processes in place to prevent such issues. They apologized to Mr. Linton for not meeting their usual high standards.
The snake found in the broccoli was identified as a young ladder snake, according to Linton’s son, Donovan, 41. Although they can look intimidating, ladder snakes are not venomous and are commonly found in various European regions. They primarily feed on rodents, birds, spiders, lizards, and insects, making them non-threatening to humans. The snake has been relocated to the Dudley Zoo.
However, herpetologist Dr. Steven J. R. Allain disagreed with the identification, suggesting that the snake was a viperine water snake, which is also non-dangerous to humans. He explained that these snakes do not bite humans as a defense mechanism and are considered non-venomous. He theorized that the snake likely ended up in the broccoli due to agricultural equipment scooping it up while it was moving through a field.
Allain emphasized the need to educate the public about these species to reduce fear and misunderstanding.
Star college gymnast, 21, shot dead in off campus home, 23-year-old boyfriend arrested
Loved ones are completely shattered by the “heartbreaking” death of Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old star gymnast, who was shot to death by a man identified by college friends as her boyfriend.
The national champion was found dead in her off-campus apartment on August 30, and a friend of the couple says he “beats” himself up for not sharing “just one more” moment that maybe “could change” what happened.
Keep reading to learn about Welsh’s tragic death.
On Saturday August 31, Sierra Brooks learned Kara Welsh, her best friend and former teammate, was shot to death the night before.
“I can’t even wrap my head around how someone could do this, let alone to such a beautiful person,” she writes in a tribute to the 21-year-old Welsh, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) student who was majoring in business and economics.
Welsh, a gymnast, also won an individual title on the vault in 2023.
According to a statement, the student, from Plainfield, Illinois, was found dead in an off-campus apartment about 11:54 p.m. on August 30.
She was shot multiple times.
When police arrived, a 23-year-old male who was known to Welsh was also in the home and “it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two.”
‘Heartbreaking’
“Absolutely heartbreaking to receive a phone call like this one. Kara, you deserved the world and more,” shares Brooks, who in her earlier years trained with Welsh at the Aspire Gymnastics Academy. “Wish I could just see you one more time. Wish I could laugh with you just one more time. Wish I could hug you one more time.”
Aspire also shared several photos of the star gymnast along with a touching tribute for the young woman on their Facebook site.
“As Kara grew, so did Aspire. She was a constant in a sport that is filled with ups and downs. She was full of life and full of personality,” the training center writes. “Kara had a way of communicating through facial expressions that was second to none. Aspire lost a piece of its heart today. Kara, we love you.”
Corey King, chancellor at UWW, released a statement on August 31 and calling Welsh “a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team,” he shares that “news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community.”
“I hate that evil touched this sweet girl’s life,” writes a friend on Facebook, who shares the tribute posted by Aspire. Referring to Welsh’s sister Kaeli, the netizen continues, “The Welsh girls showed us how to be gym sisters but so much more. Kara was all heart. The loss is unfathomable.”
‘I beat myself up’
Police have not yet released the name of the suspect as he has not yet been officially charged.
But friends reveal the pair were dating, and the man, identified as Chad Richards, was helping Welsh move into her apartment.
“Sometimes I beat myself up, if I was able to see them that day maybe…just one more joke one more memory we could make…could change…” says Brayten Wilkerson, a friend of both Welsh and the suspect, who was a member of UWW wrestling team. Speaking with ABC affiliate WISN, Wilkerson continues, “Kara was a sweetheart. She was one of the best people you could meet. Her family did a great job raising her – a wonderful woman.”
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