At least 27 people have been killed in a fire that tore through a bar in Bangkok, Thailand’s prime minister has said.
Firefighters were called to the scene just after midnight and discovered patrons fleeing through the flame-enveloped front door of the venue.
Footage posted on X shows flames blasting out of the bar as people run out, some screaming, and some falling over. At least two people appear to be on fire.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told journalists at the scene that 27 bodies have been recovered, and others have been taken to hospital. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, he said.
The prime minister told reporters that he asked a musician, who was performing when the fire started, what happened.
“He said that there was a fire at the cut-out switch, and after that things happened very quickly. There was blasting and everybody tried to flee from the smoke and flames.
“Many of them were not able to make their way out because they went to the back of the building and tried to hide themselves from the smoke and flames in the toilet, and that’s where we found most of the bodies.”
The bar – named locally as Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao – is located in the Chatuchak District of Bangkok. It is a popular restaurant and entertainment venue in the area, Thai outlet the Daily News reported, external.
Firefighters were reportedly able to bring the flames under control in about half an hour.
Pictures from inside the bar afterwards show it completely charred and blackened, with the ceiling peeling off.
The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham prompted condolences from President Donald Trump, world leaders, and a bipartisan list of the influential veteran South Carolina lawmaker’s congressional colleagues.
Graham died from a “brief and sudden illness” on Saturday night at 71 years old, according to a statement released by his office.
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!” Trump said on social media on Sunday morning. “He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!”
Sen. Lindsey Graham stands next to former President Donald Trump, during Donald Trump’s campaign stop to unveil his leadership team, at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, January 28, 2023.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
The flags above the White House, as well as on the White House North Lawn flagpole, were lowered to half-staff in honor of Graham, who was a staunch ally of President Trump. He later announced on his social media platform that he is ordering “all American flags” throughout the country to be lowered to half-staff until Saturday, July 18 at 6 p.m.
“Jill and I are shocked by the sudden passing of Lindsey Graham,” former President Joe Biden said in a statement Sunday.
“Lindsey and I served together in Congress for over a decade, and worked closely on many issues throughout the years. We traveled the world together as members of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. We disagreed often, and sometimes loudly,” Biden wrote. “Lindsey and I did agree on the profound importance of public service. Like me, he loved the Senate as an institution, even with all its flaws and complexities.”
“To his family, his staff, his constituents in South Carolina, and everyone who loved him: Jill and I are keeping you in our prayers,” Biden’s statement concluded.
Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to the press alongside President Donald Trump, surrounded by members of Congress, after Trump signed a funding bill to end a partial government shutdown in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 3, 2026.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Vice President JD Vance, who served in the Senate with Graham from 2023 to 2025, described Graham as a “one-of-a-kind figure in our politics,” while also acknowledging their “disagreements.”
“Lindsey Graham came from humble beginnings and became one of the most powerful lawmakers in the most powerful nation on Earth. His story was a fundamentally American one,” Vance said.
Vance recalled getting into heated disagreements with Graham, but said, “I couldn’t help but like him.”
“He fought like hell for the things he believed in, and he was just as willing to go to bat for you when it counted,” Vance said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters, on the day of classified briefings for the full U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on the situation in Iran, on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 3, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Graham’s death came after he returned home from his 10th visit to Ukraine, where he met on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Graham and a bipartisan group of senators announced on Friday a deal with the White House on a Russian sanctions bill that Graham had long championed.
In a statement on social media Sunday, Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” by the news of Graham’s death and praised the senator as “a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.”
Ukrainian’s President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Sen. Lindsey Graham in Kyiv, July 10, 2026.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via AFP via Getty Images
“He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed,” Zelenskyy said. “We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations. We met twice in just the past week.”
Zelenskyy said Graham had been working on “important initiatives that could help bring peace closer.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham answer media questions near damaged Russian vehicles exhibition in central Kyiv, July 10, 2026.
Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo
“America and the world have lost a determined leader,” Zelenskyy said.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said he and his family were “devastated” by Graham’s passing.
“The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America – and a loyal and steadfast friend. … We shall not see his likes again,” McMaster said in a post on X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Graham a “beloved friend” and said “America has lost a great patriot” with his passing.
Graham was a strong advocate of the Trump administration’s support of Israel during its war against Hamas in Gaza and also supported President Trump on the war in Iran.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott became emotional when reminiscing about Graham on ABC’s “This Week,” telling co-anchor Martha Raddatz, “Lindsey Graham was irreplaceable.”
South Carolina Republican Sens. Tim Scott, left, and Lindsey Graham stand on stage before then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, South Carolina on Feb. 24, 2024.
Andrew Harnik/AP
“I will always remember Lindsey Graham as a guy who was, as soon as I was appointed to the Senate, he embraced my candidacy for re-election. He was there on the campaign trail with me,” said Scott, who served with Graham for 13 years in the Senate. “To my family, he became a friend. He was one of only three or four senators I invited to my wedding because Lindsey Graham had become a part of the family. And it is a rare thing in politics, a rare thing in life, to find people who are actually your friend.”
Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Democratic representative from South Carolina, also expressed condolences to Graham’s family, writing in a social media post that he and Graham “maintained a relationship grounded in mutual respect, even when our political differences were significant.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters as he arrives at the Capitol during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, in Washington, Jan. 27, 2020.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
“His commitment to public service and the people he represented will remain an enduring part of his legacy,” Clyburn said.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., recalled Graham as “a man who loved his work, his country, and his family. “
“Lindsey had a zest for life and the Senate that made you want to get to work on a bill with him or at least debate him. He brought joy to his job,” Klobuchar said.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in a statement that he was just with Graham at last week’s NATO summit in Turkey.
“At a private dinner at the Ambassador’s residence, he was working every senator on a strategy to end the war in Ukraine. Typical Lindsey,” Durbin said. “Lindsey was part of every important policy issue and an indispensable player in every Senate ‘gang.’ He was a fierce Republican partisan one day and a key bipartisan ally the next.”
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a social media statement that he was “heartbroken” to hear of Graham’s death.
“Lindsey and I disagreed on plenty over the years, but I never doubted his love for this country or his commitment to serving it. He was a fierce advocate for the causes he believed in, especially our nation’s security and the men and women of our armed forces,” Warner said in a statement
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement that Graham “believed and advocated tirelessly for American strength and exceptionalism.”
“He served his country throughout his life – from the U.S. Air Force, to the S.C. House, to the U.S. House, to the U.S. Senate,” Johnson said.
St Helens slipped out of the Super League top six with a stunning home defeat by buoyant Toulouse.
Paul Rowley’s side paid a heavy price for last week’s bruising loss against rivals Wigan Warriors, with five of their six starting forwards from that game missing because of injury. Academy products Matty Evans and Chris Matagi were handed senior debuts.
Toulouse went into the game after putting 60 points past Catalans Dragons in the French derby. They showed that was no one-off display, producing a scintillating eight-try performance that led to boos from the fans at the BrewDog Stadium at the final hooter.
Mathieu Jussaume led the way with a hat-trick, but it was full-back Olly Ashall-Bott who really caught the eye with a masterclass, creating five tries.
The impressive win against Catalans ended a run of three straight defeats for Toulouse. With two consecutive victories now, they have lifted themselves four places to ninth.
They now look like a formidable outfit, becoming the first team to keep Saints down to nil on their home turf in the Super League era.
Saints were in disarray from the start, their weakened pack struggling to contain the rampant French outfit and the dancing feet and sharp hands of Ashall-Bott, while they added to their troubles with a series of unforced errors.
The first came when they dropped the ball inside their own 20 and Jussaume took advantage to open the scoring, and he then added his second after Ashall-Bott had made a telling break.
Jake Shorrocks converted both and added a penalty, and Saints looked up against it, their frustration showing as Daniel Suluka-Fifita was placed on report for an off-the-ball shoulder barge on Brendan Hands.
Shorrocks took advantage of more indiscipline by kicking another penalty, and when Ashall-Bott’s tricky kick took a nasty bounce past Owen Dagnall, Henry O’Kane made it a 20-point gap at half-time.
Saints tried to respond in the fierce heat, but Toulouse defended superbly and then struck again, Ashall-Bott wriggling through a gap and then sending over Wigan loanee Tiaki Chan for a try that really rubbed salt into Saints’ wounds.
A knee injury to Owen Dagnall piled on the misery for Rowley’s team, and when three Saints defenders watched a Shorrocks high kick bounce, Toulouse pounced again, with Ashall-Bott’s slick pass over the top giving winger Paul Ulberg an easy finish.
The visitors were hungry for more as Saints seemed to give up, with Chan dashing down the blindside to send Romeo Tropis over for another, before more Ashall-Bott magic freed Jussaume for his third, and Benjamin Laguerre added a late eighth try.
The margin of defeat meant Saints dropped below Leigh Leopards into seventh place.
Britain is bracing for another scorching weekend, with the Met Office describing the ongoing conditions as “truly historic”.
This season has already seen temperatures shatter records across the country.
The prolonged heatwave, following a record warm spring for England and Wales, has intensified strain on water supplies, leading to widespread hosepipe bans.
Restrictions came into force on Friday for approximately one million Southern Water customers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Anglian Water’s five million customers in the east of England faced similar restrictions from 1am on Saturday. Cambridge Water announced a temporary hosepipe ban for its 350,000 customers, effective immediately from Thursday, with enforcement beginning next Friday.
This marks the first such restriction for the company in three decades. South East Water was the first to implement a ban on 3 July for parts of Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, and Tunbridge Wells.
How can I get to sleep in hot weather?
Getting to sleep during a heatwave can seem like an impossible task, particularly when you don’t have access to air conditioning – but there are steps you can take to get a good night’s sleep.
Julie Gooderick, an “extreme environments” expert at the University of Brighton, says it is key to set your environment before sleeping.
The ideal room temperature for sleeping is around 18-21C, she says, and to avoid your bedroom becoming too hot she advises using fans, opening windows at night, and keeping curtains closed during the day.
She also advises using a thin sheet instead of your regular duvet, avoiding napping during the day, and cooling your body down as much as possible – this can be done using cooling pads, a cold shower, or even putting your pyjamas in the freezer a few hours before bedtime.
It’s important to get plenty of fluids to avoid heatstroke or heat exhaustion (Getty/iStock)
How can I avoid heatstroke?
Extreme hot weather poses the risk of conditions such as heatstroke and heat exhaustion, which can sometimes be fatal. Each year, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sees excess deaths during periods of extreme hot weather.
Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and try to avoid the sun (and physical exertion outdoors) between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is strongest.
The UKHSA advises people to walk in the shade, apply sunscreen regularly, and wear a wide-brimmed hat in the heat, and to make sure fridges and freezers are working properly.
How can I help someone experiencing heat exhaustion?
Some people are more vulnerable than others in the heat, particularly those who are aged 75 or older, people with serious health conditions, and those who are unable to keep themselves cool.
Ensure you check in on those who live alone, and be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion – these can include dizziness and confusion, a headache and a high temperature.
If you notice someone is experiencing the symptoms of heat exhaustion, they need to be cooled down – make sure they are drinking enough water, lie them down and move them to a cold place if possible.
(AFP/Getty)
How can I keep my baby cool in hot weather?
It is essential to avoid babies becoming dehydrated and overexposed to sunlight – regularly apply sunscreen with a protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, and keep their faces cool with a wide-brimmed sun hat.
Babies less than six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight, the NHS says, and older babies should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible.
Sleep consultant and CEO of Just Chill Mama, Rosey Davidson, advises putting bottles of frozen water in front of a fan to achieve “a mini air con solution” to help babies sleep when it is hot outside.
“You can also hang a wet towel over a chair – pre-freezing this in your freezer helps – the evaporating water cools the air,” she adds. “If it is very hot in your baby’s room they can just sleep in a vest or nappy.”
Save the Children has previously published a list of tips to keep children safe and entertained on hot days:
Staying in the house with the curtains drawn and the fans on is a great way to ward off the heat, but being stuck at home all day could make children become anxious or restless.
Save the Children recommends finding ways to have fun and encourage play indoors, such as dressing up, making dens in the living room or painting and drawing.
Playing in a paddling pool is also a good way to keep children cool in the garden, but the charity suggests ensuring the pool is kept under the shade when the weather is hot.
In order to ward off any stress your child may be feeling from the hot weather, Save the Children also urges parents and caregivers to keep calm and answer kids’ questions openly and honestly.
One way to maintain a sense of order and structure is to stick to regular bath and sleep times for your child.
It is crucial that children are never left alone in a parked car (Getty Images)
Keeping cool on the move
It is paramount that children are never left unsupervised in parked cars.
Even in a less threatening climate, vehicles can rapidly heat up to dangerous temperatures, and leaving your child inside puts them at risk of severe heat-related illness or death, even if the windows are cracked open, the charity warns.
Another vital tip is to ensure you choose your child’s clothing appropriately. Lightweight, light-coloured, and breathable fabrics such as cotton are your best options.
It is also vital to ensure your child is covered top-to-toe in broad-spectrum sunscreen with protection from both UVA and UVB sun rays. This will ensure your child from both the heat and potential sun-related skin damage.
Hats and umbrellas can also be used to limit exposure to harmful rays.
Also make sure to tune in to local news and weather channels for health, safety and weather-related updates, including heat warnings, watches and advisories before setting off.
Drink lots of fluids and get lots of rest
Regardless of your activity level, whether that be a water fight in the garden or a puzzle in the living room, remember to drink plenty of liquids. Fluids should be drunk before, during and after being exposed to extreme heat.
Save the Children also recommends checking your baby’s nappy for concentrated or dark in colour urine, which can indicate dehydration.
Hot meals are also best avoided when the temperatures are especially high.
Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day.
Pay special attention to the needs of babies
Save the Children suggests giving your baby a cool bath before bedtime, keep nightwear to a minimum and if your baby kicks and pushes off covers during the night consider putting them in just a nappy with a single well-secured sheet, that will not work loose, cover their face or get entangled during the night.
Your baby will sleep most comfortably at room temperature between 16C and 20C, a nursery thermometer will help you monitor the temperature of the baby’s room.
Pets are also at risk when the mercury soars (Getty/iStock)
How can I keep my pets safe in the heat?
Not just babies struggle with the heat – pets are also at risk in extreme temperatures.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) advises dog owners to walk their pets in the morning or evening when it is cooler, and to ensure they have enough shade and water.
You can also keep them cool with pet-friendly frozen treats, and pet-safe sun cream is also available.
Never leave pets alone in parked cars, and make sure you are aware of the key signs of heatstroke – symptoms in dogs and cats can include panting, diarrhoea and restlessness.
Should I exercise in a heatwave?
Avoid extreme physical activity during the hottest parts of the day, but there are ways to exercise safely during the heatwave.
Try to do so during the cooler hours – in the early morning or evening – and ensure you take enough water.
Going for a swim can be a good way to cool down, but make sure to do so in safe, lifeguarded sites.
“People will want to cool down but don’t dive into open water as it’s colder than it looks,” the London Fire Brigade warns. “There is the risk of cold water shock, which can cause your body to go into shock no matter how fit you are.”
Vintage grocery store ads from the 1960s are giving Americans a nostalgic look at a time when many grocery staples cost just pennies compared with today’s prices.
The decades-old newspaper advertisements offer a glimpse into how Americans once shopped and how much grocery prices and shopping habits have changed over the years.
The advertisements feature prices that seem almost impossible by today’s standards, from steak selling for less than a dollar a pound to five pounds of sugar for just 49 cents, according to food publication Tasting Table.
The decades-old newspaper advertisements show how much grocery prices and shopping habits have changed over the years.(Lambert/Getty Images)
However, after adjusting for inflation, the publication found that some grocery staples cost about the same as they do today, while others remain significantly more expensive.
Still, some foods really were bargains.
Sirloin steak sold for 78 cents per pound in 1966, which works out to about $7.95 in today’s dollars, well below modern prices of roughly $17.99 per pound, Tasting Table reported. Pot roast, lamb and grapefruit also remain significantly more expensive today, even after adjusting for inflation.
While the prices may seem like a steal, a closer look shows that not every grocery essential was actually the bargain it appeared to be.
A dozen medium eggs that cost 55 cents in 1966 would equal about $5.60 today after adjusting for inflation, while shoppers can now find a dozen medium eggs for as little as $1.59, according to the publication. Butter, milk and ice cream were also found to cost less today when inflation is taken into account.
When adjusted for inflation, some grocery staples were found to cost about the same as they do today, while others remain significantly more expensive today.(Camerique/Getty Images)
The vintage ads also offer a snapshot of grocery shopping in another era, when families commonly bought 25-pound bags of potatoes, large canned hams and pound-sized bags of potato chips. Shoppers also stocked up on products such as oleo, a popular butter substitute.
In recent years, vintage grocery advertisements have fueled conversations on social media, with users comparing old supermarket prices to today’s grocery bills.
“My family has a bunch of old newspapers and I found this in one from the 1960s. Look at these prices!” one Reddit user wrote while sharing a vintage grocery ad advertising chuck roast for 45 cents a pound, peaches for 29 cents and three cans of green beans for 29 cents.
In recent years, vintage grocery advertisements have resurfaced on social media, where users have compared decades-old prices with today’s grocery costs.(Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Others reminisced about grocery shopping traditions that have largely disappeared.
“I remember sticking [Green Stamps] into little books and bringing them to the S&H store with my mom to get a toaster,” one commenter wrote, recalling the popular loyalty program that let shoppers redeem stamps for household items.
A cockroach in a tiny scuba suit sounds like something you would run from, not something you would send into a disaster zone. Yet scientists say this strange little setup could one day help rescue teams search places people and larger robots cannot safely reach.
Researchers from NTU Singapore and Waseda University have developed a flexible diving suit for cyborg cockroaches. The suit lets the insects survive and move underwater, as well as through low-oxygen spaces, for up to three hours.
The study was published in Nature Communications. The goal is to expand how cyborg insects could help after floods, earthquakes or other disasters where rubble, drains and tight spaces can block access.
The tiny diving suit delivers oxygen to the cyborg cockroach, helping it move underwater for up to three hours.(NTU Singapore)
Free live CyberGuy class: Sick of Spam? Join us July 22
Join us Wednesday, July 22, at 1 PM ET for a free CyberGuy Live class that will help you cut down on robocalls, spam texts, junk email and other unwanted messages. Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson will walk you step by step through simple ways to filter spam, clean up your inbox and recognize the messages that could put your personal information at risk. No technical experience is needed. You’ll also receive our spam-stopping checklist, and every registrant will get a link to the class recording afterward.
Reserve your free spot today at CyberGuyLive.com.
How the cyborg cockroach diving suit works
A cyborg cockroach is a living insect fitted with tiny electronics that can guide its movement. Unlike a small artificial robot, it uses its own muscles to walk. That means it needs far less battery power than a robot that depends on motors. However, cockroaches still need air. They breathe through small openings called spiracles. Once submerged, they cannot pull oxygen from water.
That is where the cyborg cockroach diving suit comes in. The suit has an oxygen-generation tank, a flexible waterproof shell and four silicone oxygen tubes. Together, those parts keep water out while sending oxygen directly to the cockroach’s breathing openings.
The oxygen tank is 3D-printed from a clear plastic-like resin. Inside, researchers placed a sponge treated with manganese dioxide. They then added a small amount of diluted hydrogen peroxide. That chemical reaction slowly releases oxygen. From there, the oxygen travels through the suit and into tubes attached to the cockroach’s spiracles. In other words, the insect gets its own tiny oxygen system. The researchers compare it to the tank used by human divers.
Why scientists turned a cockroach into a rescue robot
The team tested the suit on the Madagascar hissing cockroach. That species is often used in cyborg insect research because it is large, sturdy and wingless. The suit turns the cyborg insect from a land-based crawler into an amphibious rescue robot that can move across dry and wet terrain.
That could help in places where normal robots struggle. A disaster site may include collapsed concrete, standing water, blocked drains and narrow gaps. A small insect-guided system could move through those spaces while future versions carry sensors or cameras. The idea may make your skin crawl. Still, the engineering is impressive. Researchers are using the cockroach’s natural movement and adding a way for it to keep breathing underwater.
The tiny onboard controller receives computer commands that help guide the cyborg cockroach’s movement during testing.(NTU Singapore)
What happened when cyborg cockroaches went underwater
With the diving suit, the cyborg cockroaches stayed active underwater for up to three hours. Without the suit, a control cockroach suffocated within about two minutes during testing. The researchers also tested the insects in plastic tunnels that simulated tough rescue conditions. One setup included a carbon dioxide-filled section followed by a water-filled section. The cyborg cockroaches wearing the suit made it through.
The team also tested narrow underwater gaps. With implanted electronics instead of a bulky backpack, the cyborg cockroach moved through a 2-centimeter-high crevice. That is the kind of space where many small robots could get stuck.
How cyborg insects could help search and rescue teams
The biggest takeaway is that rescue robots may not always look like machines. In some cases, they may use a living insect’s body and add technology around it. A cyborg cockroach can crawl through debris, squeeze into tight spaces and use very little power. Add underwater movement, and it becomes more useful in flooded disaster zones.
That could help after heavy rain, earthquakes or infrastructure failures. Future versions could inspect flooded pipes, drains, tunnels or damaged buildings. The researchers are still improving the system. They want to test it in more disaster-style environments, make the suit more durable and add sensors and navigation tools for field use.
What this means to you
You probably will not see cyborg cockroaches crawling around your neighborhood anytime soon. This is still research, not a rescue tool ready for everyday emergency crews.
However, it shows where search technology may be heading. Rescue teams need tools that can reach places humans cannot safely enter. If a small living insect can carry electronics, move through rubble and keep going underwater, it could become part of a larger rescue system.
That could eventually mean faster inspections after floods, better access inside damaged buildings and more options when every minute counts.
Kurt’s key takeaways
A cyborg cockroach in a diving suit sounds wild, but the reason behind it is serious. Disaster zones can be full of tight spaces, toxic air and standing water. Those conditions can stop people, drones and many small robots. This research gives scientists a new way to think about rescue technology. Instead of building every part from scratch, they are using the cockroach’s natural movement and adding the missing piece: underwater breathing. To me, the big question is what happens when this kind of technology gets sensors, cameras and better navigation. That could turn a creepy little crawler into a tool that helps save lives.
Would you be comfortable with cyborg insects being used in search-and-rescue missions if they could help find people faster? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed building complex in the aftermath of earthquakes, in La Guaira, Venezuela on Friday.(REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo)
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A 30-year-old man has been asking people he doesn’t know to sit with him in pubs across the country ever since December of last year, as part of what he calls his “Empty Chairs” campaign.
Dean Perryman came up with the idea after his best friend, Rob Clancy, tragically died by suicide at age 29 just a month earlier.
Wanting to make sure nobody else ever felt alone — even perfect strangers — Perryman started heading out to restaurants and pubs wearing a bright orange hoodie to make his presence obvious to anyone choosing to chat with him.
Just a few weeks ago, he held his program’s 1,000th meet-up in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, featuring about 12 attendees — and said he’s proud of how far it has come.
“It has been such an incredible experience. I am loving every second of it still,” the resident of Stratford in East London told news agency SWNS.
Dean Perryman, second from right, has been inviting strangers to sit with him in pubs to help let people know they aren’t alone in life. (Dean Perryman/SWNS)
“When I started, it came from such a place of sadness — and to see how this simple idea has been able to help so many people has been really nice,” he said. “I have been able to meet and connect with so many new people and learn about them. It gives people an opportunity to speak openly if they need it.”
Perryman works for team-building game company Chicken Rush. He used social media, he said, to create interest in the “Empty Chair” idea, he said.
The events started in London and Essex before the founder began recruiting volunteers to host them across the U.K. — and the rest of the world as well.
Events have since been planned in Manchester, Bedford, Cambridge, Skegness, Gloucester, Leeds, York, Wrexham, and more.
It has also branched out to other countries, including Colombia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.
He said lots of people actually return to the events, especially in smaller rural towns, as people create and build friendships that last long afterward.
Perryman, in orange sweatshirt, back row, has been inviting strangers to sit with him in pubs to encourage connection. “There really isn’t a barrier to entry,” he said. “Whoever needs the space is welcome to come.”(Dean Perryman/SWNS)
Perryman, who has attended 61 himself, said his favorite part of the events is seeing men open up about their troubles, as he feels they need a safe space to do so.
“Some people come because they really want someone to listen to what they have to say,” he said. “Others come because they have the capacity to be there for someone else. Everyone shares their own story, but it stays at the table.”
“No matter who you are, there is a place for you.”
He said the groups have “talked about the difficulty of living in a big city and feeling isolated, but nothing is off the table — we’ve spoken about everything and anything. To give people a place that they can go when they need to talk is incredible.”
Perryman said he has about 200 more events already lined up — and said he has no plans to stop scheduling them, SWNS reported.
He said there is no pattern in terms of who shows up. Usually, it’s a diverse group of people.
Perryman, right, has been asking people he doesn’t know to sit with him in pubs as part of his “Empty Chairs” suicide prevention campaign.(Dean Perryman/SWNS)
“Every Empty Chairs event you go to, you are going to meet people of different walks of life,” he said. “It is so powerful to show that, no matter who you are, there is a place for you. We have everyone — men, women, young, old. There really isn’t a barrier to entry for this. Whoever needs the space is welcome to come.”
“He was the kindest, sweetest guy you could ever hope to meet,” said Perryman. “Like a lot of men, he wasn’t the biggest sharer. He was very much the life and soul of anywhere you went, but he wasn’t someone who would be the first to open up about it if he was feeling some type of way.”
“To now be in a position where Empty Chairs looks like it could be a legacy for Rob is amazing,” Perryman added.
Kelly McGreal is a production assistant with the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
Hosted by Tracy Smith. Featured: The only successful coup in U.S. history; Behind the scenes of “The Pitt”; Trump’s monumental reimagining of Washington, D.C.; singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams; “Take Me Home, Country Roads”; and a Tuscany tradition: wine barrel races.
This week, British documentarian Sir David Attenborough, who turned 100 years old in May, broke the record for oldest nominee for a Primetime Emmy Award, earning two nominations this year.
French artist and composer Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s “Clinamen,” at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City, is a mesmerizing installation in which porcelain bowls floating in giant basins of water collide, producing chiming sounds that reverberate in the 55,000-square-foot hall, to foster a state of grace. Tracy Smith reports.
