Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Birmingham bhangra star Balwinder Safri made a 'miracle' recovery from coma after 86-days

Birmingham native Safri, 63, was admitted to the hospital on April 20.

Birmingham bhangra star Balwinder Safri made a 'miracle' recovery from coma after 86-days

BRITISH INDIAN bhangra artist Balwinder Safri has been discharged from the hospital after being in a coma for 86 days following heart surgery, according to reports.

His wife Nikki Davitt called the recovery 'a miracle' as Safri's family had been told to prepare for the worst. "He is incredible - I always knew he was strong," she said. "I will never ever forget hearing Safri say 'yes I can hear you' - I was overcome with emotion."


Birmingham native Safri, 63, was admitted to the hospital on April 20. After two days he underwent a planned triple bypass but suffered complications and was taken back to the theatre for further surgery.

The singer remained in a coma as scans revealed signs of damage to his brain.

When he left the hospital, the singer was treated to a special music and dhol drum serenade by a friend and fellow The Safri Boyz member, Bhupinder Kullar - better known as Tubsy.

Safri had a stroke in 2000 and doctors said he would struggle to walk normally, but he had made a full recovery later.

"There were so many times when we thought 'this is it'. I remember a call from critical care one night and they asked me to come to the hospital as soon as I could as they didn't think Safri was going to make it through the night, but he always pulled through," his wife was quoted as saying by the BBC.

The Punjab-born artist has been part of the UK bhangra scene since 1980, forming the Safri Boyz Band in 1990.

According to reports, Safri will now continue his recovery journey at a specialist rehabilitation centre, which will help with his mobility and his speech and language.

More For You

Southport stabbings: Terrorism watchdog rejects definition change

FILE PHOTO: Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle in Southport, England (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Southport stabbings: Terrorism watchdog rejects definition change

TERRORISM watchdog has rejected calls to redefine terrorism following last summer's tragic Southport murders, while recommending a new offence to tackle those intent on mass killings without clear ideological motives.

Jonathan Hall KC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, published his highly anticipated report on Thursday (13), concluding that the existing definition of terrorism should remain unchanged despite growing concerns about violent attackers with unclear motives.

Keep ReadingShow less
Commonwealth wreath-laying ceremony held in London

A military piper, choir, and the Sikh soldiers of the British Army took part in the ceremony.

Commonwealth wreath-laying ceremony held in London

A WREATH-LAYING ceremony was held at the Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London on 10 March to honour Commonwealth servicemen and women who fought in the First and Second World Wars.

Lord Boateng, chairman of the Memorial Gates Council, led the event, highlighting the importance of remembering those who served.

Keep ReadingShow less
Student visas

The ongoing negotiations focus specifically on business mobility, addressing only the relevant business visas

iStock

Student visas excluded from UK-India FTA talks, says government

THE government last week clarified that only temporary business mobility visas are part of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

Other types of visas, such as student visas, will not be included in the trade deal, it was revealed during a debate in the House of Lords.

Keep ReadingShow less
India Detains Crypto Administrator Wanted by US for Laundering

Aleksej Besciokov, was charged with money laundering and accused of violating sanctions and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, according to the US Justice Department. (Photo: US Secret Service)

India arrests crypto administrator wanted by US for money laundering

INDIAN authorities have arrested a cryptocurrency exchange administrator at the request of the United States on charges of money laundering conspiracy and sanctions violations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Wednesday.

The arrest follows a joint operation by the United States, Germany, and Finland, which dismantled the online infrastructure of Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer said that the change would free up funds for doctors, nurses, and frontline services while reducing red tape to accelerate improvements in the health system. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer scraps NHS England, brings health service under ministerial control

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has abolished NHS England, bringing the health service under direct ministerial control.

The decision reverses a key reform introduced by former health secretary Andrew Lansley during the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, The Guardian reported.

Keep ReadingShow less