Seven Days

A glance at the week that was

Full of compressed air

A New Zealand truck driver inflated "like a balloon" after being impaled in the thigh by a high-pressure air cylinder. Steven McCormack slipped on his truck's foot plate, breaking a compressed-air hose that powered the vehicle's brakes.

Workmates rushed to the 48-year-old's aid as McCormack was pumped full of the gas, causing enormous swelling. Doctors later said the air had separated fat from muscle in McCormack's body but had not entered his bloodstream or burst his skin, meaning he was lucky to be alive.

We now know

Evangelist Harold Camping has claimed he miscalculated his prediction for Judgment Dayby five months.

Europe's most wanted war-crimes suspect, Serbian Ratko Mladic, has been arrested after years on the run.

Blackpool and Birmingham have joined West Ham in relegationfrom the Premier League.

Terrence Malick's drama The Tree of Lifehas won the Palme d'Orfor best picture at the Cannes film festival.

Numbers

€9,000

The savings that could be made on life insurance by shopping around, according to the National Consumer Agency.

4,402

The number of Irish women who travelled to Britain for abortions last year, according to the UK Department of Health.

11

Ireland's ranking in the annual global peace index, a fall of five places from last year.

€1.73m

The cost to his department of the visits by Queen Elizabeth and US president Barack Obama, according to Minister for Defence Alan Shatter.

50

The percentage by which business-loan applicationsfell last year, according to the Central Statistics Office.

$131,000

The amount that the hat worn by Princess Beatriceat last month's royal wedding fetched on eBay.

Most read this week on irishtimes.com

1Secret Service red-faced as 'the Beast' gets stuck on ramp

2Obama tells Dublin crowd America 'will stand by you'

3Obama's hotel warm-up ensured good reception for cúpla focal

4Obama event planning 'shambolic'

5Quiet dignity of crowds exposes the Irish elite

6Queen's visit beat all expectations, says UK envoy

7'The Beast' is bested by a ramp

8Michelle Obama: the Irish connection

9Irish man (41) dies on Everest

10Iceland ash cloud may hit Ireland