News

Mother warns parents about dangers of new school craze

Published

9 years ago

January 10, 2017

Tom Sinclair

Severe burn: The result of the ‘challenge’

A MOTHER is warning parents about a new school craze, which has left her son with a serious injury, after she fears it will spread around Wales.

The ‘salt and ice challenge’ is where students dare each other to combine salt and ice on their skin, which causes a chemical reaction.

The Swansea mother said that the challenge has left her son with severe burns, to the point where medical staff were debating whether it warranted a skin graft. Ultimately it was decided not to be necessary as the boy had maintained full motor skills in the hand.

According to the mother, the reaction is very similar to frost bite, with the temperature falling far below that of ice rapidly.

It was such a deep burn that the nerve endings had been burnt and there was no feeling on the burn itself – just the skin surrounding the area.

She hopes that by spreading the word of this ‘challenge’ other parents will be able to warn their children about the dangers before anyone else is seriously injured.

Crime

Drink-driver narrowly avoided collision in town centre

Published

3 minutes ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Motorist almost three times over legal limit

A DRINK-driver narrowly avoided crashing into another vehicle while almost three times over the legal alcohol limit, a court has heard.

Nathan Lloyd, 33, was seen driving a Nissan X-Trail in Haverfordwest in the early hours of December 20 without headlights.

Police followed the vehicle, which narrowly missed a car and struck a kerb before being stopped.

Lloyd, of Adams Drive, Narberth, recorded a breath reading of 97 micrograms of alcohol, nearly three times the legal limit.

He was disqualified from driving for two years and given a 12-month community order requiring 80 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days. He was ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Drug-driving linked to paddleboard tragedy anniversary

Published

4 minutes ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Court hears woman turned to cocaine to cope

A WOMAN struggling with the anniversary of the Haverfordwest paddleboard tragedy turned to cocaine to cope, a court heard.

Vicki McKinwen, 53, was stopped by police while driving a Volvo V70 in Milford Haven and later found to have 363 micrograms of benzoylecgonine in her system, well above the legal limit.

Her solicitor Jess Hill said McKinwen had been directly affected by the tragedy and her mental health deteriorates around the anniversary.

“She now understands the consequences and never wants to use drugs again,” she added.

McKinwen, of The Square, Hubberston Road, Milford Haven, was banned from driving for 12 months. She was fined £138 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £55 surcharge.