News

Family devastated by tragic fire that claimed life of 5-year-old Alysia

Published

2 months ago

October 18, 2024

A TRAGIC fire that claimed the life of a five-year-old girl, described as the “happiest little girl who was always smiling,” started in her bedroom, an inquest heard today.

Alysia Salisbury, who lived with her mother, two sisters, and her mother’s partner in Pontyglasier, near Crymych, died in the house fire on 28 May last year. Pembrokeshire Coroner Paul Bennett revealed during the inquest that Alysia, who was autistic, had a particular fascination with sensory experiences, including fire.

Her mother, Tara Salisbury, noted that Alysia was often captivated by the shape and movement of flames, particularly during family celebrations. “On her birthday, she would become distracted by the candles on her cake,” Tara explained. As a result, the family took precautions to limit access to potential fire hazards in the home.

Alysia’s older sister kept a lighter securely locked in a click-lock box on top of a tall cupboard in her attic bedroom. The only other lighter was stored outside the house in the family’s catering van.

On the evening of 27 May, Alysia had been enjoying a “sister sleepover” in her sibling’s first-floor bedroom. At around 9:30 pm, her older sister briefly went downstairs to warm a brioche in the oven. At this time, Alysia’s eldest sister was in her attic bedroom, while her mother and her partner were in their room.

Five minutes after the oven was turned on, the property’s smoke alarm sounded. Tara initially assumed it was triggered by the oven, as had happened before, and went downstairs to try to silence it. Her partner and the two sisters also came out of their rooms to investigate. There were no immediate signs of fire, and the door to Alysia’s bedroom remained shut.

However, moments later, smoke began to descend the stairs, and the family realised there was a fire in Alysia’s room. Tara and her partner rushed to open the bedroom door, only to find the nearby wooden desk fully engulfed in flames. The fire rapidly spread across the ceiling and out of the room, reaching the attic stairs.

Despite their efforts to control the fire, they were forced to leave the house as the flames intensified. Seconds later, the windows shattered, and the fire spread further. Firefighters arrived at the scene but were unable to save Alysia, who was found at 1:05 am the next morning.

In a heartfelt statement, Tara described Alysia as “one of a kind” and shared that the family would “miss that little smile every day for the rest of their lives.”

Jason Woodman, a fire investigator with the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, reported that the lighter from Alysia’s sister’s attic bedroom had been used to ignite something on the desk in the first-floor bedroom. Although there were scented candles on the desk, he could not definitively say whether they or another flammable item had started the blaze. The room had what was described as a “heavy fire load,” which caused the fire to spread quickly.

Tara explained that Alysia, despite her young age, was capable of using a lighter. Due to her autism, she had no fear of danger and would likely have been mesmerised by the flames as the fire grew.

A post-mortem conducted by Dr Stephen Leadbeatter at the University Hospital of Wales concluded that Alysia died from exposure to fire and fire effluent. Pembrokeshire Coroner Paul Bennett described the tragedy as unimaginable. “I cannot begin to imagine the horror and sheer sense of helplessness that Tara and Joshua went through,” he said. “To lose a young person is tragic, but to do so in such desperate circumstances cannot be comprehended.”

Mr Bennett recorded a verdict of accidental death and extended his deepest condolences to Alysia’s family. Tara concluded her statement by saying, “We miss her terribly. She was very, very loved and will be very, very missed for a long time.”

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

15 mins ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand. Despite these measures, the terminal remains overwhelmed by the volume of traffic.

From our position at the terminal, we have captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion. The atmosphere is one of both frustration and resilience as passengers await their departures.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

54 mins ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

1 hour ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”