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Experienced kayakers rescued by RNLI near Strumble Head

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RNLI Fishguard Lifeboat’s volunteer crew was paged yesterday at 3:32pm after a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) was activated near Strumble Head. Further information revealed that three PLBs had been triggered, suggesting multiple casualties.

The RNLI St Davids Lifeboat was also launched, alongside teams from HM Coastguard Fishguard, St Davids, Dale, and a rescue helicopter.

Upon arrival, a group of seven experienced sea kayakers was found struggling against worsening conditions as darkness fell. Located beneath cliffs, their attempts to call for help using VHF radios and 999 were unsuccessful, prompting them to activate their PLBs.

The Fishguard volunteer crew worked meticulously to recover the kayakers one at a time. Four kayaks were brought aboard Fishguard Lifeboat, while St Davids Lifeboat retrieved the remaining three.

Casualty assessments identified one kayaker suffering from the cold. Crew trained in casualty care provided assistance during the return journey to Fishguard.

At Lower Town, the two lifeboats collaborated to transfer all equipment to Fishguard Lifeboat before the casualties and their possessions were handed over to HM Coastguard Fishguard.

Preparedness saves lives

The kayakers were praised for their preparedness, having carried the correct equipment and staying together during the ordeal. Their decision to activate multiple PLBs provided a clear indication of the number of casualties and their location, facilitating a swift response.

The RNLI reminds all water users to carry adequate safety equipment, keep means of communication within reach, and consider factors like cliffs that may hinder emergency calls. Proper preparation and planning can make a vital difference in emergencies.

Charity

Christmas jumper fundraiser raises £360 for youth counselling

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A CHRISTMAS Jumper Day fundraiser held by staff at W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd has raised £360 for the Megan’s Starr Foundation, helping fund vital mental health support for young people.

The money, presented to the charity by Carla and Liam, will pay for 10 professional counselling sessions for young people who are struggling and in urgent need of support.

The Megan’s Starr Foundation said the sessions provide a safe space for young people to talk, be listened to, and feel supported at a time when it matters most.

In a statement, the charity thanked the firm and its staff for getting involved, adding that access to timely support can be life changing and can help young people realise they are not alone.

The foundation said it was grateful to everyone at W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd who took part, describing the donation as one that will have a real and lasting impact on local young people and their mental health.

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News

Investigation launched after man found dead near Carmarthen railway line

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POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose body was found in a field close to the railway track near Carmarthen railway station.

Emergency services were called to the area at just after 8:30am on Saturday (Jan 10). Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police attended alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service.

Witnesses reported seeing police and ambulance vehicles outside the station’s main entrance, with officers also in an adjacent field near a railway bridge.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

A police spokesperson said enquiries are ongoing and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

No further details, including the man’s age or identity, have been released.

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Crime

Former Gwent detective would have been sacked after off duty assault conviction

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Ex officer found guilty of gross misconduct following Devon incident and magistrates court conviction

A FORMER Gwent Police detective sergeant has been found guilty of gross misconduct after being convicted of assaulting a man while off duty in Devon.

Joanne Marston resigned from the force shortly before an accelerated misconduct hearing was due to begin at Cwmbran on Monday. The panel went ahead in her absence.

The hearing was told the incident happened in February 2024 while Marston was off duty in Devon. She was later arrested and charged with common assault, and was convicted at Exeter Magistrates’ Court in March last year.

A professional standards investigation concluded she had breached the police standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct. The panel upheld the allegation and found it amounted to gross misconduct.

Had she remained a serving officer, the panel ruled she would have been dismissed without notice.

Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend, who chaired the hearing, said the former officer’s actions were “shocking and unacceptable” and warned that such behaviour damages public confidence in policing.

Marston will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list, preventing her from serving with any police force in the UK.

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