Drunk man jumps into Milford Marina, sparking multi-agency search

Published

10 months ago

February 24, 2025

A MAJOR multi-agency search was launched at Milford Marina on Friday night (Feb 23) following a 999 call reporting that a fisherman had entered the water near the town’s bowling alley.

The call was received by Angle Lifeboat Station at 8:58pm, but just one minute later, the message was cancelled.

“A person reported that somebody was in the water near to the bowling alley, but just one minute later, our crew received a cancel message, stating that the person was now out of the water,” said a spokesperson for Angle Lifeboat Station.

However, just four minutes later, a second call was received claiming that the individual was once again back in the water.

“As a result, the lifeboat was launched but with the marina lock gates closed, the lifeboat had to tie alongside the pontoon within the lock, with the pier head staff locking the lifeboat in as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson added.

“Fortunately, because the water levels weren’t too dissimilar as a result of the rising tide, the lifeboat was soon within the docks and able to make its way to the area in question.”

Emergency services, including the police, fire service, and coastguard rescue team, arrived on the scene, where the man was later spotted on the quay wall.

Eyewitness Natalya Phillips, who made the emergency call, has since spoken out about the incident, clarifying that the man was not missing but had intentionally jumped into the water while intoxicated.

She said: “Friday night I had to phone 999 because a man who was highly drunk had jumped into the water. He was in and out of a parked car, taking off layers of clothing, and then suddenly ran and jumped off the side into the water.

“I immediately rang 999 and kept my eyes on him because it was cold, it was dark, and the water is not something to be messing with!

“He was later out of the water and taken somewhere safer to rest. There was nothing ‘missing’ about this.”

Phillips also criticised the man’s lack of gratitude towards emergency responders.

“He did not even thank the emergency services for coming to his rescue,” she said. “He didn’t even realise what he had done wrong.”

Local reports suggest that the man was taken out of the water by local fishing skipper Jake Bowman Davies helped by a Latvian member of crew.

Emergency services have not confirmed whether any further action has been taken.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

46 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include: