Charity

Helicopter transfer saved my life, says Carmarthenshire heritage railway volunteer

Published

1 year ago

March 17, 2025

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man who suffered a severe head injury while cycling to work says he “wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the Wales Air Ambulance.”

Twelve years ago, Roger Van Praet was on his way to volunteer at the Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge Works in Porthmadog when he was involved in a collision with a pedestrian.

Roger, a non-executive director for FUW Insurance Services Limited, recalled: “It was a dire situation. I was unconscious on the road, and thankfully, someone I work with called the emergency services.”

***Roger Van Praet (left) in discussion with Llyr Huws Gruffydd, MS at the FUW’s Farmhouse Breakfast event in Cardiff Bay, 22 January 2025. (Credit: FUW)***

***Roger Van Praet was on his way to volunteer at the Ffestiniog Railway when he was involved in a collision (Image: File)***

He was stabilised by a land ambulance crew and rushed to Ysbyty Gwynedd, where doctors discovered he had suffered brain bleeds and required specialist care. They decided his best chance of survival was urgent treatment at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“That’s when the Wales Air Ambulance was called. I have no recollection of this,” he said. “I was told I received critical care onboard, and the clinicians and pilot ensured my safe arrival.”

He added: “The journey to Stoke takes about 25 minutes by air compared to three and a half hours by road. I will be eternally grateful to the air ambulance team for looking after me. The helicopter transfer was absolutely critical to my survival.”

Lifesaving service

The Wales Air Ambulance delivers hospital-standard treatments at the scene and, if necessary, transfers patients directly to the most appropriate hospital. The service operates through a partnership between the public and third sectors, with the charity relying on public donations to raise the £11.2 million needed annually to keep its helicopters and rapid response vehicles running.

The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) provides NHS consultants and critical care practitioners for the charity’s operations. Their advanced critical care includes administering anaesthesia, delivering blood transfusions, and performing minor operations at the scene.

As a pan-Wales service, its crews travel across the country to provide lifesaving care wherever needed.

Roger, who makes monthly donations to the charity, said: “It’s such an important cause and deserves everyone’s support. You never know when you might need it—I certainly didn’t wake up that morning expecting to require critical care.”

***Roger and Sian at Lake Moraine in the Canadian Rockies last September – a holiday originally booked just before the accident twelve years ago. (Credit: Roger Van Praet)***

A life-changing accident

Roger and his wife Sian were staying in their caravan at the volunteer hostel in Porthmadog when the accident happened, just a mile from the Ffestiniog Railway engine works.

“I’d cycled the same route a dozen times with no issues. It was around 6:30 in the morning, not completely dark,” he said. “I remember cycling and approaching traffic lights near some roadworks. Once they turned green, I started off—that’s all I can recall.”

Later, he learned that roadworks had blocked the pavement, forcing a pedestrian onto the road, where they collided. “We had a glancing blow. I came off my bike headfirst and hit the road. The walker was uninjured,” he said.

Roger, a former Compliance and Operations Director at the Farmers’ Union of Wales, spent several days in ICU before regaining consciousness in acute care.

“On the surface, I looked fine—no broken bones. But when I stood up, my balance and coordination were affected. I had to relearn how to walk,” he said. “The recovery took much longer than expected.”

He did not return to work for nearly two years and had to adapt to lasting changes. “I never went back full-time and instead worked three days a week. It was a very worrying time for my family, but the Farmers’ Union of Wales was extremely supportive.”

Roger later became Managing Director of FUW Insurance Services before retiring in December 2020. He remains involved with the Union as a non-executive director.

“I was delighted when FUW President Ian Rickman announced fundraising for the Wales Air Ambulance during his presidency,” he said. “It provides essential critical care and does an incredible job, saving lives across Wales.”

Reflecting on his experience, Roger added: “I’d always wanted to ride in a helicopter—it’s just a shame that when I finally did, I have no memory of it.”

Charity

Home-Start Cymru highlights vital support for parents during Maternal Mental Health Week

Published

14 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CHARITY Home-Start Cymru is calling for greater awareness and support for parents facing mental health challenges during the early years of family life.

The appeal comes as Maternal Mental Health Week shines a spotlight on the emotional wellbeing of mothers and parents across Wales.

The charity is sharing the story of Naomi Durham, a mother of two who previously received support from Home-Start Cymru.

Naomi said that, while she appeared to be coping, she was privately struggling with postnatal depression, health issues and the pressure of raising two young children alone.

She said: “On the outside, I tried to look like I was coping, but inside things were falling apart.

“I was struggling with postnatal depression, managing my health, and raising two young children on my own. For a long time, it felt like nobody really knew how to help me.

“But when I was matched with a Home-Start Cymru volunteer, everything began to change. For the first time in a long while, I felt like someone truly saw me and listened to me, and that support made all the difference.”

Home-Start Cymru said Naomi’s experience showed the impact that early intervention and compassionate, community-based support can have on families.

The charity provides volunteer-led, one-to-one support for families with young children across Wales. Parents are matched with trained volunteers who offer practical and emotional support, helping to reduce isolation, build resilience and improve wellbeing.

A spokesperson for Home-Start Cymru said: “Too many parents feel they have to struggle alone, particularly during the early years when the pressures can be overwhelming.

“Naomi’s story shows just how important it is for families to feel seen, heard, and supported. Our volunteers play a crucial role in offering that lifeline.”

Maternal Mental Health Week is used to raise awareness of conditions such as postnatal depression and to encourage parents to seek help.

Home-Start Cymru is urging anyone who may be struggling to reach out and access support.

Charity

Homeless charity plans ‘safe haven’ centre with accommodation and training

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A new community project aims to tackle gaps in support for people living on the streets

A NEW community initiative is aiming to provide a “safe haven” for homeless people in west Wales, offering accommodation, training and round-the-clock support.

Safe Haven Homeless CIC has been set up by founder Dave Thomas, who said the idea came after witnessing the struggles faced by people sleeping rough in Carmarthen and Aberystwyth.

He described seeing individuals forced out of temporary camps, including one case where fencing was erected to prevent a homeless person returning to a former site.

Mr Thomas said: “We spoke to people who simply couldn’t access help because they had no fixed address or internet access. That was a real eye-opener.”

Research carried out by the group found that while a number of organisations provide advice and outreach support, there is a lack of safe, stable accommodation offering a full package of services.

The Herald understands that demand for housing remains high, with waiting lists for social housing stretching to around two years in some cases, particularly for those not in priority groups.

The project aims to address this by purchasing a property with land to create a multi-use support centre.

Plans include a main building with communal living areas, a kitchen, counselling rooms, IT facilities and training spaces, alongside outdoor accommodation such as bell tents and log cabins.

The site would also include recreational and work-based facilities, including a workshop, greenhouse, gym and fishing lake, designed to support wellbeing and provide opportunities for skills development.

Mr Thomas said the centre would be staffed 24 hours a day to ensure continuous support, addressing a gap where many services only operate during office hours.

The initiative also aims to become partly self-sustaining, with income generated through a small campsite, training activities and partnerships with external organisations.

Support networks are already being developed, including links with counsellors, charities and local businesses willing to offer employment opportunities to those using the service.

The organisation is being run by a team of directors alongside Mr Thomas, and is also building connections with other community projects in the region.

Mr Thomas added: “We believe this is a new and dynamic way to support homeless people. It’s about giving them not just a place to stay, but real support to rebuild their lives.”

Charity

Police cyclists to ride 75 miles in charity tribute

Published

4 days ago

May 2, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE cyclists will ride 75 hilly miles across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire next week in a first-of-its-kind charity event for the force.

Around 35 riders will take part in The Chief’s Tour on Wednesday (May 6), raising money for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a charity which supports the families of police officers and police staff who have died on duty.

The route will begin at St Mary’s Church in Fishguard at around 8:00am, before heading south through Pembrokeshire to Tenby and finishing at police headquarters in Carmarthen. The ride is expected to take between eight and 11 hours.

The event will also commemorate officers and staff who died while serving with Dyfed-Powys Police.

Chief Constable Ifan Charles said: “This event is a moment for communities, Dyfed-Powys Police, and families to come together to remember officers and staff whose lives were sadly cut short – and ensure their memory lives on.

“It would be fantastic to see people showing their support along the route, and we welcome cyclists to join us along the way.”

Scheduled stops will include St Mary’s Church, Fishguard, at around 8:00am, Newgale beach at 9:40am, Narberth Road layby in Tenby at 1:45pm, and Cana Cemetery, Banc-y-felin, Carmarthenshire, at 4:05pm.

Mr Charles added: “It was important to me to build moments of reflection into the route to make sure we remember the Dyfed-Powys Police officers who never made it home.

“Each name we reflect upon represents dedication, courage, and the highest standard of service to the public. They remind us of what it means to put the safety of others before our own, and of the risks inherent in the oath police officers take.”