News

Driver lies injured in rain for hours at Fishguard Port after fall from lorry

Published

8 months ago

April 15, 2025

VOLUNTEERS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES STEP IN AFTER SHOCKING AMBULANCE DELAY

A LORRY driver who suffered serious injuries after falling from his vehicle at Fishguard port was left lying in a puddle for hours, as emergency services warned he could face an ambulance wait of up to eight hours.

The injured man was discovered by local conservation volunteer Ken Barnett, who had been photographing bottlenose dolphins at the outer breakwater in Goodwick Harbour. On his return, he found the driver on the ground in clear distress, having apparently fallen from the back of his lorry.

Ken immediately phoned 999, but was told not to move the casualty and that an ambulance could take between four and eight hours to arrive.

“We had a man in considerable pain lying in a puddle in the rain, facing a four-hour wait at best before he could receive any treatment,” said Cliff Benson, founder of Sea Trust, who arrived at the scene shortly afterwards with his partner Fran.

“If we hadn’t found him, the security man wouldn’t have seen him until 11:00pm during his rounds. He could have died in the dark of exposure.”

Volunteers and the port security guard acted swiftly to protect the man from worsening conditions, building a makeshift shelter using metal fencing, a tarpaulin and a blanket.

Cliff then contacted Fishguard RNLI coxswain Gemma Gill, who, along with local firefighters, lifeboat crew and Fishguard Coastguard Rescue Team, responded quickly to assist. The coastguard was called to the scene at 6:25pm.

“Given how close the casualty was to the lifeboat station, the RNLI crew were first on scene and provided excellent care,” said a coastguard spokesperson. “We supported the RNLI and fire service in extracting and carrying out the casualty to the warmth of the lifeboat station.”

An ambulance eventually arrived and took the driver to Withybush Hospital.

This case highlights growing concerns about ambulance response times in Wales, especially for patients in remote or rural areas. According to official figures released last month, January saw 6,073 red (life-threatening) calls, accounting for 17.9% of all calls — more than 1,000 higher than the same month last year.

On average, there were 196 red calls per day, making January the third highest month on record for life-threatening emergencies. Despite slight improvements in some performance indicators across emergency departments, the Welsh Ambulance Service continues to face relentless pressure, especially during winter months.

A recent statement from the Welsh NHS Confederation described the situation as a “mixed picture,” praising NHS staff for their dedication, but warning that “challenges remain across the breadth of health and social care services.”

The Herald understands that without the intervention of volunteers and emergency crews at Fishguard Port, the outcome for the injured lorry driver could have been far more serious.

Photo caption: Makeshift rescue: Volunteers and emergency services protect the injured driver with fencing and tarpaulin at Fishguard Port (Pic: Sea Trust)

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

42 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

57 minutes 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: