News

Welsh RNLI volunteers abandon historic match to help elderly lady

Published

9 years ago

September 28, 2015

Tom Sinclair

The helicopter prepares to lift off

Just 10 minutes into the Wales v England rugby game, Tenby RNLI volunteers tore themselves away from the TV, to respond to an incident involving a 94-year-old woman with a suspected broken leg.

Many of the volunteers were celebrating a fellow crew member’s wedding at the resort’s Giltar Hotel, when the call for help came.

Tenby’s all-weather RNLI lifeboat was launched shortly after 8.30pm on Saturday (26 September) with two paramedics aboard. Milford Haven coastguard had received a call stating that an elderly lady had fallen on Caldey Island and required medical assistance.

The RNLI lifeboat soon reached the location and dropped off the two paramedics along with three RNLI volunteer crewmembers. They were escorted to the lady’s house by car.

Once on scene, the paramedics assessed the lady and suspected she had broken her femur. It was decided that the safest and most comfortable mode of getting her to hospital would be by air, so RAF Rescue Helicopter 169 was requested. The casualty was made comfortable before being placed onto a stretcher and taken by car up to the landing pad at the lighthouse.

As the paramedics and lifeboat crew were arriving at the lighthouse, the helicopter was landing. The casualty was taken straight aboard the helicopter and flown to Morrison Hospital in Swansea.

Ben James, Tenby Lifeboat Press Officer and volunteer crew member says:

‘RNLI volunteers never know when the call for help may come, but are always ready to respond to their pagers. The Tenby crew were just settled down to the game, many of them at a wedding. We still had a great turn out of volunteers ready to respond – that’s what you sign up to as an RNLI volunteer. If someone needs your help, you don’t think about anything else, you just go. I’m just glad I managed to press record before dashing out through the door on this particular occasion!’

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

19 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

1 day 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.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

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

1 day 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.