News

‘Inspiring paramedic’ dies in diving accident

Published

11 years ago

March 31, 2014

A PARAMEDIC originally from Saundersfoot has died in the Maldives whilst carrying out charity work.

It is understood that Dai Rees, who worked for the South Western Ambulance Service (SAWSFT), died after falling unconscious in a scuba diving accident.

He died while on a trip trying to improve the island’s emergency medical services. SWASFT Chief Executive Ken Wenman said: “Tragically, Dai was involved in a diving accident whilst carrying out charity work in the Maldives.”

He also said Mr Rees was working with the Maldivian Sihhath Institute, which involved aiding the local population of the Maldives.

Mr Rees established the Sihhath Initiative with three colleagues, Thomas Scott, Andy Wade and Adam Khan. The paramedic decided to set up the initiative when he discovered that the first aid provision in the Maldives was very dismal, whilst he was volunteering there.

SWASFT frequently donates used equipment to the initiative, and continues to support it through other means. The Chief Executive of SWASFT continued: “Dai was a well-liked and respected member of staff and on behalf of the Trust I would like to offer my condolences to his family, friends and work colleagues.”

Dai attended Ysgol Greenhill School in Tenby, and then enrolled at the Trinity College of Music (London) in 2000, where he studied for four years. He then moved to Dorset to work as a paramedic for SWASFT. Online tributes dedicated to Mr Rees have been paid. One post described him as a “lovely, friendly, professional, highly respected and well-loved guy.”

Luke Roberts-Andreou, a volunteer for the SWASFT, posted a tribute on Twitter: “Stunned by the passing of Dai Rees. An inspiring paramedic and a genuinely nice person.”

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “We can confirm the death of a British national on March 16 in Maldives. We are providing consular assistance at this difficult time.”

News

Car crashes into house in St Davids

Published

4 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

EMERGENCY services were called after a car crashed into a house on Nun Street in St Davids on Thursday (Apr 24).

Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene at around 4:35pm following reports of a single-vehicle collision.

On arrival, they found that a car had collided with a residential property. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended a report of a single-vehicle road traffic collision where a car collided with a property on Nun Street, St Davids, at around 4:35pm yesterday. No injuries were reported, and the road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.”

Community

Milford Haven and Neyland Police issue appeal for missing man

Published

4 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a 54-year-old man who has been reported missing from the Milford Haven area.

Neil is described as being around 6ft 2in tall with a shaved head. He has tattoos on his arms and one of his fingers, and sometimes wears glasses.

He was last seen on Friday afternoon (Apr 26) wearing a black Superdry hoodie, ripped jeans, and orange and black Nike Air trainers. Neil is believed to be on foot.

Anyone with information that could help is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police: 🖥️ | Online portal
📧 | [email protected]
📞 | Call 101, quoting reference 262 of April 26.

Community

Fire service delivers vital kit to Ukraine

Published

9 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Wales joins UK’s largest firefighting aid convoy

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) has taken part in the UK’s largest ever convoy delivering vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, joining 17 other Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) from across the country.

The convoy, coordinated by FIRE AID and supported by the UK Government, left the UK in early April. It travelled through France, Germany and Poland, delivering over 30 fire service vehicles and more than 15,000 items of equipment to support Ukrainian firefighters on the front line of the ongoing war.

Since the Russian invasion in 2022, UK fire services have donated 119 vehicles and over 200,000 pieces of equipment to Ukraine. Each participating service ensured local needs were met before donating surplus kit.

Watch Manager Rob Kershaw represented MAWWFRS on the convoy. He said:
“It’s been a privilege to be part of this convoy and to represent both FIRE AID and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
We received invaluable support and assistance from fire and police services across every country we passed through. Their help in coordinating, escorting, and hosting the convoy was outstanding.”

Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM added:
“MAWWFRS is proud to support our colleagues in Ukraine by donating and delivering essential equipment.
The events in Ukraine have deeply affected the fire and rescue community, and this convoy is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to helping those still working under extreme conditions.”

The donated equipment will support firefighters in Ukraine who continue to operate in war zones to save lives and protect property—often at great personal risk. Since the conflict began, 100 Ukrainian firefighters have been killed and 431 injured. A total of 411 fire stations and 1,700 firefighting vehicles have been destroyed.