News

Asbestos exposure caused death

Published

6 years ago

November 30, 2018

EXPOSURE to asbestos throughout his working life led to the death of man from Saundersfoot, the Coroner for Pembrokeshire has said.

Brian Gilbert Tooth sadly passed away at the age of 79 on August 28, 2018, and his inquest was held at Milford Haven Town Hall on Thursday (Nov 29).

Coroners’ Officer for Pembrokeshire Mr Jeremy Davies said that Mr Tooth’s father had also been exposed to asbestos in his working life and that he would often come home in his overalls. His father also sadly passed away from exposure to asbestos.

Brian worked in the assembly area where asbestos was being used and dust would be generated from it which would be swept into the air.

In 1960 he became a mechanical graftsman in the same factory but was still breathing in the asbestos-contaminated air.

15 years later he left his work and began to train as a teacher. He later became a supply teacher until 2005 when he moved to Pembrokeshire.

In 2014, he was sadly diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and between June to November in 2017 he began having problems with his bowels leading to him having a colonoscopy.

He also began to suffer with a dry cough, breathlessness and back pain but this was put down to the Parkinsons.

However, it got worse and a CT scan on the upper part of his chest revealed he had a collapsed lung.

He later went into Glangwili hospital where it was discovered he had Mesothelioma. At Withybush Hospital he was given a terminal diagnosis.

Mr Tooth sadly began to deteriorate and he passed away at his home address in Saundersfoot.

Pembrokeshire Coroner Mark Layton said that the cause of his death was Mesothelioma and concluded that this came about as a result of coming into contact with asbestos.

He recorded that his death was due to industrial disease before passing on his condolences to the family members present at the inquest.

News

Grieving family’s aim to protect young drivers in memory of daughter

Published

14 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S Road Safety Team have worked in partnership with the family of a young woman killed in a road traffic collision to launch an intervention for young drivers in our County and beyond.

Ella Bee’s Story aims to prevent further deaths on the road, particularly among the 17 to 25-year-old age group, and concentrates on the Fatal 5, peer pressure, driver behaviour and how to reduce the risks both as a driver and passenger.

Twenty-one year-old Ella Smith was killed in a road traffic collision on the Broad Haven road in 2021 and her family are bravely telling their story of the night it happened and the aftermath of losing Ella.

Two drivers involved in the collision were jailed for ten years each having been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The intervention was launched recently and will be available to all schools and young peoples’ groups in the County, along with Pembrokeshire College.

The Road Safety Team worked closely with the family to put together the intervention which includes the production of two videos that can help educate all young drivers, and any adults with young drivers in the family.

Following the launch Ella’s mother Maria said: “We as a family and Ella’s best friends have worked tirelessly with Pembrokeshire County Council to produce a presentation on road safety to be delivered to schools, colleges and youth groups to educate young drivers on the devastating impact that losing Ella has had on us all.

“Ella your legacy will live on and you will forever be remembered for helping others even now.”

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett added: “The launch of Ella Bee’s Story was incredible moving. Ella’s family has been incredibly brave in their determination to ensure her tragic death is not in vain and this project will help other young drivers stay safe on our roads.”

For further information about how your school or youth group can access Ella Bee’s Story please email [email protected]

News

Storage container fire in Newcastle Emlyn

Published

15 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AT11:48am on Friday (Jan 24), Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Llandysul and Carmarthen fire stations were called to a fire in Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn.

The fire involved a 40-foot by 8-foot storage container and was confined to a generator inside. Firefighters used a hose reel jet, two breathing apparatus sets, a thermal imaging camera, and a positive pressure ventilation fan to extinguish the blaze.

Crews remained on site to dampen down the area before departing at 12:57pm.

Crime

Pembrokeshire man accused of assault and perverting justice remanded in custody

Published

15 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man accused of assaulting a woman has been remanded in custody after allegedly offering her money to drop the charges.

Lohan Chapman, 19, of Primrose Close, Neyland, is accused of intentionally strangling a female during an alleged incident in Milford Haven on August 1, 2024, and of assaulting her by beating. He denies both charges.

This week, Haverfordwest Magistrates Court heard that Chapman was remanded in custody on January 18 after being accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by offering his alleged victim an undisclosed sum of money to withdraw the charges.

District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction in all three matters.

Chapman, who appeared via video link from Swansea Prison, will now face trial at Swansea Crown Court on February 17.

He was remanded in custody pending his appearance.