News

Officers’ teamwork saves life of heavily bleeding man

Published

5 years ago

July 10, 2021

QUICK thinking and teamwork by two police officers saved the life of a man who was bleeding heavily after he was suspected to have punched a window, the Herald can reveal.

Dyfed-Powys Police Special Sergeants Ben Cole and Caryl Walters were on patrol in Priory Street, Cardigan, when they were flagged down by a man bleeding heavily from his wrist during the early hours of Sunday, July 4.

The officers could see it was a serious injury, with high pressured bleeding and a significant amount of blood on the man’s clothes and the floor around him.

Through clearly calling in the situation on the radio and explaining the urgency, other Cardigan officers were able to attend to assist.

PCs Dion Gibby and Adam Hope were nearby and ran to the scene.

The special sergeants had their force-issued trauma kit ready, and PC Hope – an Army Reserve Combat Medical Technician with 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital – was able to apply a tourniquet to the injured limb.

PC Hope said: “When I heard it was a possible arterial bleed, I made my way to the scene immediately.

“I found a young man holding his wrist, which was spurting blood, and could see he was struggling due to the amount of blood he had already lost.

“I asked him to maintain pressure on the wound, and to keep his arm elevated.

“Given the amount of blood that was spread over a five to ten metre stretch of pavement, and the wait for an ambulance, I knew we had to act quickly.”

While the man kept his arm up to try and slow the bleeding, PC Hope took a tourniquet from the trauma kit and applied it above the wound before bandaging it.

The tourniquet was successful, with no bleeding through the dressing.

“A short while later, however, he appeared to be deteriorating in his responsiveness so myself and PC Gibby put him the shock position,” PC Hope said.

“Other officers from Cardigan station made themselves available to help with the care of this man, providing blankets and equipment, with SPS Cole and Walters keeping ambulance control up-to-date with the situation.”

An ambulance service rapid response vehicle arrived and took over, with the man taken to hospital for further treatment.
He will be dealt with in respect of an allegation of criminal damage as it is suspected he had smashed a window by punching it.

PC Hope said: “I’ve done a fair amount of medical training with the military, which really paid off on this occasion.

“The Cardigan police station team worked together really well, helping to manage a complex situation.”

Temporary Sergeant Amy Harvey added: “This high-pressured incident saw great work from all officers involved, but in particular by PC Hope, whose commendable action undoubtedly prevented further deterioration of the casualty.”

Community

New town map unveiled in Fishguard

Published

7 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW town map has been installed in the heart of Fishguard to help residents and visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.

The map, created by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick’s in-house graphic designer, has been placed on the Abergwaun Hotel tunnel, near Offshore Surfwear’s new shop.

The group said it was “incredibly proud” of the finished result and thanked the building owner for allowing the map to be installed on the premises.

Visit Fishguard & Goodwick is now hoping to create a similar map for Goodwick and is asking for help from a centrally located building owner who may be willing to host it.

Anyone who can help, or knows of a suitable location, is being asked to get in touch with Visit Fishguard & Goodwick.

Community

Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access

Published

13 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds

TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced that this summer’s Tenby Summer Spectacular events have been cancelled until further notice amid a dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council over crowd control at the harbour.

The events, which were due to take place on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 30, have been a major feature of Tenby’s summer calendar for decades, drawing large crowds to the harbour for entertainment, food, drink and fireworks.

In a statement, Tenby Round Table said the decision had been made “with enormous sadness” and claimed it had been forced on organisers because of unresolved issues over the safe management of pedestrian access.

The organisation said it needed the council’s Public Realm department to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the event area when capacity is reached.

Organisers said the matter had first been raised with the council in September 2025 and again formally in writing in May 2026.

They said volunteers had attended meetings, commissioned professional health and safety consultants and worked on Event Management Plans, but claimed the council had still not provided a clear answer.

Tenby Round Table said: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”

The group also alleged that recent written responses from the council contained factual inaccuracies and misleading statements about the relevant legislation.

It added that the council’s legal advice was understood to be provisional and still under internal review.

The cancellation is currently described as provisional, with organisers giving the council a final deadline of June 25 to provide what they describe as a clear, accurate and legally grounded answer.

Tenby Round Table said that if this is provided, it will do everything possible to reinstate the events.

The group said the Summer Spectacular had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, sports teams, community groups and worthy individuals since it began.

It said the cancellation would be a devastating blow to those who benefit from the funds raised.

The statement added that organisers are still working with Dyfed-Powys Police and other relevant authorities ahead of a council licensing committee meeting in July, which is expected to consider whether the event licence should be renewed, amended or withdrawn.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.

Charity

Sea shanties and street food bring crowds to Cardigan RNLI festival

Published

13 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SUNSHINE, sea shanties and street food helped draw hundreds of visitors to Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station on Saturday (Jun 20).

The station’s Sea Shanty and Street Food Festival brought together families, supporters and visitors from across the region for a day of maritime music, food and community spirit.

Traditional sea shanty groups performed throughout the event, with songs echoing around the lifeboat station, while street food vendors served a range of refreshments.

The event also gave visitors the chance to learn more about the lifesaving work carried out by the RNLI and its volunteer crews.

Cardigan RNLI thanked the performers, food vendors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make the day a success.

Bruce Harris, Launch Authority and event organiser, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support the station, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate our maritime heritage.

“The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, and contributed to such a memorable event.”

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.

The charity operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,700 lives.