News

Medical emergency leads to Oakwood Theme Park being evacuated

Published

4 years ago

October 23, 2022

OAKWOOD THEME PARK has been cleared of visitors following a serious medical emergency.

The Wales Air Ambulance has landed at Oakwood Theme Park in reponse to the incident which has resulted in the site being evacuated this sunday lunchtime (Oct 23).

The Herald contacted a member of staff working at the park who confirmed that the incident had taken place, but was not able to give any further details at this stage.

This newspaper was told that the incident involves the Treetops ride, but this has not been confirmed at this stage.

The Herald has contacted the emergency services for an update.

LIVE UPDATES

15:55 HRS – The Wales Ambulance service said they were called to Oakwood at 1300 HRS and remain at the scene.

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16:04 HRS – The air ambulance has left the park and was seen heading in the direction of Swansea.

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16:39 HRS – Oakwood Theme Park has issued a statement which says: “As a result of an incident at Oakwood today we have closed the park to the public with immediate effect.”

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16:48 HRS – Dyfed Powys Police confirms that the Health and Safety Executive is leading the investigation.

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20:32 HRS – A Wales Air Ambulance spokesman told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “I can confirm that Wales Air Ambulance attended an incident in Oakwood Theme Park today (23/10/22). Unfortunately, we are unable to give any further details at this time.”

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22.52 HRS – The Mirror is reporting that one eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was among the first people on the ride but was told there would be a 10-minute wait as engineers were working on an issue.

“We waited for a bit and saw the engineers right in front of us doing some work,” he said.

“We decided to come back in a bit. We returned 10 minutes later and saw people getting on the ride so we returned and sat near the front.

“Less than a minute into the ride I heard horrific screams and noticed the back end of the coaster slipping and sliding off the track and a girl crying in severe distress and what appeared to be the bar raised.”

He added: “I shouted for the ride to stop and staff were clearly panicking to get it stopped. It went on for a bit before it grinded to a halt.

“We had to evacuate the ride on a bend and staff were present to help people off. I saw a mobile phone and a flip flop on the grass and realised someone must have come off the ride.

“A group of girls were in shock and I asked them if they were ok which clearly they weren’t.

“When I went to retrieve my bag I saw a gentleman lying face down with a member of staff and a paramedic. He wasn’t moving but staff later told me he was conscious and talking.”

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Major incident declared after bus crash in Carmarthenshire

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2 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Emergency services at scene as A484 closed near Parc y Bocs

A MAJOR incident has been declared in Kidwelly following a collision involving a bus.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were dealing with the incident on the A484 near the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs.

The road has been closed between the Kidwelly roundabout and Llandyfaelog, and motorists are being urged to find alternative routes.

Emergency services are at the scene, and members of the public have been asked to stay away from the area until further notice.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Officers are dealing with a major incident in Kidwelly, following a report of a collision involving a bus on the A484 near the Kidwelly roundabout.

“The road is closed between the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs and Llandyfaelog, and motorists are asked to find alternative routes.

“Emergency services are on scene and members of the public are asked to stay away from the area until further notice.”

More information is expected to follow.

Community

New town map unveiled in Fishguard

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15 hours ago

June 23, 2026

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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

21 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.