Family thank Cardiff children’s hospital charity as figures show thousands of visits each year from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy from Aberaeron who spent months unable to walk after a rare neurological illness has returned home and back to school following specialist treatment at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales.

Lewis was diagnosed last year with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves, leaving him temporarily paralysed and unable to walk.

He spent seven months as an inpatient at the children’s hospital in Cardiff, missing Christmas at home while undergoing intensive treatment and daily physiotherapy.

Today, one year on from his diagnosis, Lewis is back in school and rebuilding his strength.

But the return to normal life has brought mixed emotions.

His mum Lizzie said: “We knew this day would eventually come. Lewis woke up feeling sad, but also happy. Happy he’s come so far, happy he’s beating Guillain-Barré syndrome and really happy to be back in school with friends. But on the flip side, he was really sad.

“He misses the hospital. He misses Bechan, the ward counsellor he played with often and had the best chats with. He misses Polly, the play specialist who took Lewis on adventures around the hospital every day. He misses Emily and Morgan from the charity, who used to make us laugh so much. I knew he would miss Noah’s Ark when we got home, because although it was hard, it wasn’t all bad thanks to all these people.”

Thousands travel from West Wales

Figures supplied by the charity show just how many families from West Wales depend on the Cardiff hospital for specialist care not available locally.

During 2025 alone there were:

• 648 patient visits from Pembrokeshire
• 227 from Ceredigion
• 901 from Carmarthenshire
• 848 from Neath
• 1,380 from Swansea

That amounts to more than 4,000 visits from the wider region in a single year.

Across Wales, around 90,000 children receive treatment at the hospital annually.

The charity helps fund new and innovative medical equipment and facilities, supports families with emotional wellbeing services, and provides play specialists who help make long hospital stays less frightening for young patients.

It also offers practical support such as meals and comfort items for parents sleeping at their child’s bedside.

Giving something back

Inspired by the care Lewis received, his swimming teacher Martienus decided to give something back by walking from Aberaeron to Cardiff, raising £5,670.78 for the charity.

The money helped provide hot meals for parents spending Christmas Day in hospital — something Lewis’ family say can make a huge difference during the toughest moments.

Lizzie added: “Lewis’ journey shows not only his strength but also the difference a little kindness and support can make for families facing tough times.”

For more information or to support the charity, visit noahsarkcharity.org

After rescued from Welsh beach – Elvis has been released into the wild

It was a little less conversation and a little more action please, for one seal this week!

Elvis – who was rescued back in September from the rocks at Porthcawl seafront – has finally left the building after spending the last few months at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre.

On Monday (February 2) Elvis (who is in fact a she) was released back into the wild alongside five other seals – named as singers and bands – Sleep Token, Wurzel, Arctic Monkey, Benson Boone, Fleetwood Mac – who have all completed a stint of rehabilitation with the RSPCA.

Affectionately named Elvis after the popular Elvis festival held in Porthcawl every September – the seal pup had been rescued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue with support from the local RNLI team. She was injured and malnourished and had also been separated from her mother.

She was taken into the care of the RSPCA and taken to RSPCA West Hatch where the charity’s wildlife rehabilitation team help the seals build up the strength they need to be fit enough to be released.

The seals are initially brought to the centre’s intensive care pens before they are moved into a pool when they gain weight and begin self-feeding.

Each seal pup rehabilitated by the RSPCA West Hatch can remain in care for a number of months and during this time the centre will be spending on average £1,400 a week on fish and veterinary care during seal season – which typically runs from September to March.

Before release, the seals are given identification tags in their hind flippers for ID purposes. The RSPCA often receives good feedback from sightings – and scientific results have revealed that seals that go on from rehabilitation to survive and thrive in the wild.

This group of seals were released from Devon which for a seal is just a short journey from where Elvis was rescued from.

Wildlife Supervisor Ryan Walker said: “It was such a wonderful moment to witness Elvis along with the other seals confidently swim out into the sea.

“Elvis progressed through rehabilitation very well. Upon her admission on 16 September, she weighed 13.6kg and completed a five-day course of antibiotics to treat wounds on her fore flippers and chin, which have since healed.

“She has spent a lot of time in one of our deeper outside pools with another seal named Dido and once she gained enough weight she was fit for release. Unfortunately we had a few storms and bad weather we had to wait to pass – but we’re delighted she is now where she belongs – along with the other seals too!

“As always their success story is down to a real team effort from the initial rescuers to all the vets, staff and volunteers at West Hatch and to the public.”

The other seals who were released alongside Elvis were:

• Benson Boone – who was rescued from Pembrokeshire. He came into RSPCA care very lethargic and skinny.
• Sleep Token – who came into RSPCA care after being rescued from Cornwall. He was underweight and had various wounds.
• Arctic Monkey – was one of the first seals of the season and was rescued from Devon.
• Wurzel – was rescued from Cornwall, and came in underweight and covered in wounds.
• Fleetwood Mac – was rescued from Devon, was also underweight and had wounds.

Their progress and release was captured by RSPCA photographer Emma Jacobs.

She said: “I have been following Elvis’s progress and rehabilitation, so it was absolutely wonderful to witness her release into the wild.

“Our precious wildlife desperately needs our help and support. It’s been amazing to follow this group of seals as they gained strength ready for release.

“So many species of native wildlife are sadly threatened, and many have seen reductions in numbers, so it’s important for all of us to do everything we can to support wildlife to make sure every kind thrives in its natural environment.”

The RSPCA works in partnership with a number of other organisations to come to the aid of seals.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ellie West added: “We’d like to thank the RNLI and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue for bringing Elvis to safety. Partnership working is so important in helping us to reach seals and we work closely with many organisations.”

The animal welfare charity advises that if members of the public spot a seal on a beach that they observe them from a distance and do not approach them. Seals are wild animals and have a nasty bite if they feel threatened. It is also advised people keep dogs on leads on beaches that have seal colonies too.

“It’s not unusual to see a seal pup by itself, as their mothers will leave the pups alone very early on in life, feeding in the sea then returning to feed them.” said Ellie. “If you find a seal pup that looks fit and healthy and shows no signs of distress, monitor it first from a safe distance for 24 hours. 

“However, if the mother doesn’t return after 24 hours or the pup appears distressed, injured or unwell, or is on a busy public beach, our emergency line can be reached on 0300 1234 999. Please always stay at a safe distance and keep dogs well away – seals can have a very nasty bite if threatened.”

Lifeboat crew battle six-metre seas after lone sailor loses engine, sail and takes on water west of Skokholm

ANGLE RNLI lifeboat volunteers carried out a dramatic rescue after responding to a broken Pan Pan call from a 28ft yacht in severe conditions, with winds gusting to 42 knots and waves reaching up to six metres.

At 10:56am on Tuesday (Feb 3), the crew were already afloat on a navigation pass-out exercise in Dale Roads when they overheard the distress transmission from a yacht west of Skokholm Island. Moments later, HM Coastguard tasked the lifeboat to respond while further information was gathered.

While making best speed to the scene, the crew were told the yacht, carrying one person, had suffered engine failure, blown out its sail and was taking on water from an unknown source.

The casualty vessel was located around three miles west of the island. After assessing the situation, the crew decided conditions were too dangerous to place a lifeboat volunteer aboard, and the safest option was to establish a tow.

With a south-easterly gale and a very rough sea state, the tow was rigged and the yacht began a slow passage towards Milford Haven.

However, shortly after the tow commenced, a large wave threw the skipper overboard. Although tethered to the yacht by his safety harness, he was dragged alongside the vessel in the heavy swell.

The lifeboat crew immediately released the tow and began recovery operations. With the towline fouling access on one side and the casualty trapped on the other, a crew member was eventually placed aboard the yacht over its bow. The skipper’s harness was cut, allowing him to drift clear, before he was safely recovered from the water by the lifeboat.

With the priority now the sailor’s welfare, and the risks of re-establishing the tow judged too great, the crew member was brought back aboard and the lifeboat returned to harbour.

On arrival, volunteers from the Dale Coastguard Rescue Team assisted with casualty care and gathered the necessary details.

The lifeboat was stood down and made ready for further service by 2:30pm.

The station also thanked the The Lord Nelson Hotel for accommodating the sailor at short notice.

The rescue has drawn heartfelt thanks for the volunteer lifeboat crew, whose quick actions brought the man safely back to shore. The gesture from the Lord Nelson Hotel, offering shelter for the night, also reflects the community spirit that so often accompanies the work of Pembrokeshire’s RNLI teams.

A spokesperson for Angle RNLI said the incident highlighted both the speed at which conditions can deteriorate at sea and the importance of safety equipment such as harnesses and tethers.