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Ambulance ‘delay’ as infant dies in fire

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ambulancelateAN INTERNAL inquiry is being conducted by the Ambulance Service into a gross delay in attending the scene of a fatal fire in Bryn Gorwel, Carmarthen, on Sunday evening. 

Three-year old Angel Jade Smith died on the first anniversary of her brother Jakey’s cot-death. Little Angel passed away at Heath Hospital, Cardiff, after being transferred from Glangwili. Her mother, Alice Smith, 24, formerly of Caroline Street, Seaside, Llanelli, remains in a serious condition in Morriston hospital. Angel’s father, who managed to save himself by jumping out of a window also received treatment, but was discharged from hospital on Tuesday. Fire and rescue crews, ambulances and police were called to the scene at 6.15pm, where firefighters from Carmarthen and Kidwelly stations battled the blaze for over 4 hours using eight breathing apparatuses, a main jet and two hose reel jets, a ladder and a thermal imaging camera. Angel received treatment for twenty minutes at the scene and had been transported to Glangwili hospital by Police officers before an ambulance arrived, forty minutes after being called. In a letter to the Welsh Ambulance Service, local MP Simon Hart explains how a constituent had contacted him saying: “I, together with members of the Mid and West Wales Fire Service, and an off duty young police officer and an off duty nurse, spent 20 minutes plus carrying out CPR on a three-year-old child who had suffered from smoke inhalation and eventually had to be conveyed to hospital by a response police vehicle.” The head of the Community Health Council, Ashley Warlow, has also demanded an explanation from the Wales Ambulance Service. The Ambulance Station in Carmarthen is under one and a half miles and 7 minutes away from Bryn Gorwel. The failure to attend the emergency until it was too late is the latest in a series of blunders by the Wales Ambulance Service. Carmarthen town and county councillor, Peter Hughes Griffiths said: “To hear of a young child passing away is so very saddening and we are sending our sympathies to all the family. We only hope that the other family members will recover”. Witnesses have said they heard screaming before seeing the incredible amount of smoke billowing out of the building, and say they saw a man jumping out of a window. The mother, who is in her 20s was carried out by a firefighter. It is understood that the family had not lived there very long and had gone out for a walk that day, returning around 40 minutes before the fire broke out. Dyfed Powys Police statement provided a statement saying: “Next of kin and the family have been informed and are being supported by police officers. Enquiries have commenced to establish the cause of the fire.” A Welsh Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We are aware of this tragic incident and are currently looking into the details surrounding it.” The Wales Ambulance Service is scheduled to provide dedicated cover to transport maternity patients from Haverfordwest to Carmarthen when the Health Board closes the doors at Withybush’s Special Care Baby and Maternity units in August.

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

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THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

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