Community

Off-duty lifesavers were lost but ready to react

Published

4 years ago

October 16, 2020

A PEMBROKESHIRE man whose life was saved by multiple twists of fate has praised those who stepped in during his hour of need.

Keen amateur triathlete Steven Landrey, 51, of Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, was out on a post-lockdown bike ride when he suffered a cardiac arrest that was to set off the incredible chain of events.

Steven said: “We were about 40km into an 80km ride when it happened.

“It was strange and lucky as only two weeks earlier I was running alone in Paris, and the night before I swam 2km alone in the sea, and during lockdown had done lots of exercise on my own.

“But that day, I had met my brother-in-law, Chris, and some friends.

“I dread to think what would have happened if I would have been alone.”

Meanwhile, just a mile or so away was off-duty Welsh Ambulance Service Community First Responder Angharad Hodgson, from Martletwy, and her firefighter partner Steve Bradfield, from Narbeth.

Steven Landrey, 51, of Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire

“We were heading to meet friends at Barfundle Beach. We hadn’t been there for a few years so were following the sat-nav in the car,” said Angharad.

“We were running late and had taken a wrong turn as the sat-nav must have frozen or lost signal.

“We decided to turn back on ourselves, and that’s when we saw Steven on the floor being worked on by Chris.”

Always travelling with their defibrillator and kit, Angharad and Steve, who is also a trained medical responder, were able to pull over swiftly and step in with their life-saving defibrillator.

Angharad, 23, said: “We put the pad on his chest and after about 30 manual chest compressions, Steven had stopped breathing and the defibrillator told us we could shock him twice.

“We did it and he came back to us, but his breathing was very sticky so we continued CPR until the air and land ambulances arrived to take over.”

Steven was taken by road to Swansea’s Morriston Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to fit a stent into a lower left artery of his heart, which had flooded with blood and caused the cardiac arrest.

Steven is making a good recovery at home and is taking the first steps back to work in his role as a European Managing Director for Babcock Aviation, an aerial emergency services business.

He said: “I’m working with the National Cardiac Referral Scheme and also a personal trainer and am feeling well and getting strength back every day.

“With my work, I have seen emergency care provision across Europe and Canada and the care I received at every step of the way here in Wales has been world-class.

“I can’t thank Chris, Angharad, Steve, the air ambulance crew and the paramedics enough, along with the doctors and surgeons at Morriston, they were all amazing.

“I realise everything went my way that day, and for those few hours I was the luckiest man alive, but having these trained people in our communities to support emergency medical services is absolutely vital.

“Community First Responders like Angharad, CPR training and Public Access Defibrillators really do save lives and are to be respected.”

Glyn Thomas, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Community First Responder Officer in Mid and West Wales, said: “The prompt actions of Angharad and Steve were no doubt a major factor in the patient’s survival.

“Even off-duty as they were, they demonstrated control and organisation – they are both a credit to their communities and organisations.

“We wish Steven a smooth recovery and all the best for the future.”

Today is Restart a Heart Day, a national initiative run by the Resuscitation Council UK, British Heart Foundation, St John Ambulance and the ambulance services across the UK to promote education around Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

In the absence of physical events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Welsh Ambulance Service is encouraging people to watch a video by Resuscitation Council UK and keep an eye on social media from partners like Save a Life Cymru who are promoting key messages such as early recognition of cardiac arrest, early CPR and early defibrillation.

Restart a Heart Day runs parallel to the Trust’s month-long Shoctober campaign which aims to educate primary school children on the benefits of getting confident with CPR – even making this brilliant animated video.

Angharad, who also works for the local authority’s social services team in Pembrokeshire, has been a Community First Responder since April 2019 and was inspired to make that brave step by another incident back in 2018.

She said: “I was driving home from shopping along the A40 in Carmarthen when I came across a terrible car accident on the opposite carriageway.

“I pulled my car over and crossed the road to try and assist without any thought process really.

“Seeing the work of the paramedics on scene really spurred me on to become a Community First Responder.

“I’d like to thank Tony Wall who is my CFR Co-ordinator for being so supportive and giving so much of his time to fundraise for life saving equipment such as defibrillators in local communities.”

Community

Appeal for information on war-time friend as US veteran turns 99

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AN American WWII veteran, who was once stationed in Haverfordwest during 1944, is reaching out over international waters to reconnect with the family of a long-lost friend,.

At the remarkable age of 99, John Jecovich, seeks assistance from local residents to uncover any information regarding Jean Young, a friend he made during his service in the town. The quest to find Jean or her descendants comes as the D-Day celebrations approach, adding a poignant note to this year’s commemorations.

Jean-Marc Bordeaux, a representative of the Jecovich family, explained that Mr. Jecovich’s memory of his time in Haverfordwest and his friendship with Ms. Young remains strong. According to Mr. Jecovich, Jean was around 24 or 25 years old in 1944, while he was just 19. “John recalls that Jean’s father might have been a mayor or manager of the town, and she worked at an office with him on what he believes was East Essex Street,” Mr. Bordeaux shared.

The appeal stretches beyond local boundaries, aiming to touch anyone who might remember the Young family or have records that could shed light on their whereabouts. The family has also provided a contact number in the United States and a link to a YouTube channel featuring Mr. Jecovich, to help Pembrokeshire locals get a personal glimpse of the man behind the appeal.

“This is more than a search; it’s a call to our sense of community and historical camaraderie,” said Mr. Bordeaux, expressing hope that Pembrokeshire’s residents will embrace the opportunity to aid this venerable veteran. “We believe that with the help of the local media and the community’s collective memory, we can piece together Jean’s story and, hopefully, reconnect Mr. Jecovich with his friend’s family.”

The Jecovich family eagerly awaits any information that can be provided by the people of Haverfordwest, as they hold on to the hope of a meaningful reunion, be it through memories or family connections.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact The Herald.

This story not only celebrates a longstanding friendship forged in wartime but also underscores the lasting bonds that such experiences can create.

Community

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Resettlement and Migration Team needs you…

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2024

Luke Sinclair

IT is just over two years since the invasion of Ukraine, and the situation has not improved enough to allow families to return and rebuild their lives and homes.

We are reaching out again to the people of Pembrokeshire, to come forward and provide homes for Ukraine families and support us to help the Wales Nation of Sanctuary efforts for refugees.

It is known there is a lack of affordable accommodation in Pembrokeshire and we do not want to place additional pressures on this sector. This is why it is vitally important for us to use hosting arrangements to support Ukrainian families.

Pembrokeshire County Council has an impressive 52 hosts, who continue to provide an immense level of kindness and support to 113 Ukraine people.

The Ukraine families are extremely grateful to be able to seek sanctuary, build a life and to continue to provide for their families until it is safe to return home.

One person being hosted in Pembrokeshire said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the UK government, the local community of Pembrokeshire, and my lovely hosts for their support and assistance in this difficult time for Ukrainians.

“The local council always provides all the support I need and helps me solve various problems.

“It should be noted that I am very lucky with my hosts, I feel safe in their home, and they are always happy to give advice and help. They are more than hosts to me, they have become my friends.”

Another added: “Thank you for always being in touch, always ready to help me and my children. We are happy to have received such support in your country.”

The UK and Welsh Government have extended the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and our team are looking for additional hosts to come forward, who can open their hearts and homes to offer a safe place for Ukraine families to live.

Under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, hosts are entitled to a £500 tax free thank you payment for each month a Ukraine person lives with them.

There is a need for larger accommodation to home reunited families and more accommodation of two bedrooms or more is sought. If this is near any of Pembrokeshire’s towns or with access to transport networks that would be desirable.

If you feel that you, could open your homes, to a Ukraine family please contact 01437 776301 or [email protected] and the team will provide you with more information and explain the support that is given to our hosts in order to build a strong hosting relationship.

Many of our hosts have been providing a home for a year or more and the Council recently held an event for our hosts as a thank you for their continued support. We asked them for feedback and received some lovely comments:

“It is so vital to be able to contact people from the county council to seek help or advice when needed. We have found that the team in Pembrokeshire make themselves available, provide help when needed. A good team who seem to work well together”.

Another added: “We are very pleased to be able to help out, our guests are charming and hardworking… the support we had from Pembrokeshire was amazing.”

Community

Locals’ concern as St Davids scout hut threatened with demolition

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THERE is widespread concern over the future of St David’s Scout Hut in Ffynnon Wen, which faces potential closure and demolition.

Built in 1992 through public donations and local craftsmanship, the hut has served as a vital community hub. Despite being a cherished venue for numerous groups and events, its future is now uncertain as the Scouts can no longer manage the facility.

The hut, situated on land owned by Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC), was offered to St David’s City Council by the Scouts in an effort to save it from demolition.

A generous offer of a 125-year rent-free land lease from PCC accompanies this proposal. The Scout association expressed hope that, should scouting resume in St Davids, the group would be welcomed back under the same terms currently extended to other community groups.

The urgency of the situation brought together over 70 locals for a fundraising coffee morning at the hut, raising £312. The event underscored the community’s strong desire to preserve this facility, with attendees expressing enthusiastic support for its continued use.

The city council is expected to meet soon to decide whether to accept the building and lease the land. Vicky Swales, representing the Scout Hut Supporters Group, highlighted the importance of the hut for activities involving adults with learning disabilities, praising its accessibility and the benefits it provides to participants.

County Councillor Bethan Price reflected on the gathering, noting the community’s strong connection to the hut and their collective determination to save it. Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, Henry Tufnell, also voiced support, stressing the importance of such community spaces in tourist-heavy areas like St Davids.

Residents are encouraged to show their support by signing a petition, joining a dedicated Facebook group, and contributing to a crowdfunding initiative aimed at securing the hut’s future.