Latest news with #WelshAmbulanceService


Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
'Show-off' driver who revved engine before flipping his car and killing grandfather who was walking his dogs is jailed
A 'show off' driver revved the engine of his powerful car before killing an innocent grandfather walking his dog has been jailed. Daniel Boucher, 28, bragged about the horsepower of his Peugeot 207 moments before a deadly crash. He lost control of the car after taking a bend too fast, flipping the vehicle and ploughing into 66-year-old David Paul Chaplin. Mr Chaplin, who had been walking two dogs in Nelson, near Caerphilly, South Wales, was struck with devastating force. Emergency crews raced to the scene, including officers, paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service, the Welsh Air Ambulance, and South Wales Fire and Rescue. But despite their efforts, the grandfather died at the scene. Prosecutor Owen Williams said Boucher had finished work when he bragged to colleague Scott Williams about the 165 and 170 horsepower of his 'turbocharged' car. He said Boucher had been driving 'way too fast' after leaving work and crashed a short way into his journey. Boucher was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving having admitted a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving. Hashim Salmman, defending, said Boucher was genuinely remorseful. Judge Vanessa Francis told him: 'This was a tragic miscalculation of what speed was safe to negotiate that bend and your ability to control the car and keep other road users safe as is your responsibility.' Boucher, of Argoed, Blackwood, was jailed for four years and banned from driving for five years. Speaking after the sentence Mr Chaplin's daughter Abby Hillberg, said her father was 'more than just a victim of a tragic and heartbreaking event, he was an amazing dad, and outstanding grandfather, a partner and a friend to many.' She said: 'Today we remember and honour the life of the amazing and wonderful Paul Chaplin, whose life was tragically cut short on 18 April 2023 due a road traffic collision. 'His life was cruelly taken from him far too soon, and the shock and impact of this loss has affected everyone who loved and knew him. 'He was the main function of our family, our whole world and more. 'He was more than just a victim of a tragic and heartbreaking event, he was an amazing dad, and outstanding grandfather, a partner and a friend to many. 'He brightened every room he walked in, made a positive impact on everyone who met him and, most of all, brought happiness to those around him. 'No words will ever explain the heartache and sorrow that we felt and still feel to this day, but in remembering our Dad and Bampi we hold onto the joy and love he brought into our lives and remember all the memories we share and that remain in our hearts forever. 'There is not a day that goes by where we don't think of him, tell him we love him or reminisce on our happy memories. He really was one of a kind, a true gentleman and an honourable man. 'We hope for this tribute to serve as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety and acknowledgement of pedestrians. 'Every life lost is a family shattered and a future rewritten. Rest in peace and keep showing us daily that you are with us. You will never be forgotten, we love you always.' Sergeant Shane Draper, the senior investigating officer from the serious collision investigation unit, said: 'This is a tragic case that has resulted in the needless loss of a life. 'The facts of the case are that, after leaving work, Boucher drove dangerously, far too quickly for the road and lost control of his vehicle. 'Boucher was showing off and his failure to drive to the required competent and careful driving standard has caused devastating consequences - the death of Mr Chaplin, who was simply walking his dog on the pavement. 'The importance of driving carefully and to your ability at all times is never more poignant than in this case; the collision was so unnecessary. Dangerous driving ruins lives. 'This is a reminder to everyone who gets behind the wheel - your responsibility isn't just to ensure your own safety, but the safety of everyone around you. 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Chaplin.'


Wales Online
5 days ago
- Wales Online
Man airlifted to hospital after serious incident in Welsh town centre
Man airlifted to hospital after serious incident in Welsh town centre Emergency services were called to the centre in Haverfordwest after reports of an injured person in the road Police, paramedics, and a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter were all sent to Haverfordwest on Monday (Image: Google ) A man has been airlifted to hospital following a serious incident in a Welsh town centre. Emergency services including police, paramedics, and a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter were all sent to Haverfordwest. A section of road between Salutation Square and and what's known as Morrisons roundabout was cordoned off by police as crews from the Welsh Ambulance Service arrived at the scene. The exact nature of the incident has not been disclosed but Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed that it was not related to a vehicle crash. The force has confirmed that officers were called due to an "injured person on Perrots Road", which is just off the A40 and the A487 which run through the town. A spokesman for the force said: 'We received a report of an injured person on Perrots Road, Haverfordwest, just after 10am on Monday, June 23. One person was airlifted to hospital. The road has reopened.' Article continues below The full extent of the injuries sustained have not been disclosed. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.


North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Welsh Government invests £22m to upgrade ambulances
More than 140 new ambulances and vehicles will be part of the first phase of a five-year Welsh Ambulance Services fleet strategy, which will see older vehicles replaced with new ambulances and vehicles fitted with the latest technology, materials, and products. The wider strategy, which runs to 2030, includes prioritising electric and hybrid vehicles, where viable, to reduce carbon emissions and covers all vehicles operated by the Welsh Ambulance Service. This includes the non-emergency Patient Transport Service, which helps people attend appointments and transfers patients between hospitals. The Welsh Government investment in the fleet of 142 new ambulances and vehicles comes as the Welsh Ambulance Service is poised to introduce improvements to the way it responds to the most serious 999 emergency calls. The changes, which come into force in July, are designed to save more lives and improve people's outcomes following a cardiac arrest, a serious illness, incident, or accident. Jeremy Miles, Wales' Health Secretary, said: "This investment shows our commitment to ensuring the Welsh Ambulance Service has the modern, reliable fleet it needs to deliver exceptional care for people across Wales. "The ambulance service plays a critical role not just in emergency response, but also supporting patient flow through the wider healthcare system. 'By replacing 142 vehicles, we're improving the resilience of our emergency response capabilities and supporting our environmental goals.' MOST READ Chris Turley, executive director of Finance and Corporate Resources at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: 'We're very grateful to the Welsh Government for the continual investment, which enables us to operate a modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose fleet. 'Embracing the latest technologies and innovations whilst working in partnership with staff and trade union partners is essential to provide the best possible experience for patients, as well as an ergonomically-friendly working environment for staff, who spend the majority of their working day aboard these vehicles. 'As the national ambulance service for Wales, spread over an area of 8,000 square miles, improving air quality is something we're very committed to, so these cleaner and greener vehicles reinforce our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint in alignment with the Welsh Government's net zero strategic plan.'

Leader Live
6 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Welsh Government invests £22m to upgrade ambulances
More than 140 new ambulances and vehicles will be part of the first phase of a five-year Welsh Ambulance Services fleet strategy, which will see older vehicles replaced with new ambulances and vehicles fitted with the latest technology, materials, and products. The wider strategy, which runs to 2030, includes prioritising electric and hybrid vehicles, where viable, to reduce carbon emissions and covers all vehicles operated by the Welsh Ambulance Service. This includes the non-emergency Patient Transport Service, which helps people attend appointments and transfers patients between hospitals. The Welsh Government investment in the fleet of 142 new ambulances and vehicles comes as the Welsh Ambulance Service is poised to introduce improvements to the way it responds to the most serious 999 emergency calls. The changes, which come into force in July, are designed to save more lives and improve people's outcomes following a cardiac arrest, a serious illness, incident, or accident. Jeremy Miles, Wales' Health Secretary, said: "This investment shows our commitment to ensuring the Welsh Ambulance Service has the modern, reliable fleet it needs to deliver exceptional care for people across Wales. "The ambulance service plays a critical role not just in emergency response, but also supporting patient flow through the wider healthcare system. 'By replacing 142 vehicles, we're improving the resilience of our emergency response capabilities and supporting our environmental goals.' MOST READ Chris Turley, executive director of Finance and Corporate Resources at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: 'We're very grateful to the Welsh Government for the continual investment, which enables us to operate a modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose fleet. 'Embracing the latest technologies and innovations whilst working in partnership with staff and trade union partners is essential to provide the best possible experience for patients, as well as an ergonomically-friendly working environment for staff, who spend the majority of their working day aboard these vehicles. 'As the national ambulance service for Wales, spread over an area of 8,000 square miles, improving air quality is something we're very committed to, so these cleaner and greener vehicles reinforce our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint in alignment with the Welsh Government's net zero strategic plan.'


Wales Online
6 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
More than 140 new ambulances for Wales as part of multi-million pound investment
More than 140 new ambulances for Wales as part of multi-million pound investment The Welsh Ambulance Service will replace older ambulances which are no longer fit for purpose, replaced by newer vehicles. Ambulances outside a Welsh hospital (Image: Wales Online ) A multi-million pound investment will see more than 140 modern ambulances responding to emergencies throughout Wales. The new vehicles will be fitted with the latest technology, materials and products, according to the Welsh Government. The five-year Welsh Ambulance Services fleet strategy involves the replacement of older ambulances which are no longer fit for purpose, replaced by newer vehicles. As part of the first phase of the strategy, 142 new ambulances will be introduced to the current roster, following an investment of £22.45m by the Welsh Government. Electric and hybrid vehicles will be prioritised in the wider strategy, which runs until 2030. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here . It is hoped this will cover all vehicles covered by the Welsh Ambulance Service in order to reduce carbon emissions, when the changes are introduced in July. This will also include the non-emergency Patient Transport Service, which transports people to hospital appointments and patients between hospitals. The Welsh Ambulance Service is also implementing improvements in how it reacts to the most serious emergency incidents. Article continues below A Welsh Government spokesperson said the changes are "designed to save more lives". It is also hoped it will improve outcomes for people who have suffered a cardiac arrests, a serious illness, incident or accident. Jeremy Miles, Health Secretary, said: "This investment shows our commitment to ensuring the Welsh Ambulance Service has the modern, reliable fleet it needs to deliver exceptional care for people across Wales. "The ambulance service plays a critical role not just in emergency response, but also supporting patient flow through the wider healthcare system. "By replacing 142 vehicles, we're improving the resilience of our emergency response capabilities and supporting our environmental goals.' Chris Turley, executive director of finance and corporate resources at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "We're very grateful to the Welsh Government for the continual investment, which enables us to operate a modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose fleet." Article continues below 'Embracing the latest technologies and innovations whilst working in partnership with staff and trade union partners is essential to provide the best possible experience for patients, as well as an ergonomically-friendly working environment for staff, who spend the majority of their working day aboard these vehicles. "As the national ambulance service for Wales, spread over an area of 8,000 square miles, improving air quality is something we're very committed to, so these cleaner and greener vehicles reinforce our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint in alignment with the Welsh Government's net zero strategic plan.'