Firefighters honoured 15 years after rescue (From Western Telegraph)

Firefighters honoured 15 years after rescue

FIVE brave firefighters and a motorist were on Monday recognised formally for their heroism 15 years ago when they saved a family from torrential floods.

They were sub officers Les Owen, Phil Chapman and Gerwyn Howells; leading firefighter John Roberts; retired senior divisional officer Mike George and passing motorist Stuart Evans.

Farmer Billy Harries, his wife Susan and three young children, were in their car which drove into water near Treffgarne Bridge, just off the A40 Haverfordwest to Fishguard road.

Instantly, they were swept in the darkness down the road tunnel on the road from Spittal.

Speaking to the Western Telegraph after the August 1986 incident, Susan Harries said: We didnt see the water, but the next moment we were picked up as if by a giant hand.

We were swept through the tunnel with water pouring into the car and, at the other end, the car went over on the drivers side and ended up wedged against a tree.

The car had actually been swept into a ditch six feet below the roadside, which was itself under two feet of water.

Mrs Harries continued: The water came over the top of the windscreen and all I wanted to do was get the children out.

I opened the window and climbed through, and my husband passed out Thomas and Rebecca.

Billy Harries got eight-month old Melanie out of her car seat and climbed out holding her, and the family stood perilously on top of the car, clinging to trees above.

Luckily, a passing motorist Stuart Evans, saw the family in his headlights and went for help.

Ten minutes later, the firefighters and police arrived.

The firemen tried several times to wade across to the car, but the raging torrents forced them back.

A ladder was then extended across the river and held in place by the crew.

Firefighter John Roberts crawled across the river to the car while Stuart Evans positioned himself on the ladder to help the adults and children to safety over the torrential water.

I thought we were going to die. The water kept rising, said Mrs Harries.

We must be the luckiest family alive.

Captions: Pictured at Mondays presentation at Carmarthen are: (left to right): Mike George, now retired after serving as senior divisional officer of Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade; Stuart Evans; sub officer Gerwyn Howells, who is based in Pembroke Dock; new western area commander, senior divisional officer Phil Coleman; sub officer Les Owen, Haverfordwest; station officer Ian Jenkins; Haverfordwest; sub officer Phil Chapman, Haverfordwest, and leading firefighter John Roberts, Haverfordwest. Before the presentation, a two minutes silence was observed in memory of their American colleagues lost in the New York atrocity. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.