Tributes have been paid to Milford Haven firefighter Josh Gardener on the seventh anniversary of his death.
Crews at Milford Haven Fire Station held a minute's silence at 11.30am on September 17 in memory of the father-of-two, who died after suffering a serious head injury during a training exercise in 2019.
Mr Gardener, 35, was taking part in an exercise on the Cleddau River when the vessel he was travelling on collided with another inflatable craft.
Paying tribute on social media, Milford Haven Fire Station said:
"Seven years ago today, the community of Milford Haven lost one of its own.
"Josh Gardener was a kind and generous soul, always willing to help others with a smile."
The station said Mr Gardener would be remembered not only as a firefighter, but as a devoted family man.
"Josh was first and foremost a father to his children, a son, brother and uncle to his family," the post said.
"He was also a firefighter with a determination to help others when no-one else could."
"That was his nature."
Mr Gardener joined Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service in 2018, fulfilling a long-held ambition to work in the emergency services.
Before becoming a firefighter, he worked as an offshore wind farm technician.
A statement from his family, read during the inquest into his death, described him as a "son to be proud of".
The Fire Fighters Charity also paid tribute, posting:
"Today, we remember Mid and West Wales firefighter Josh Gardener, who tragically lost his life during a training exercise in Milford Haven in 2019."
Seven years on, colleagues, friends and the wider Milford Haven community continue to remember a firefighter whose commitment to helping others left a lasting impression on those who knew him.
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