An ambulance crew was forced to sit at the side of the road for more than four hours after recovery vehicles were unable to find enough diesel to rescue them.
Seren Williams and Tia Richards-Moore, who work for Cartello Ambulance service, were driving their patient transport vehicle through Llanddulas in Conwy on Monday (September 27), on their way to pick up a patient from nearby Glan Clwyd Hospital when the vehicle broke down, NorthWalesLive reports.
As per the private firm's protocol, a back-up ambulance was sent to recover them - but this vehicle had to abandon its rescue attempt due to fears it would run out of diesel before arriving.
Read more: You can find more of our Traffic and Travel stories here
The pair then called for a recovery truck, only to find that local firms were also struggling to find fuel and were therefore unable to provide assistance.
Many filling stations across Wales have run dry in the last week after drivers made a dash for the pumps amid fears a shortage of tanker drivers, caused by a mix of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic, would hit supplies.
Seren said: "It’s ridiculous at the minute that emergency services and vital services can’t get fuel because people are panicking that there is a shortage.
"There wasn’t a shortage until people started being ridiculous with how much fuel they were buying. It’s making our jobs a lot harder and it’s worrying for everyone not knowing if we are going to be able to do our jobs."
After spending almost five hours at the roadside, the crew was forced to abandon the vehicle and make their own way home, but, luckily, a generous couple who were passing by offered to give the pair a lift back to their Flintshire depot.
Seren offered her thanks to the "lovely" couple, but urged people not to fill up their vehicles unless it is necessary.
"Think before you fill up," she said. "Do you really need to?"
To get the latest email updates from WalesOnline straight to your inbox click here.
