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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Steven Morris and agency

Off-duty medics helped treat people injured in Welsh campsite crash

Newgale campsite in Pembrokeshire, Wales
The incident occurred on Saturday at Newgale campsite in Pembrokeshire. Three people remain in hospital. Photograph: Robert Harding/Alamy

Off-duty medics and emergency workers who were on holiday tended to nine people injured when a car “flipped and rolled” into a packed campsite, hitting a tent where a young boy was sleeping.

Witnesses described how medics staying at the site in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, treated injured people until paramedics arrived at the scene and told of the screams coming from the crashed car.

Though the boy in the tent was unhurt, it is understood that his parents were injured in the incident on Saturday evening and one of them is believed to be among the three people still being treated in hospital.

Fern Wilson and Joshua Tam said they heard the car flip over and rushed to help. Wilson said: “We helped move the car over – there were a lot of young people in the car. There were girls crying and screaming in massive shock.

Scene of the incident at the Newgale campsite in Pembrokeshire.
Scene of the incident at the Newgale campsite in Pembrokeshire. Photograph: BBC

“A lot of people came to help, there were first-aiders and a nurse, everyone pulled in to help, which was great to see.”

Peter Morgan, councillor for Newgale, said: “It’s a miracle no one was killed. There were two surgeons and other medics camping on the site, so they ran to help and may have saved lives. It’s a well-run campsite and very popular with families and surfers at this time of year.”

Dyfed-Powys police said on Monday that three people remained in hospital. “No arrests have been made at this time. We are aware of the considerable amount of interest in this incident, which is understandable,” the force said.

“The investigation team continues to engage with witnesses to establish the full circumstances of what happened.

“We would respectfully request that speculation is minimised and that anyone with information that may assist the investigation contacts police.”

Clare Harris, who runs Newgale campsite with her husband, Mike, said the blue Ford Fiesta was being driven down a hill on a road next to the campsite. “It flipped and rolled several times, and crashed into the tent. There was a young child in the tent at the time, thankfully they are OK,” she said.

Mike Harris, who has given CCTV footage of the crash to police, said the child’s cot appeared to have saved him.

The boy’s parents are believed to have been socialising with other campers at a tent a few metres away when the car entered the site.

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