This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/30/several-members-of-family-dead-farmhouse-fire-wales-powys
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Several members of family feared dead after farmhouse fire in Wales | Several members of family feared dead after farmhouse fire in Wales |
| (11 days later) | |
| A father and several of his children are feared dead after a fire at a farmhouse in Wales. | A father and several of his children are feared dead after a fire at a farmhouse in Wales. |
| David Cuthbertson, 68, a single father who was previously employed as a builder, is believed to have lived in the property with seven of his children. | David Cuthbertson, 68, a single father who was previously employed as a builder, is believed to have lived in the property with seven of his children. |
| Police said there had been fatalities but were unable to confirm how many people had died owing to the severity of damage. | Police said there had been fatalities but were unable to confirm how many people had died owing to the severity of damage. |
| Three children, aged 13, 12, and 10, were able to escape and were taken to hospital for treatment. | Three children, aged 13, 12, and 10, were able to escape and were taken to hospital for treatment. |
| Emergency services were called to the farm in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, shortly after midnight on Monday when a neighbour alerted the fire service. | Emergency services were called to the farm in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, shortly after midnight on Monday when a neighbour alerted the fire service. |
| Neighbours paid tribute to Cuthbertson and said the family had lived in Llangammarch Wells for the past 15 years after moving from the south of England and were understood to have been renting the property. | Neighbours paid tribute to Cuthbertson and said the family had lived in Llangammarch Wells for the past 15 years after moving from the south of England and were understood to have been renting the property. |
| Ron Birchall, 73, who lives at the former Aberceiros Inn in the village, said: “He was a great guy. All I can say is that he was a great father who loved his kids and doted on them.” | Ron Birchall, 73, who lives at the former Aberceiros Inn in the village, said: “He was a great guy. All I can say is that he was a great father who loved his kids and doted on them.” |
| Birchall said Cuthbertson was separated from his partner, who had moved away after suffering a stroke. | Birchall said Cuthbertson was separated from his partner, who had moved away after suffering a stroke. |
| “The village people are devastated and just can’t believe it. I’ve seen on the news the extent of the fire and it is just a shell,” he said. “Very, very sad.” | “The village people are devastated and just can’t believe it. I’ve seen on the news the extent of the fire and it is just a shell,” he said. “Very, very sad.” |
| Dyfed-Powys police said specialist officers and fire investigators were assessing the scene and treating the cause of the blaze as unexplained. | Dyfed-Powys police said specialist officers and fire investigators were assessing the scene and treating the cause of the blaze as unexplained. |
| Ch Supt Richard Lewis said the three children who managed to escape did not have life threatening injuries. “However, there are a number of people unaccounted for and we can confirm that there are known to be fatalities. Due to the severity of damage at the scene, we are unable at this stage to identify any of the deceased or to confirm the number of deceased. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.” | Ch Supt Richard Lewis said the three children who managed to escape did not have life threatening injuries. “However, there are a number of people unaccounted for and we can confirm that there are known to be fatalities. Due to the severity of damage at the scene, we are unable at this stage to identify any of the deceased or to confirm the number of deceased. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.” |
| Tim Van-Rees, a Powys county councillor who represents the area, said: “It is absolutely shocking and a devastating blow and it is possibly just as well we are in half-term at the moment because the effect on our children and the schools would have been very severe. | Tim Van-Rees, a Powys county councillor who represents the area, said: “It is absolutely shocking and a devastating blow and it is possibly just as well we are in half-term at the moment because the effect on our children and the schools would have been very severe. |
| “I have spoken to the owner of the property who was alerted and telephoned the fire brigade.” | “I have spoken to the owner of the property who was alerted and telephoned the fire brigade.” |
| He praised the action of firefighters : “They risked life and limb to see whether anything could be done but unfortunately their efforts were not well rewarded. Speaking on behalf of the community our thoughts and prayers will all those affected.” | He praised the action of firefighters : “They risked life and limb to see whether anything could be done but unfortunately their efforts were not well rewarded. Speaking on behalf of the community our thoughts and prayers will all those affected.” |
| The Welsh ambulance service said members of its hazardous area response team and four emergency ambulance crews attended, and 20 members of Brecon mountain rescue team helped search the surrounding area for casualties. | The Welsh ambulance service said members of its hazardous area response team and four emergency ambulance crews attended, and 20 members of Brecon mountain rescue team helped search the surrounding area for casualties. |
| Dai Hancock, from the regional fire and rescue service, said: “On arrival, the attending crews were faced with a very difficult situation and did all they could in the circumstances to resolve this. All of us in the Mid and West Wales fire and rescue service commend them for their efforts in the face of what they were faced with last night. | Dai Hancock, from the regional fire and rescue service, said: “On arrival, the attending crews were faced with a very difficult situation and did all they could in the circumstances to resolve this. All of us in the Mid and West Wales fire and rescue service commend them for their efforts in the face of what they were faced with last night. |
| “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and residents of Llangammarch Wells following this tragic incident within their community.” | “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and residents of Llangammarch Wells following this tragic incident within their community.” |
| Wales | Wales |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |