THE Emergency Services were called to an incident at a construction site near New Dock Street this evening, Tuesday (Mar 19).
Special report by Alan Evans and Iwan Lewis
Initial reports on social media suggested that as many as 8 men had been trapped underground when a piece of construction equipment ‘allegedly’ failed and fell into one of the shafts.
One person streamed the incident on Facebook Live giving running commentary.
The incident is believed to have happened at around 5pm with the emergency services rapidly responding.
It is understood that two men climbed out of the shaft but that one man was advised to remain where he was for his own safety.
A man wearing an oxygen mask and wrapped in blankets was hoisted from the shaft (shaft 8) on a stretcher at around 7:25 almost two and a half hours after the incident began. He was taken away from the site by ambulance.
Hundreds of people took to social media to air their shock and concern but also to offer their support for the emergency services and their sympathies with those involved in the incident.
The site is part of the Dwr Cymru RainScape scheme. We attempted to speak to emergency services staff at the site but they would not comment.
We were referred to the press office of Morgan Sindall and Dwr Cymru. We have contacted the Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service, the police and other agencies for a comment.
A spokesperson for Morgan Sindell said that they did not wish to comment and asked us not to phone them again.
A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “We are aware of the incident involving one of our contractors which happened at Nothumberland Road in Llanelli late this afternoon.
“Emergency services were immediately called to site and the individual was taken to hospital for assessment.
“We will work with our contractor and the emergency services to fully investigate the cause of the incident”.
A spokesperson for the Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service said: “On Tuesday, 19/03/2019 at 04:56pm, crews from Llanelli and Pontardawe attended an incident in New Dock, Llanelli, where a male casualty had fallen, approximately, 6 meters down a shaft.
“Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service deployed its Rope Rescue Level 3 Team and Urban Search and Rescue Team to the incident. The Ambulance Service, HART Team and Air Ambulance were also in attendance.
“The casualty was extricated from the shaft by the Rope Rescue Level 3 Team, using a two-way line system and conveyed to hospital.”
The Fire Service left the incident at 07:51pm.
Photos: Iwan Lewis
