Electricity workers dig through massive snowdrift to get ambulance to patient in rural Wales

SP ENERGY NETWORKS ENGINEERS DIG VITAL ROUTE THROUGH SNOWDRIFT FOR AMBULANCE CAUGHT IN BLIZZARD IN RURAL WALES

Two SP Energy Networks engineers stepped in to help an ambulance get to a patient in the heart of rural Wales as blizzard conditions caused massive snowdrifts.

With the road impassable and air ambulances grounded by high winds, SP Energy Networks workers Rob Turner and Guto Davies worked flatout to dig a way through a waist-high snowdrift near the village of Llanfyllin in Powys so that medics could get to a dialysis patient in need of urgent transport.

It took the Oswestry-based pair of SP Energy Workers 45 minutes to find a path through the massive drift and make the road passable.

They even had to winch an abandoned car out of the way and cut a chain on a gate to allow the ambulance through,  before making sure they fixed the chain and gate again.

The ambulance was able to make its way to the nearby patient, who has not been named, for the vital treatment.

SP Energy Networks director Stephen Stewart said: “Our staff have been helping communities across our network area throughout this recent horrendous weather and Rob and Guto did exactly what we would expect of them.

“We are lucky to have a fleet of 4×4 vehicles and engineers who are able to deal with driving in adverse conditions, and we are happy to help communities wherever we can.”

Guy Jefferson, SP Energy Networks customer services director, said:

“In the majority of places, our network in Mid and North Wales is holding up well so far amid the snow, freezing temperatures and high winds.

“We currently have approximately 1500 customers still off supply in various pockets spread across the area which we are working to restore as quickly and as safely as possible. Aberystwyth has seen the most faults so far with gusts of up to 65mph recorded and the area is proving very challenging for our engineers to access.

“Some places are inaccessible at present due to the conditions but we’re working with local authority teams to try and get through.

We’ve had one occasion this morning where one of our field staff was blown off his feet and another saw a tree fall onto a stationary repair vehicle, shattering the windscreen, although thankfully our staff weren’t inside at the time.

“We’d ask anyone who’s power is affected to please bear with us, we’re certainly trying our best to get supplies back on in some very challenging conditions in places.

“Helicopter patrols are checking the lines from above and we’re using every 4×4 vehicle we have available. We’d advise anyone who does experience power outages to ring the national 105 helpline. The quicker we are alerted to a power cut, the quicker we can respond.”

SP Energy Networks is also offering the following advice to ensure residents across its network in North and Mid-Wales are prepared in the event of a power cut:

KEEP YOUR MOBILE CHARGED – if your mobile is out of battery or signal, it’s worth having an analogue phone as this doesn’t run off the main electricity supply. Remember, the 105 national helpline number and the SP Energy Networks number completely free to call.

• KEEP A BATTERY POWERED TORCH HANDY – you can use this to

check on the fuse box and make your way around the house safely.

• AVOID LEAVING YOUR FRIDGE OR FREEZER OPEN – they will

remain cold for a considerable amount of time when power is off.

However, it’s best to minimise the amount of times you open the door.

• UNPLUG POWERED EQUIPMENT – this includes electrical

appliances such as your TV and laptop, as well as heaters, electric fires and cookers which you may forget about when power is restored.

• PRIORITY SERVICE REGISTER – if electricity is crucial to

your health (for instance, if you use medical equipment at home) ask to be included on our priority service register. This way if your power is off we can make sure you are supported.

For more information on what to do in the event of a power emergency, visit http://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/power_cuts.asp [1]. In the event of a power cut, call 0800 001 5400or the new national 105 helpline to report the problem and receive help as soon possible.