A WELL‑known farmer and Denbighshire councillor has thanked rescuers from his hospital bed after suffering a fractures to his spine on the slopes of Moel Famau.
Huw Williams, a Denbighshire county councillor and Llanbedr DC sheep farmer, was gathering strays on Saturday when his quad bike suddenly reared and toppled backwards, pinning him to the hillside.
His wife Diane and son Will, who were watching nearby, raised the alarm.
Within minutes, a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter was circling overhead, joined by Welsh Ambulance Service crews, North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) volunteers and Clwydian and Dee Valley rangers — the latter arriving in their new Munro M280, the UK’s first electric 4x4 of its kind.
NEWSAR later shared a short video from the scene, explaining how volunteers gave pain relief before carefully sliding Huw onto a vacuum mattress and stretcher.
A video from the scene was also shared by NEWSAR:
Using a rope system, the team lowered him down the hillside to their vehicle before transporting him back up to a waiting ambulance at Bwlch Pen Barras.
Huw was taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, where scans revealed two fractured vertebrae. Speaking from his hospital bed, he admitted the accident came down to a “momentary lapse” while rounding up a lone sheep that had strayed into gorse.
Despite the seriousness of his injuries, he has kept his spirits up — and made sure to thank everyone involved.
Speaking to the Free Press from his hospital bed, he displayed typical farmer stoicism.
"It could have been worse," he said.
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He added that he wanted to especially thank the volunteers and emergency teams that came to his aid, and the "amazing" NHS who are helping him on the road to recovery.
“Thanks for all the kind messages over the past 24 hours,” he said. “Glan Clwyd Hospital, you have done me proud.
"Just like to thank the Air Ambulance, mountain rescue, ambulance service and the AONB for all they did when they came to my rescue.
"Now sat in Glan Clwyd hospital with two fractures on the spine. Looking forward to getting back on my feet now.”
He said he had been trying to save time by driving his quad into the gorse when he must have hit a rabbit hole.
The bike, he explained, reared up a bank before falling back on him.
He said it crushed him, but fortunately kept toppling so he wasn’t pinned underneath.
NEWSAR volunteers, who respond 24/7 across Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham and parts of Conwy and Powys, wished him a speedy recovery.
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