Man swept into river by landslide
A YOUNG man died after an embankment “gave way” during a landslide which swept him into a river, an inquest heard.
Corey Thomas Sharpling, of Station Road in Newcastle Emlyn, was tragically killed during Storm Callum on October 13, 2018.
The 21-year-old, originally from Doncaster, had been travelling to work in Mcdonald’s on a bus from Newcastle Emlyn to Carmarthen when the driver had to stop in the village of Cwmduad due to the poor visibility during the storm.
An inquest held at Llanelli Town Hall heard that at one point the driver had to pull over because of the heavy rainfall and was overtaken by a lorry as a result.
A short while later the bus had to stop again near a cottage in Cwmduad and was behind the lorry which had also come to a stop.
Coroner’s officer Malcolm Thompson told the inquest: “CCTV footage shows Corey travelling on the bus up until the time the bus stops.
“He is then seen to get off the bus at the rear of where the lorry had stopped.
As he reaches the lorry the entire embankment is then seen to give way, sweeping both Corey and the lorry through the cottage garden into the stream below.
“A search was made and a body was recovered from under debris.
“The death was stated by police as a sudden and unexplained death. There was no foul play or thirdparty involvement.”
The inquest heard how Mr Sharpling was regarded as a “largerthan-life character” who “lived life to the full”.
He was a “valued member of staff” at Mcdonald’s in Carmarthen and had recently started living with his partner in Newcastle Emlyn.
A statement from Mr Sharpling’s parents detailed how they would “always be grateful” to everyone who helped on the day of their son’s death. It said: “Some enter the kingdom of God in an hour, others hardly enter it in a lifetime – sometimes a man dies full of years and full of honour, with his day’s work ended and his task completed.
“Sometimes a young person dies almost before the door of life and achievement have opened at all.
“From God they will both receive the same welcome. For both, Jesus Christ is waiting and for neither, in the divine sense, has life ended too soon or too late.
“Our thanks to all those who helped on October 13 and in all the days since – we will always be grateful.”
Recording an accidental death conclusion, acting senior coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Paul Bennett said: “This is one of those cases where a young man was going about his daily business, expecting to work, and his life was cut tragically short that day.
“He died as a result of multiple injuries he sustained when he was swept away in a landslide.
“This was a situation where the circumstances, of which no-one had any control, transpired to take Corey’s life.”
THE Gravells Kia car dealership in Narberth has been recognised for going above and beyond for customers during the past 12 months despite the difficulties faced from the pandemic.
The dealership in Redstone Road was honoured in the 2020 Kia Dealer Excellence Awards, being handed the Customer Experience Award.
Staff were commended by Kia for their tireless efforts throughout 2020 to ensure customers and staff were kept safe.
The dealership additionally received further recognition in 2020 with three more awards, taking home the Kia Presidential Acceleration Award 2020, achieving Kia Platinum Prestige Status, and being named as an ‘industry leader in online excellence’ by Reputation.com.
Ian Gravell, general manager at the dealership, said: “2020 was a challenging year for everybody, so it’s fantastic that Kia has recognised the massive effort our staff put in to put our customers first.
“They have worked hard to implement Covidsecure policies to help ensure we can continue to serve the community with essential services.”