Llanidloes reservoir tragedy survivor tells of ordeal
The survivor of a crash which killed her husband, mother and two foster sons when their car plunged into a Mid Wales reservoir has spoken of her ordeal. The survivor of a crash which killed her husband, mother and two foster sons when their car plunged into a Mid Wales reservoir has spoken of her ordeal. Denise Griffith described how she was slowing down and pulling into a layby to admire the view at the beauty spot near Llanidloes with her family when she felt a shunt from the back. Her Peugeot 807 ended up rolling over and ending up in the reservoir Bwlch y Gle Dam at Clywedog in the incident on April 20. Her husband Emyr Griffith, 66, mother Phyllis Hooper, 84, and foster sons Peter Briscombe and Liam Govier, both 14, all died in the tragedy. Mrs Griffith managed to swim to safety. The family, from Pontypridd, near Cardiff, had been holidaying in the Machynlleth area when the tragedy happened. [24link]
The survivor of a crash which killed her husband, mother and two foster sons when their car plunged into a Mid Wales reservoir has spoken of her ordeal.
Denise Griffith described how she was slowing down and pulling into a layby to admire the view at the beauty spot near Llanidloes with her family when she felt a shunt from the back.
Her Peugeot 807 ended up rolling over and ending up in the reservoir Bwlch y Gle Dam at Clywedog in the incident on April 20.
Her husband Emyr Griffith, 66, mother Phyllis Hooper, 84, and foster sons Peter Briscombe and Liam Govier, both 14, all died in the tragedy.
Mrs Griffith managed to swim to safety.
The family, from Pontypridd, near Cardiff, had been holidaying in the Machynlleth area when the tragedy happened.
In an open letter written Denise Griffith, 55, said "On the way home my mother and Emyr were discussing the lovely view. We were pulling into the lay-by when we felt a shunt from the back," she said in the open letter.
"The car turned over and rolled and unfortunately there was nowhere other than the reservoir for it to end up.
"A lovely day can turn into a nightmare and a tragedy in a split second.
"When I surfaced and saw my little dog Milly swimming to the rocks, I felt a small pang of relief to know that at least I had her to look after."
She adds: "I have felt a strange sort of calm since the incident and I know that is through all the prayers that are being said for me from all over the world. This story seems to have touched a lot of people everywhere."
Mrs Griffith said married former power company worker Emyr in 1985 and the couple went on to foster 98 children over 23 years.
"We decided to foster children when we found out we were unable to have children of our own. Over the 23 years that we fostered, we had 98 placements.
"Emyr was very happy - he loved to play bowls both indoors and outdoors - that was his passion. He loved going to see Cardiff City play and we were season ticket holders."
Mechanic Gordon Dyche, 23, of Llanidloes, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and later released on bail pending further investigation.
By Anwen Evans
