Caernarfon: 999 call handler was on shift for brother's crash

An emergency services call handler was working in the ambulance control room when the call about the fatal crash which killed her brother came in.

Joshua Lloyd Roberts died after he was hit by a car on the A4085 in Caeathro, Gwynedd, on 2 June 2023.

His sister, Abi Lloyd Roberts, was working for the Welsh Ambulance Service, answering 999 calls, at the time.

"My heart sank. I don't know how, but I knew," she said.

Ms Lloyd Roberts' colleague confirmed a man aged between 19 and 20 had been hit and killed on the road.

She left the room and tried to call her brother several times, but there was no answer.

"About two hours earlier Josh was texting me saying, 'I'm walking home'," she told S4C's Y Byd ar Bedwar.

She said she had a strong feeling something was wrong, and left work early as she was so worried.

Shortly after she arrived at her home in Caernarfon, police confirmed Joshua's death.

"I've never screamed so much in my life. Because I knew it was Josh, I just needed someone to confirm it was him," she said.

"But I knew from the moment the call came in and I don't know how, but I knew."

Joshua, who was originally from Caernarfon, was a student at Cardiff Metropolitan University and a talented footballer who played for his university team, Bontnewydd and Caernarfon Town.

He was also an avid fan of Everton and Wales.

"Football was his religion so to speak," his sister said.

She added: "I wake up every morning and hope it's not true. I look at my phone every morning and see his picture and then I remember. It's horrible, I miss him so much.

"He'll be 19 forever."

After Joshua's death, Ms Lloyd Roberts was offered psychological help by her workplace but, eight months after losing her brother, she decided to leave the ambulance service.

"I feel like I'm stuck in time," she said.

"I have PTSD, I'm afraid that something like that is going to happen again."

Melanie Tookey, Joshua's mum, previously told BBC Wales how the family were stuck in "limbo" waiting for answers about what happened to Josh.

"We've got no closure. Because we don't know what's happened, we've got no idea and perhaps we never will know," she said.

North Wales Police said the investigation into the death had concluded and it was "unable to comment while the investigation is with the coroner".

Additional Reporting by Nathan Archer