Mum and kids stranded on snowbound road for four hours, then a stranger offered help

A “hero” farmer rescued a mum and her kids after their car became trapped in ice and snow for nearly four hours. Jess Kendall, 28, was among a group of motorists who became stranded in the Welsh countryside on a treacherous road.

Snow began falling hard as she travelled to a birthday party outing with her eight-year-old son and 10-month-old daughter. When they became trapped near Llanwenog, Ceredigion, on Wednesday, November 20, Jess kept the car engine running to keep her children warm in the icy conditions.

She praised the actions of a nearby farmer who came unsummoned to the group’s rescue. “The industry is going through a lot of turmoil at the moment but farmers help us in many more ways that we realise or acknowledge,” said the 28-year-old from Llandysul. “They deserve all the support we can give them, we’d all be lost without them.”

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Jess, who works with adults with learning difficulties, was driving out from Llandysul when sleet turned to snow. As she tried to navigate a sloping road, she was brought a halt by a car in front flashing its hazard lights.

“It began snowing really heavily,” she said. “Another woman was coming towards us skidding all over the place before stopping. I got out a blanket to put under the wheels of her case in case it helped - it didn’t.

“A couple of cars had stopped behind me, so I wasn’t going anywhere. Luckily, I’d made up a bottle of hot formula milk and put it in a thermal bag before setting off. So I knew I had enough for my daughter to last five hours.

“I’d also brought a blanket and pillow for my son as we’d started early and he was tired. So we were incredibly well prepared for something that, according to my weather app, I didn’t expect to happen!” Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

To pass the time, Jess and her son threw snowballs and made snow angels while her baby slept in the car. But as the hours began to drag by, Jess became increasingly concerned.

“When the snow eased I saw there was an overturned car 200ft ahead,” she said. “Until then, the snow had been so thick I couldn’t see it. I didn’t call for help as I assumed the people in the car had done so already.

“One of the other drivers told me a gritter had gone up the road 15 minutes before he got stuck but it had not dropped anything on the road. He assumed it had run out and would be back after getting more supplies.

“I tried to move the car but I only got a foot before skidding, so I gave that up. My partner was at work but my dad tried to come - with a boot full of shovels! Unfortunately he got turned away by police who’d closed a road on the way.”

After almost four hours, a quad bike emerged from a nearby farm. Its rider told the stranded group that the occupants of the overturned car were fine and help was at hand. A tractor with a bucket loader materialised and it began clearing the road.

When Jess shared a photo online, the farmer was lauded a hero. “Yet again the farmers go far beyond to help those in need,” said one woman. “Hats off to them for working evenings to clear snow so that people can get home.”

Social media has been awash with images of farmers coming to the aid of stranded motorists during this week’s Arctic blast. Jess and her group were rescued in a week when farmers went on strike and just a day after 13,000 people protested in London over Rachel Reeves’ proposed changes to inheritance tax.

Some farmers are contracted by local authorities to clear snow but many do it through goodwill. Gareth Morgan, an agricultural mechanic in Denbighshire, said that with the planned tax raid threatening the entire agri supply chain, from feed merchants to machinery dealers, this goodwill was being eroded by a sense of injustice.

Conwy producer Gareth Wyn Jones said snow clearance was something the industry had always done. He said: “Farmers have always been there to help people and I don’t think that will ever change.

“We are part of our communities, we have the equipment and the ability, so why wouldn’t we help? We’re not just miserable, grumpy farmers, we do want to do out best for our communities.”

Jess now aims to track down her mystery saviour and buy him chocolates and whisky. “But not until the snow has gone,” she said. “I don’t want to get stuck again!” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

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