Latest news with #EveThomas
South Wales Argus
04-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Daughter of crash victim says filming accidents is wrong
Eve Thomas, from Hirwaun, was only 17 when her father, Nigel Thomas, was severely injured in a road accident. Footage of the crash was shared online along with speculation about his condition. Part of the campaign, 'It's not your story to tell', spearheaded by the South Wales Trauma Network, Ms Thomas wants to prevent others from experiencing similar trauma. She said: "I was on my way home from school when our bus was stopped because of a traffic accident. "I spotted my dad's bike and I went into complete denial... students on my bus started filming the scene on their phones which was wrong." Mr Thomas, now 65, was left with life-changing injuries and spent weeks in an induced coma. Ms Thomas, who now cares for her father, said: "If I can prevent just one family from experiencing what we went through, then sharing our story will have been worth it." Welsh Government minister for mental health and wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said: "I commend Eve for her bravery in speaking out and hope this will encourage more people to call for help when they see an accident or incident."
BBC News
02-07-2025
- BBC News
The worst moment of my life should not become your viral video
When Eve Thomas found paramedics treating her badly injured father at the scene of a crash, she was surrounded by people taking photos and videos to share on social ones were then mistakenly told that Eve's father had died, because online speculation travelled faster than the has backed a campaign urging people to think before sharing images of traumatic events, supported by emergency workers who say these actions interfere with their ability to save lives and preserve Nia Lambley said there had been a "seismic change" in the behaviour of onlookers at the scene of emergency incidents, with phones often used to capture images rather than to call for help. Eve, now 25, was 17 when her father, Nigel, was knocked off his bicycle returning home from work as a delivery driver in Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon school bus was among the traffic that stopped at the scene in the immediate aftermath, and she saw that her father was involved."I was essentially on a bus full of other children that were filming and taking pictures and it was incredibly distressing," said Eve."He was treated by the air ambulance and people filmed his treatment."Nigel had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and numerous other physical injuries. He was in a coma for a month and spent around nine months in hospital. Eve said having the incident documented and discussed online "took on a life of its own"."He was at a very vulnerable point and didn't have a voice in that - he couldn't speak on any of it, and people were sort of doing that for him - putting that narrative out there, that wasn't necessarily true."While friends attempted to have material taken down from various online platforms, the fact that it was filmed or photographed at all is something that Eve has struggled with."Even if it's somebody's old phone is in a drawer, they've got my father's worst moment in his entire life on there," she said."Even if we've managed to get [the images] taken down, the impact of knowing that people would do that stays."If it was you or someone you loved in that situation, would you rather have someone take a minute and think - or call for help - or would you rather them film it and preserve that?" Insp Lambley from South Wales Police is urging people to use their phones to call for help, rather than to livestream a person's final moments. "We're trying to give people as much dignity in that vulnerable moment as possible," said Insp Lambley."When people whip their phones out and take photos of them or video them, we're losing control of that. We're not able to give them dignity."She said there had been a "seismic change" during her 13 years as a police officer."Now it just seems the go-to is that instead of people using their phone to call for help, they're using it to film and upload to social media for nothing more than likes and comments."It's not with the intention of bringing anyone to justice or to assist that person in any way - you're robbing that person of dignity."The campaign, It's Not Your Story To Tell, has been co-produced by Ms Thomas and the South Wales Trauma Network, which is made up of hospitals, emergency services and rehabilitation services. 'Livestreaming their last moments' Insp Lambley said police being filmed by members of the public is common, and said she accepted that officers must be held accountable."But when we see the impact it has on people that we're dealing with as victims of crime or traumatic incidents like car accidents or stabbings, it really hurts, because it completely contradicts what we're trying to do."On some occasions they're using their phone to livestream people in - sometimes - their last moments."She recalled one incident where a 15-year-old boy had died and after attempting to resuscitate him, she and colleagues became aware that a member of the public had taken a photo and circulated on social media that the teenager had said she had been trained to deliver "a death message" with dignity, meaning they would take time to compose themselves before breaking the news to relatives."In this case I literally had to run from the scene to the house of this boy's parents, looking dishevelled and out of breath and bang on their door and say 'I'm really sorry, your son is dead'."That's not how I ever wanted to deliver that message, but I felt I had to get there before social media. You're running against something that you have no control over."For me, I did a disservice to that family."But I intercepted somebody who was on their way to give their condolences, and more or less push them back from the front door, saying 'the [family] don't know'." The campaign was initiated by the South Wales Trauma Network because of the impact the issue has on a number of affiliated Bradley, operations manager for the network, said having someone record your efforts to support a person in their hour of need had "a negative experience for everyone involved", including the professionals."I think it's really important to highlight the effect on staff too," she said."When people are recording them actually trying to save a life the effect is huge. It's a huge responsibility on that member of staff."I have never forgotten any patient that has been involved in any sort of serious accident - or their family and loved ones. They stay with me forever."We reached out to every blue light service and asked them about the impact - every one of them came back and said we have an experience that is negative and we want to be part of this campaign."
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Fairweather qualifies for world champs with stunning swim
Erika Fairweather. Olympians Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans have all recorded world championship qualifying times in an impressive 800m freestyle final on the opening day of the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland. Fairweather showcased the form which saw her reach four Olympic finals last year. The 21-year-old led the race from start to finish, recording a time of 8:21.67s to go well under the world champs qualification time of 8:34.62s. Eve Thomas pipped Caitlin Deans for second place with a of 8:29.32, just over half a second ahead of Thomas. "It means so much to me to make that qualification time," Deans said. "Everyone swam such a good race so I'm really stoked. Sharing the pool with Eve and Erika and having them to push me along has made me a better athlete and got me to where I am and it's great that we all swam under that time." North Shore's Louis Clark won the men's 1500m freestyle in a time that qualified him for the 3-kilometre knockout Open Water event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July. Another athlete to punch his ticket to a world event was 18-year-old Igor Russanov who qualified for the World Junior Champs with his fifth place finish in the 50m Freestyle final. Sixteen-year-old Ariel Muchirahondo continued his fine run of form, picking up the first long course open national title of his career, storming home to win the men's 400m Individual Medley. In the multi class events Viking Swim Club's Gaby Smith took out the women's 100m Breaststroke final. The SB9 swimmer went under the World Para Swimming Championships qualification time. In the men's 100m Breaststroke Joshua Willmer finished third to break his SB8 New Zealand record twice in one day and go under the World Championships qualification time. In the women's 50m Freestyle Chelsey Edwards added another national title to her name, while Zoe Pedersen finished third setting a New Zealand 18-years record and going under the World Junior Championships qualification time. Olympian Hazel Ouwehand retained her national title in the women's 100m Butterfly. More than 350 athletes are competing at the championships.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fairweather wins stunning 800 freestyle final to qualify for World Champs
New Zealand swimmer Erika Fairweather. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Olympians Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans have all recorded World Championship qualifying times in an impressive 800m Freestyle final on the opening day of the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland. Fairweather showcased the form which saw her reach four Olympic finals last year. The 21-year-old led the race from start to finish, recording a time of 8:21.67s to go well under the World Champs qualification time of 8:34.62s. Eve Thomas pipped Caitlin Deans for second place with a of 8:29.32, just over half a second ahead of Thomas. "It means so much to me to make that qualification time," Deans said. "Everyone swam such a good race so I'm really stoked. Sharing the pool with Eve and Erika and having them to push me along has made me a better athlete and got me to where I am and it's great that we all swam under that time." North Shore's Louis Clark won the men's 1500m Freestyle in a time that qualified him for the 3-kilometre knockout Open Water event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July. Another athlete to punch his ticket to a world event was 18-year-old Igor Russanov who qualified for the World Junior Champs with his fifth place finish in the 50m Freestyle final. Sixteen-year-old Ariel Muchirahondo continued his fine run of form, picking up the first long course open national title of his career, storming home to win the men's 400m Individual Medley. In the multi class events Viking Swim Club's Gaby Smith took out the women's 100m Breaststroke final. The SB9 swimmer went under the World Para Swimming Championships qualification time. In the men's 100m Breaststroke Joshua Willmer finished third to break his SB8 New Zealand record twice in one day and go under the World Championships qualification time. In the women's 50m Freestyle Chelsey Edwards added another national title to her name, while Zoe Pedersen finished third setting a New Zealand 18-years record and going under the World Junior Championships qualification time. Olympian Hazel Ouwehand retained her national title in the women's 100m Butterfly. More than 350 athletes are competing at the Championships. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Medals for Deans, Weatherston-Harvey
Olympian Caitlin Deans grabbed Otago's first medal at the New Zealand championships last night. The Neptune swimmer faced a real battle against Olympic relay team-mate Eve Thomas, but Deans prevailed to secure silver in the women's 800m freestyle final in Auckland. She finished in 8min 29.32sec, while Thomas (Coast) claimed bronze in 8min 30.00sec. Former Dunedin swimmer Erika Fairweather, in her first race for new club North Shore since moving to Auckland earlier this year, won gold in 8min 21.67sec. All three swam under the qualifying mark for the world aquatic championships in Singapore later this year. Kiwi swimmer Alfie Weatherston-Harvey collected Otago's second medal, taking bronze in the men's 1500m final. The 17-year-old finished in 16min 13.20sec. Neptune swimmer Emilia Finer was the fourth Kiwi home in the women's 400m IM in 5min 02.66sec. She finished fifth overall after visiting athlete Videau Deotille, of Tahiti, claimed silver. Kiwi Kale Twist finished fifth in the men's 50m freestyle in 22.85sec and club-mate Liam Rees was seventh in the men's IM with 4min 49.49sec. Olympian Hazel Ouwehand was the only swimmer to go under the 1min mark in the women's 100m butterfly, finishing in 58.81sec. Esme Paterson (Neptune) was fifth in 1min 01.41sec. More Otago athletes are back in the pool today for the second day of the championships.
