Hundreds of sheep swept away in flood

A FARMING couple have been left heartbroken after a sudden flood swept away hundreds of sheep.

- ANDREW FORGRAVE

The number of recovered carcasses currently stands at 272, with the count expected to rise as more are discovered.

Kiyan Freedom and his wife, Tetiana, who are new to farming, started building their flock on rented land in April this year.

Kiyan was tending his flock on the morning of Thursday, September 4, when he noticed the water level of a nearby river rapidly rising around him, soon reaching waist height.

In an attempt to save his livestock he began diving underwater to rescue the struggling ewes and lambs.

"In places the water was three metres (10ft) deep," he said. "With our bare hands we began rescuing the animals one by one."

Kiyan, a former international criminal barrister who fled Iran fearing for his life, met and married fellow refugee Tetiana, from Ukraine, in the UK. The couple settled in Gowerton, near Swansea.

After being diagnosed with lung cancer two years ago, Kiyan had to put his legal career on hold. Renting land to establish a flock was part of the couple's plan to aid his recovery.

The couple purchased 600 ewes and lambs from local markets and stocked a shed with feed and hay in the village of Pontyates, near Llanelli.

Their rented land is traversed by the Afon Gwendraeth Fawr river.