Father's Heartbreaking Loss: A Story of Tragedy and Grief in Pembrokeshire
Robert Hall was taking a quiet walk outside Withybush Hospital in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with his eight-month-old daughter, Mabli Cariad Hall. Inside the hospital, his mother was gravely ill. What was meant to be a brief moment of fresh air soon became a devastating tragedy that would change Robert's life forever.
“We were saying goodbye to my mam,” Hall recalled. “Mabli held her hand in the hospital room, and then we decided to step outside for a stroll.”
A Sudden Tragedy
The peaceful moment turned to horror when a car driven by 70-year-old Bridget Curtis lost control near the hospital. The vehicle, which reportedly revved loudly before becoming airborne, struck both Hall and his daughter without warning.
“All of a sudden I heard this horrible screeching,” Hall told Wales Online. “The next thing I saw was a white car flying through the air. I was hit and thrown into a parking bay. When I came to, I was on my hands and knees, and the first thing I saw was the pram underneath the car. There was chaos, people running everywhere.”
Despite the shock, three nurses rushed to Hall’s side, helping him to stand. But his main concern was for his daughter, Mabli.
A Father's Worst Fear
“Nobody could find her,” Hall said. “Then I saw someone walking past me holding Mabli’s lifeless body. I’ll never be able to explain what that felt like.”
Mabli was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, but due to limited space on the helicopter, Robert and Mabli’s mother had to endure a grueling 100-mile journey in the back of a police car.
Hours passed before they were finally allowed to see her. “We kept asking if she was going to be OK, but no one could say,” Hall recalled. “Then around 3 a.m., a doctor came in and sat down. He said it was very unlikely she would survive. As soon as I heard that, I was sick. It was the most horrific thing a parent could hear. We didn’t want to believe it. It was brutal.”
Tragically, Mabli passed away, and just days later, Robert’s mother also died.
A Life Changed Forever
“I couldn’t be there when my mam died, and I had nothing to do with her funeral,” Hall said. “That was all taken from me. The pain and trauma, it’s more than I can process or put into words.”
In September 2024, Bridget Curtis pleaded guilty to causing Mabli’s death by dangerous driving. She was sentenced to four years in prison.
“We’re grateful to the judge for giving us justice,” Hall said after the sentencing. “It’s a relief that the court process is over, and that Bridget Curtis is losing a part of her life. But nothing really changes for us. We are still in hell, surviving day by day. We’re all lost without Mabli, but we’re doing everything we can to support our other children through it.”
Remembering Mabli
Robert Hall’s heartbreaking story is a tragic reminder of the impact of dangerous driving on families. As they continue to grieve the loss of Mabli, Robert and his family are determined to honor her memory and find strength in supporting each other through the darkest days of their lives.
This story is not just about a tragic loss; it serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the devastating consequences of reckless driving. For Robert Hall, the pain of losing both his daughter and his mother in such a short time is immeasurable. But the family continues to push forward, cherishing Mabli’s memory as they navigate their grief.