The taxi driver found himself missing out on work after the incident happened just days before Christmas
A taxi driver has told of his shock at waking in the early hours just days before Christmas to find his minibus on fire – just yards from where his family slept.
Geraint Handley was woken in his home in Merthyr Tydfil by a passer-by banging on his door, raising the alarm that his minibus had gone up in flames.
Geraint, known as Cheggers, was asleep while his wife Sarah tended to their three-year-old son, Jacob, in the early hours of Friday, December 23.
Just before 2am, the family were told that the minibus parked outside their house was alight.
The owner of independent taxi firm Chegs Cabs raced to see what he could do but a neighbour had already called the emergency services.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called at 1.57am to a minibus fire in Twynyrodyn and used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. The incident concluded at 2.11am.
Geraint has since spoken of his shock at the incident happening just days before Christmas – at what is the busiest time of the year for taxi drivers – as well as being so close to where his family were asleep.
Geraint, 32, said: “We were all in bed. Someone was driving past and knocked the door. I looked out of the blinds and my minibus was on fire.
“One of my neighbours had already phoned the fire brigade. They put it out.
“It’s sad because I’m a one-man band. I’ve got a young family – it’s my livelihood.”
He estimated the minibus was just yards away from his home. “It could have had a devastating effect”, he added.
The father-of-one said the incident had affected his income over the busy festive period, and meant that he and his wife have had to put brave faces on over Christmas for the sake of their little boy.
With the van remaining outside their family home over Christmas, Geraint said the sight of the blackened vehicle had upset his son.
But the businessman has been keen to stress Chegs Cabs is still operating and is inviting customers to still get in touch with their transport needs, after receiving countless messages of support from friends, customers and members of the community.
He posted on social media: “I would also like to thank everyone for all your messages and phone calls, I’m sorry I haven’t replied or rang them all back, I’ve literally had hundreds.”
South Wales Police confirmed they were investigating the incident and said enquiries were ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting reference number 1600493613.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/father-left-stunned-after-minibus-12372707
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