Dad recalls someone holding baby’s lifeless body after car crash

Rob Hall walked his baby outside a hospital when a car crashed into them, his worst fear realized. Rob had previously missed his mother’s death from motor neurone disease in Withybush Hospital. Now, his baby Mabli was fighting for her life. Rob had taken Mabli for a walk, seeking a brief escape from the surrounding heartbreak.

A car sped near the hospital entrance, veering onto the pavement and striking Rob, his brother, and Mabli’s pram. This peaceful day turned into unimaginable horror. Rob was thrown into a parking space, injured but consumed with worry for Mabli. He saw the pram pinned beneath the car.

Rob recalls a horrifying noise and a white car suspended in the air. He remembers being hit and thrown, then seeing the pram under the vehicle. Panic erupted as people ran in every direction. Nurses rushed to lift him, but he couldn’t walk, focused only on finding Mabli. Someone walked by holding Mabli, her body appearing lifeless.

The force of the crash threw Mabli a significant distance, with the car traveling 28 meters at 30mph. Screams echoed from the hospital waiting room. Mabli’s mother, at that moment with her own dying mother, ran towards the A&E, unaware of the reason. Mabli was airlifted to a hospital in Cardiff, her parents following in a police car.

Mabli was transferred to a specialized children’s hospital. Rob and Gwen were confronted by a scene of machines and tubes, all keeping their baby alive. The doctors delivered the devastating news that she was unlikely to survive, a reality Rob struggled to grasp. He and Gwen remained by her side for hours, immersed in the relentless sounds of the machines.

Amidst this unfolding tragedy, Rob received the news that his mother was nearing death, compounding the grief. Soon after, she passed away in her hospital bed back in Haverfordwest.

Rob and Gwen had to inform their other children about Mabli’s grave condition and the likelihood of her death. They also had to tell them about their grandmother’s recent passing.

Doctors advised that Mabli’s life support be withdrawn. However, learning that Gwen’s sister was in labor, they requested a delay, not wanting Mabli’s death to coincide with her cousin’s birth.

Rob and Gwen spent the entire night with Mabli, holding her close and showering her with kisses. Mabli passed away at 12:30 am on Sunday.

Rob was unable to attend his mother’s funeral, another devastating consequence of the tragedy. The collective pain was beyond words.

Bridget Curtis was sentenced to four years in jail for causing Mabli’s death by dangerous driving. The family felt a profound “lack of accountability” from Curtis during the 19 months it took to reach the sentencing.

Curtis offered “no comment” answers throughout the investigation, fueling the family’s frustration and anger as they sought answers. She ultimately pleaded guilty in September 2024, close to Mabli’s birthday. The sentencing hearing was marred by delays, including one caused by a panic attack.

Prior to the accident, Curtis had stopped her car near the hospital entrance, allowing her daughter to exit and retrieve her bag. While her daughter was out, Curtis looked for the bag herself, leaving the engine running.

The accident was entirely preventable, highlighting Curtis’s direct responsibility for Mabli’s death. Witnessing the proceedings in court brought immense anxiety to the family. They are grateful for the attainment of justice, which offers a small measure of relief.

Despite the legal outcome, nothing can truly restore what the family has lost. They remain trapped in a living hell, operating in survival mode each day. The absence of Mabli leaves a void that can never be filled as they try to support their other children.