“This is a tragedy,” he told Carmarthenshire News Online. “On Thursday morning I was in the field feeding the sheep and lambs when I suddenly heard a huge noise. Within moments, powerful flood water arrived. I couldn’t do anything, I just had to watch as the water rose and swept everything away.”
WATCH our exclusive interview with Kiyan Freedom at his farm following the devastating event.
“No Warning, No Help”
Kiyan says he received no flood alert from Natural Resources Wales, the body responsible for issuing warnings.
“We had no notice at all,” he explained. “My wife and I called for help, but were told there was no alarm for this area. Later that evening, a manager rang to take a report and record it manually. Now they’re saying alarms were sent, but nobody here got any warning. They’re calling us liars, but it’s not true.”
Heroic Rescue Turns to Disaster
It wasn’t only sheep that were lost. Vehicles and machinery were destroyed, and Kiyan’s neighbour Bob almost drowned trying to help.
“Bob came with his tractor to try to save me and the sheep. His tractor was pulled under the water. I drove my own 4×4 in to rescue him. He climbed onto the roof of my car to escape. My car’s engine burned out, and his tractor was wrecked too. Another tractor broke down trying to help.”
Kiyan says despite desperate calls, no official rescue teams arrived in time. “We were left to fend for ourselves, me, my wife, Bob, a couple of friends. Only one officer eventually came and tried to call around for help, but no one came.”
Hate and Sympathy Online
After sharing his story on farming forums and community groups, Kiyan faced an outpouring of sympathy, but also racist abuse.
“Some people wrote disgusting things, saying I was faking it, or even that I should have drowned too. Others accused me of illegally selling halal meat, which is nonsense. I have a licence, and I’ve always followed the rules. It hurt, because instead of help I was attacked.”
Kiyan said that he was visited by people who support anti immigration groups who told him they were trying to prove he was not lying. “They were not journalists,” Kiyan said. “They interrogated me demanding I show them the dead sheep.”
Thankfully, many local farmers later rallied to help him collect and dispose of the dead animals. “Some people came to support me, I am grateful to them,” he said.
A Farmer’s Background
Kiyan came to Britain from Iran, where he worked as an international criminal barrister, but farming runs in his blood. “My family has always been farmers, sheep, cows, horses. I grew up with animals. This is not new to me.”
His wife is from Ukraine, and together they began farming in Wales despite his serious health battles. “I have a brain tumour and spinal cancer. For two years I was in a wheelchair. Farming gave me hope and purpose again.”
A Call for Action
Looking ahead, Kiyan wants answers, and urgent action to prevent future tragedies.
“This river should have been dredged years ago. Reports were made in 2018, but nothing was done. If nothing changes, it won’t just be me, it could happen to any farmer.
Today it was my sheep. Tomorrow it could be someone else’s livelihood, someone else’s life.”
And with the rain still pouring as we spoke, his final words were a warning to the nation:
“No farmer, no food. What happened to me today could happen to you tomorrow. We must stand together and support each other.”
Kiyan has a GoFundMe page which has already raised over £3,000. You can donate to the cause by visiting the GoFundMe Page Here.
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