Police drove away a 61-year-old murder suspect last night who is accused of stabbing a manager at his retirement village, who later died after attempting to drive herself to hospital.
Eleanor Barnfield, 47, was severely injured after being attacked at work when she got into her car in Bridgend, South Wales, on Monday morning, and tried to drive to the Princess of Wales Hospital, around 1.5 miles away.
But she was so badly hurt she only managed to drive a short distance before collapsing at the wheel and crashing into a wall.
The housing manager, from the North Cornelly area of the town, was attacked at work at a retired housing complex in Ger-y-Nant run by Valleys to Coast housing association.
Her alleged attacker, a 61-year-old man, then barricaded himself in a room at the complex, prompting an armed police response and all other residents to be evacuated.
The man was later seen being taken away from the scene in the back of a police van after being escorted to the vehicle by at least four uniformed officers.
Other residents have since been able to return to the retirement village, which has 13 social housing flats for people over the age of 60.
Mystery surrounds the death after it was claimed yesterday a call had been made to emergency services following the stabbing by Ms Barnfield - but today the Welsh Ambulance Service said an investigation showed this was not the case.
Police drive away a man suspected of the murder of a care worker in Bridgend in the early hours of Tuesday, following a 12-hour standoff
Eleanor Barnfield had been trying to reach the Princess of Wales Hospital a mile-and-a-half away, but crashed after travelling 300 yards
The suspect, 61, who allegedly stabbed Ms Barnfield is taken towards a police van by four uniformed officers
Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the crash in South Wales. The incident reportedly left locals 'shaken'
Locals said there was a large police presence, including armed officers and a SWAT team. Police described the incident as 'deeply distressing'
It was also reported yesterday she made a 999 call at 11.25am which cut out. The Welsh Ambulance Service said it was investigating whether they received a 999 call.
The service added multiple calls were received at the time of the incident and inquiries were ongoing to discover if one was made by the stabbing victim. They said on Thursday that following 'preliminary investigations' they do not believe she phoned herself.
'Following preliminary investigations by the Welsh Ambulance Service, the Trust has been unable to identify any calls from Eleanor Barnfield's phone numbers,' a spokesperson said.
'Enquiries are ongoing to establish if any calls were received by other means.'
Police said they were alerted to a traffic collision in Coity Road at 12.43pm, at which point they established Ms Barnfield had 'puncture' wounds which were not associated with the crash.
Paying tribute, her family described the mother and grandmother last night as the 'kindest, most loving, bravest person in the world'.
They added: 'She meant everything to us and will be forever loved and missed deeply by her devoted family and friends. She was our rock.'
Average 'red calls' – immediately life-threatening – in Wales take nine minutes and 24 seconds, falling significantly outside the Government's 6-8 minute target range.
The Welsh Ambulance Service Trust said yesterday: 'The Welsh Ambulance Service were called on Monday at approximately 12:44pm, to reports of a road traffic collision on Coity Road, Bridgend.
The scene outside the Ger-y-Nant retirement home where Eleanor Barnfield was badly injured at work
Forensics are pictured at the scene. Locals also reported seeing riot vans and armed officers, with some residents saying they were asked to 'sign in and out' of their homes
'A Cymru High Acuity Response Unit arrived on scene seven minutes after the initial call at 12:51pm, with two emergency ambulances arriving to provide additional support at 13:07pm and 13:13pm.
'Advanced critical care support was delivered by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service who arrived in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter.
'The patient was conveyed by road to hospital.
'We are aware that contradictory and misleading rumours regarding a delayed ambulance response have been circulating on social media.
'These are factually untrue and we would encourage members of the public not to speculate.'
South Wales Police said: 'Officers were called to Coity Road, Bridgend at around 12.43pm on Monday October 19, following a report of a road traffic collision, wherein a car had collided with a wall.
'Upon attendance, officers identified that the driver had sustained puncture wounds unrelated to the collision. The woman was conveyed to hospital where despite the best efforts of medical staff she later died.
'The woman has been formally identified as 47-year-old Eleanor Barnfield from Bridgend who worked for Valleys to Coast. Eleanor's family continues to be supported by specially trained family liaison officers.
'Following a significant policing operation around Ger-y-Nant which is a Valleys to Coast property, a 61-year-old man from Bridgend has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.'
Valleys to Coast said: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Bridgend on October 19 and can confirm that a member of our team was involved.
'Our thoughts are with our colleague's family, friends and everyone affected by this. We are working closely with South Wales Police and cooperating fully with their ongoing investigation.'
Locals said Ms Barnfield was alone when she was found in the car – only a few hundred yards away from the house being searched by police.
Armed police were brought in and residents were evacuated before police closed in.
Witnesses said officers in stab-proof vests got in through an open window and overpowered the 61-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after 1am on Tuesday.
Witness Darren Owen, 34, who lives opposite, said: 'There were about 15 police vehicles there and to start with they were evacuating elderly residents from the complex.
'The man was in a room on the ground floor close to where the attack happened.
'There was a stand-off for over 12 hours then at 1am it came to a sudden end and the man was led out by four police officers and put into the van.'
Neighbour Sue Thomas, who lives opposite the residential home, paid tribute to Ms Barnfield who 'went to work and did not come home'.
She said: 'The residents are back but people going in have to sign in and out.
'You don't expect to go to work and not come home. I feel for her family.'
Gavin Owen, who lives near the scene, watched as SWAT teams of armed cops swooped outside his house.
He said: 'There was police, everything was cordoned off. So I got scared and worried, and didn't know what was going on.
'When I got home, at the bottom of my street, by the garage, it was cordoned off.
'I had to tell them where I lived and they had to escort me to my front door. They said we're going to have to sign in and out if we want to come in or leave.'
Mr Owen added: 'We had people coming to interview us, asking us for ring doorcam footage. And gradually it then expanded, with standard police officers, then men in suits, and a riot team and then a SWAT team.
'They had ladders up, cable ties going on the roof, it was just insane.'
Today, floral tributes were left alongside the crumbled brick wall on Coity Road that was covered in an orange plastic meshing.
One tribute read: 'My beautiful friend there are no words to describe how broken I am. You were my rock. You have kept me going through life. I will be forever grateful.
'I will miss you forever. My life will never be the same without you, my heart breaks for your friends and family, your memory will always be kept alive.'
Chief Superintendent Jason Rees said: 'This is a deeply distressing incident, and our thoughts are with the victim's family, and everyone affected.
'We thank the local community for their support, which has resulted in an arrest with no further injuries sustained.
'We thank those displaced from their homes overnight for their co-operation at a worrying time as we support them in returning home.
'We thank the local community for their co-operation as our investigation continues.'
Police appealed for anyone with information or footage on the incident to contact the force quoting reference number 2600342470.