“I thought I was going to die”: Grandmother’s Carmarthenshire ordeal on 730‑mile Wales Coast Path walk

Janet Baldock, 68, originally from Wales but now living in Wiltshire, was named Fundraiser of the Year by the national Support Dogs charity after finishing her four‑month challenge in aid of assistance dogs.

Carmarthenshire marshland horror

Janet’s epic walk nearly ended in tragedy when she became trapped in a water‑filled ditch while crossing marshland in Carmarthenshire.

She explained how she misjudged her stride while trying to escape the boggy estuary terrain:

“I saw a little bit of wood in the water I thought I could stand on. I stood on the wood and I went ‘woosh’ down up to my neck in filthy stinking water and nearly drowned because I couldn’t get out.”

The retired psychotherapist said she couldn’t reach the bottom and was dragged down by underwater barbed wire. For almost an hour she was stranded, panicking and considering calling for a rescue helicopter.

“I was trying to get out but barbed wire was pulling me down. I thought, ‘this is it, I’m going to die here in Carmarthenshire.’”

Eventually, with sheer determination, Janet managed to haul herself out, suffering cuts from the wire. Exhausted and soaked, she limped two miles across the marsh to a farmhouse where she was able to contact her husband.

Despite the ordeal, she refused to give up:

“I thought, ‘I’m going to get to the end, even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees.’ It wasn’t my time yet.”

A moment of reflection — Janet Baldock pauses to take in the view during her coastal journey.

Completing the challenge

Janet pressed on to complete her 730th mile on her 68th birthday in August, having started the walk in April. She raised £1,760 in sponsorship for Support Dogs, a charity that provides life‑changing assistance dogs for people with autism, epilepsy and physical disabilities.

Her inspiration came after hearing about the charity’s autism assistance programme on ITV’s This Morning.

Flying the flag for Wales — Janet Baldock celebrates her coastal challenge with a daffodil costume and national pride.Janet Baldock embraces the coastal air during her 730-mile trek along the Wales Coast Path.

Recognition in Sheffield

Janet received her award at Support Dogs’ annual Graduation and Awards ceremony in Sheffield, where the charity also celebrated a record 23 new assistance dog partnerships in 2025.

She said:

“It was a complete and utter surprise to be awarded. What’s been amazing to me today is hearing everybody’s stories about how their lives have been transformed by having these amazing dogs in their lives.”

Janet Baldock on the trail in Support Dogs gear, raising funds for life-changing assistance dog programmes.

A journey marked by resilience

Janet’s award caps a remarkable summer in which she overcame exhaustion, injury and a terrifying ordeal in Carmarthenshire marshland to complete her challenge.

Her determination not only raised vital funds but also shone a spotlight on the work of assistance dogs, whose impact she described as “life‑changing” for the families they support.

For Janet, the walk was about more than miles covered — it was about proving that even in the toughest moments, perseverance can make a difference.

Janet Baldock receives her Fundraiser of the Year award from Support Dogs after completing her epic coastal challenge.

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