Swansea Inquest hears Details of Fatal Gas Explosion That ‘Disappeared’ House
Swansea, Wales – An inquest in Swansea Guildhall is underway into teh death of 68-year-old Brian Lyn Davies, who died in a devastating gas explosion at his rented home on Clydach Road in Morriston, Swansea, on March 13, 2023. The explosion was so powerful that initial responders didn’t immediately recognize a house had once stood at the location, the court was told.Davies, a builder, lived in the one-bedroom terrace house owned by a private landlord adn managed through a company. The inquest has revealed the property contained a combination boiler and a cooker, both last inspected in May 2022, with the next inspection scheduled for May 2023. Records indicate the cooker had been disconnected sometime after the May 2022 inspection.
Neighbor claire Bennett, who lived next door, described the immediate aftermath of the blast. “There was a massive bang. Initially, I thought a car had hit the house. Everything went dark for a couple of seconds, I’m not sure if I passed out,” she testified. Bennett recounted being trapped under debris,unable to move or call for help. ”I remember a gentleman’s voice saying to me: ‘It’s OK, I’m here, I’ve got you.’ He was pulling loads of stuff off me to get me from the sofa.” She spent a week in Morriston Hospital, Swansea, recovering from her injuries and receiving treatment from the brain injury team.Both Bennett and her son are now living with post-traumatic stress disorder, experiencing triggers like darkness and noises.
Bennett further stated she had smelled gas strongly in the road for a fortnight prior to the explosion, attributing it to maintenance work nearby. She recalled telling rescuers, “Instantly, Brian’s house disappeared. They didn’t even know there was an end house when I first came out. I explained there was an end house and if the white van is there, then Brian’s there.”
CCTV footage shown to the court captured the moment of the explosion, showing a passing post van engulfed in smoke and debris.
Ricky Lyn Davies, the victim’s son, provided a statement describing his father as an active, healthy man in good spirits who enjoyed spending time with his three grandchildren and taking holidays. He noted his father took pride in keeping both his home and work van meticulously clean.
Wales & West Utilities, the company responsible for maintaining the gas network in Wales and the south-west of England, is represented at the inquest.
The inquest continues.
