Key evidence lost after fatal house explosion

One property was completely flattened and 68-year-old Brian Davies was killed in the blast in March 2023

Evidence that could help determine what caused a gas explosion which killed a man has been lost, a pre-inquest hearing was told.

Brian Davies, 68, was found in rubble in the aftermath of the blast in Clydach Road, Morriston, Swansea, on 13 March 2023.

Three others, including a 14-year-old boy, were taken to hospital.

A hearing at Swansea’s Guildhall was told there was not sufficient evidence, due to the disruptive nature of the search and rescue efforts, to determine the cause of the explosion.

Harry Lambert, representing Wales and West Utilities told the hearing that key evidence had been "lost and contaminated".

"When Wales and West Utilities arrived on the scene, most of the relevant material and interior had been removed," he said.

Mr Lambert said their investigator was "unable to perform any investigation on the possibility of gas having been leaked" because “JCB diggers and emergency vehicles were removing debris from the property in a search and rescue mission".

This was the "right thing to do", said Mr Lambert, as "it wasn’t known who was alive", however, he added that it did mean the scene had been "extremely compromised".

Search and rescue efforts meant to scene of the blast was "extremely compromised", according to Mr Truman.

Mr Lambert said there was initial thought that the removed material had been kept at a recycling centre but "there were crossed wires" and it had, in fact, been "disposed of".

The full inquest, which is due to take place early next year, will involve a jury and will focus on circumstances surrounding Mr Davies death, the hearing was told.

It was Mr Lambert’s view that the jury will not be able to "reach a direct conclusion on the cause of the explosion".

But Coroner Aled Gruffydd disagreed, and said "it’s the one question that needs to be answered as part of this inquest".

Mr Grufydd added the point of the inquest "is not to blame", but it is "within the public interest to know what caused the explosion".

The hearing was told the inquest will hear from witnesses including neighbours, family of Brian Davies, the Health and Safety Executive, Wales and West Utilities, South Wales Police and the fire service.