Rubble from house blast site 'was not preserved'

RUBBLE removed from the scene of a house explosion which resulted in a man’s death was not preserved, an inquest has heard.

- ROBERT DALLING

Brian Lyn Davies’ body was discovered among the rubble at his home address of 159 Clydach Road, Morriston, Swansea, on Monday, March 13, 2023.

‘The retired builder, who was aged 68, had been unaccounted for for several hours.

On day two of the inquest into Mr Davies’ death, held at Swansea's Guildhall, a covering report was given by South Wales Police.

It recalled how a major incident was called, and that the scene was secured, with people in the immediate facility advised to move for their own safety. Debris had strewn 50m.

A gas boiler, gas cooker and gas meter were seized from the scene and taken to a secure compound by Ken Williams Motors, to be held for later examination.

One of the officers who was at the scene, Detective Sergeant Grant Phillips, described the scene as “a war zone” with a huge mound of rubble and a large amount of emergency services present.

He said rubble was removed from the scene by Swansea council staff operating a JCB, and taken to a baling plant at a recycling centre and not preserved.

Mr Davies’ body was found among rubble, in what would have been the kitchen area of the property, resting inside the casing of a washing machine.