Brian Davies, 68, died when his end‑terrace home on Clydach Road was obliterated in the early hours of 13 March last year. The explosion sent debris across the street and into neighbouring gardens, damaged multiple properties and forced dozens of people to evacuate.
At Swansea Guildhall on Monday, the inquest heard from Claire Bennett, who lived next door to Mr Davies. She described a “really strong” smell of gas at the rear of her property for about a fortnight before the incident, which she assumed was linked to building work nearby.
On the morning of the blast, Ms Bennett had returned from the school run and was sitting in her lounge when she heard what she thought was a car crash.
“Things went dark and I lost a couple of seconds and came to. The house was filled with debris and the ceiling and walls had fallen in,” she said.
She recalled a man’s voice reassuring her as he pulled rubble away to free her from the sofa. Her son Ethan was also caught up in the explosion, and both have since received therapy for post‑traumatic stress.
“For about a year‑and‑a‑half from the moment I open my eyes in the morning until I go to bed at night, I thought I was going to die,” she told the inquest.
The inquest was shown CCTV of postman Jonathan Roberts driving past Mr Davies’ home at the moment of the blast, his van instantly engulfed in dust and debris.
Evidence was also read from the property’s owner, Jeffery White, who said no major works had been carried out in the year before the incident, and from a gas engineer who inspected the home in May 2022 and reported no smell of gas at that time.
Mr Davies, a grandfather‑of‑three and self‑employed builder, had rented the property for around four years. His son Ricky described him as “always in good spirits” with many friends and a love of fitness.
A community still feeling the impact
The March 2023 explosion prompted a major emergency response, with police, fire, ambulance and utility crews on scene for days. A major incident was declared, nearby roads were closed, and a community support hub was set up at Morriston Library.
Residents rallied to help those displaced, with fundraising appeals launched and neighbouring streets offering shelter, clothing and food. Gas pipe replacement work in the area was later brought forward.
Wales & West Utilities, which maintains the gas network, is represented at the inquest alongside the Health and Safety Executive.
The hearing is expected to last a week, examining both how Mr Davies died and the circumstances leading up to the explosion.
