It started off as a normal Monday morning. The weekend had come and gone, and people were getting back to their work, the kids were back in school, and everyone else was going about their weekly routines.
But something was about to happen in Morriston that was to shake its foundations and make Monday, March 13 a day that will never be forgotten in the area. A huge explosion stopped everyone in their tracks at around 11.20am. The blast was so fierce that people living nine miles away reported hearing a loud explosion and shoppers in a nearby Lidl said that the whole building shook.
The source of the explosion was at a home on the junction of Clydach Road and Field Close in Morriston. Its impact was so fierce that it completely decimated the home, largely reducing it to a pile of rubble. Neighbouring properties were also damaged as tiles rained down in gardens and bits of pipe smashed windows.
Scenes of chaos played out along Clydach Road as a brave few bravely rushed forward into the property to look to rescue anyone who was in the property. The first was Keith Morris. He had been driving a council van just a few hundred yards from the properties when he heard a “mighty explosion” and “felt the shockwaves” before debris started falling around him blocking the road ahead.
Swansea Council worker Mr Morris fought his way through thick dust and debris to reach a mum who was trapped in the wreckage and guided her out before helping her into the arms of fellow rescuers. He then ran back into what was left of the building to look for her son who had been in a room upstairs. Fortunately, the youngster had been helped to safety by others who had reached him from the side. The Swansea Council highways supervisor then turned his attention to rescuing the family’s dog and after locating the pet forced its cage apart while another man pulled the animal out.
“I pulled up outside and jumped out of my vehicle and I could hear shouting and screaming from inside,” he said, recalling the moment he forced the door open to get into the building. "There was nothing but dust, just grey dust, and as I went into the house I could not see anything but I could hear her screaming. I started pulling up boards and bricks and whatnot and eventually I saw a little arm come out of the debris. I helped her out but she was shouting ‘my son is upstairs’ but when I looked up there was no upstairs left. When I first went into the house I was on autopilot. I did not know what I would find. I feel so sorry for them because they have been left with nothing – their house was destroyed. At that time I thought that their house was the end of the terrace, but I was told later that there was a neighbouring one but that had just gone.”
Around 10 houses away, Daniel and Stephanie Hopkins were at home when the “chaos” started. Mr Hopkins ran to the affected properties and helped pull one woman from the rubble. Mr Hopkins said: “It was chaos. It was literally like a bomb had gone off. It was everywhere. You could see part of the roof on the floor. Just strips of wood. You never expect this sort of thing to happen anywhere near you. I ran out to see if there was anyone still in the house. I got down there. There was one guy already helping the woman out of the house as I was there. She was shouting about her son. He was in the lane, he must have come down with the rubble.”
Wit the alarm now raised, police, paramedics and the fire service rushed to the scene in their numbers - and an extensive road cordon put in place. Two adults and a child were taken to A&E at Morriston Hospital, but one person remained unaccounted for.
As the search began, attention also turned to evacuate residents who lived in close proximity of the affected property, who had their own homes badly damaged by the impact of the explosion. They first assembled at the nearby base of Morriston Town Football Club at The Dingle, which did its utmost to help all of those affected, which included elderly pensioners.
One committee member explained: “I heard the bang, and there were tiles and parts of windowsills all over our pitch. Everyone gathered here first of all. There was a group of around 20, including two women in their nineties, and one in a wheelchair and one using a Zimmer frame. The explosion cut our power off - everything was off until around 4pm when generators were brought in. We boiled a kettle on a Calor gas ring to get teas and coffees to everyone who was here. They were completely shocked by what happened. Everyone is just so upset, it’s devastating. It just does not seem real. Most of the people here are pensioners and they were worrying mainly about their medicines in the house."
Two buses arrived later that evening to move those affected and unable to return to their homes to Morriston Memorial Hall, where a rest centre was set up. But back at the scene of the incident, emergency service workers were about to make a discovery that everyone had feared.
A search of the scene discovered the body of a man who was previously unaccounted for. He was later confirmed by South Wales Police to be 68-year-old Brian Davies. Detective inspector Carl Price said: “Our thoughts remain with Brian’s family and friends, at what is a very difficult time for them, and those who have been injured following the explosion. Our inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the incident and these inquiries are being carried out in partnership with relevant agencies including the Health and Safety Executive."
The sadness at Mr Davies' tragic death was widespread in the community. Sioned Williams, MS for the South Wales West region, said Mr Davies had been described locally as very well-liked.. She said: "He apparently used to sit outside on the step and talk to people in the street. A lot of people knew him and liked him and are deeply, deeply concerned for him." Andy Williams, who has lived on the street for 25 years, became emotional saying: "He's only lived here for a couple of years but I knew him well. He's just a nice guy, a lovely guy. He's always outside chatting."
Wanting to do something to help, Morriston Town Football Club used its base as a donation point where people could drop off clothes, household essentials and food items to help those who needed it the most, along with a collection pot for people to donate cash. The response was overwhelming, with crates and bags absolutely full of items donated by many wanting to do their bit to help, to the extent that excess clothes not required by those in need will now be donated to the Wales Air Ambulance, and excess food to the Matt's Cafe charity. Schools in the Morriston area were also quick to signal their intentions to help, with Cwmrhydyceirw Primary School, Pentregraig, Clase, Morriston, Ynystawe, Glyncollen, together with Morriston Comprehensive School deciding to raise money for the victims of the explosion instead of Children In Need.
The following day, the clean-up operation had begun, with JCBs lifting rubble from the affected home onto the back of vans to be driven away from the scene. It was also the moment where the father of a 14-year-old boy who was pulled from the rubble of their house after an explosion returned to the scene. Ethan Bennett and his mum Claire were at home when the blast happened near their Morriston home. The teenager was in the attic room and had to be pulled from what had been the roof of the building. His dad Anthony said that his son was very shaken up but "alive".
He told BBC Wales: "Ethan just remembers the explosion going and him being thrown up against the ceiling and hitting [it]. Next thing he knows he seems to be outside. Not sure if he lost consciousness or not. Part of the roof was under him and part of the roof was on top of him. The guy who lives a couple of doors down ran across to check on Claire and then he dragged Ethan out. He carried Ethan off the roof to get him out. " Anthony said at the time his wife was still in hospital with six broken ribs and a "nasty gash" to her head, but Ethan had been discharged on the night of the explosion. "My wife is OK, in a lot of pain, but she is OK. Ethan was discharged. He is very shook up and mentally he is struggling to cope, but he is alive."
Clydach Road has now re-opened with a three-way traffic control in place, with Swansea Council warning residents that it would be unlikely that vehicle access to Field Close would be possible for a number of weeks due to the risk of falling debris, with alternative solutions to allow cars to access the road being looked at, setting up some temporary surfaces from Midland Pub. The properties with damage are now fenced in and a drop zone is in place to catch any falling debris.
The authority has strongly advised residents to get gas and safety checks as soon as possible, adding that a few properties remain unsafe to visit, and unless residents have been informed they are unable to access their home and they wish to return, they do so at their own risk, but that should be subject to safety checks in conjunction with their own insurance providers who will have to determine safety based on individual and neighbouring properties.
On Saturday, March 18, Don and Donna Fontanilla, who lived at one the houses closest to the explosion, revisited their home to remove some household items, such as shelving, pictures and plants. Many affected residents are still being put up in hotel rooms whilst the road continues to be assessed.
Steve James, 69, from Gorseinon, spoke to WalesOnline at the scene, explaining how his 92-year-old mum, Winifred Yeoman's house had been sustained some damage as a result of the blast. His brother, Christopher Yeoman, also lived there. He said: "It was a phenomenal blast, she thought the front of her house blew off. My mum has come to live with us and my brother has been put up in hotels. The house has been left with a crack in the ceilings and damage around the doors and windows, and has to undergo safety checks before they can return. I think everyone is in shock by what has happened and would like to come back to their houses as soon as they can."
Swansea Council for Voluntary Service and its local partners are encouraging donations. The money raised is being used initially to provide emergency financial support to people immediately impacted by the explosion who may need to replace urgent items that have been damaged or destroyed, and longer term to support additional costs. The donation page can be found by clicking here. Morriston Town FC is still accepting donations of food and toiletries, along with cash donations, but no longer needs clothes.
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