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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Molly Dowrick

Police issue update after woman dies in Swansea tanning salon

South Wales Police has shared new information following the tragic death of a woman at a tanning salon in Swansea. Piata Tauwhare left her home in Swansea to visit Lextan salon on Carmarthen Road in Fforestfach on the afternoon of Saturday, May 28 for an 11-minute tanning session.

It's believed the 30-year-old - described as "the most generous person you could ever meet" by her grieving husband - had a cardiac arrest after getting out of a tanning bed at the salon. Her family say she was found dead by her mother-in-law after no-one had heard from her for an hour. Read more on what her family said here.

After Ms Tauwhare was found, emergency services were called to the salon. In an initial statement, officers confirmed they attended the scene and confirmed that the body of a woman had been found there. They said they did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death but confirmed a file had been prepared for the coroner.

Read more: The most recent death notices in Wales as families remember loved ones

Detective inspector Gareth Jones at South Wales Police has now issued an update on the incident and confirmed an independent examination of a sunbed, understood to be the one used by Ms Tauwhare, has taken place. The sunbed was found to be "operating correctly," Mr Jones has confirmed.

In a statement, Detective Inspector Jones said: "South Wales Police was called around 4.05pm on Saturday, May 28, by the Welsh Ambulance Service following reports that the body of a woman had been found at commercial premises on Carmarthen Road, Fforestfach.

"Emergency services attended and found the body of a woman in her 30s. An independent examination of the sunbed by a specialist engineer has been undertaken. The sunbed was found to be operating correctly with no malfunctions. There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death."

Swansea Coroners' Court has confirmed an investigation is taking place into Ms Tauwhare's death.

Piata Tauwhare, pictured here with her husband Ifan Jones, sadly died in May 2022 during a visit to a Swansea tanning salon (Ifan Jones)

Piata's devastated husband Ifan Jones has shared a tribute to his wife with the Liverpool Echo, as Piata supported Liverpool FC. "Not one person could ever say a bad word about her and she would bend over backwards for anybody, friends, family, or strangers. It's hard," he said. "She helped me with everything. I suffer from anxiety and stuff like that and literally anything, she would do anything for me. Every single one of my friends and family got on with her straight away. Everyone loved her. If I was ever seen without her everyone would ask how she was."

"We found her lying in a room deceased. The staff members hadn't checked on her. She must have had a funny turn and passed away. From what I've been told the longest you can be in there is 20 minutes but she was only booked in for 11 minutes," he added.

"Normally they come and check on you five minutes after the session so they can clean the bed for the next customer. They didn't even check if she was in there or not. It was my mum who found her.

"I asked her to have a look so the staff took her to an empty room and there was no phone. Then, as my mum was leaving they realised she was in another room and the door was locked. My mum looked under the door and saw her feet. They then went to find the key and when we finally got in she was dead."

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