Elderly Couple Killed in House Explosion After Attempting Heater Repair
An inquest heard that a couple in their 80s died in a house fire caused by a faulty gas cylinder connection.
An elderly couple, aged 90 and 84, died in a house explosion in Caerphilly, South Wales, on December 12 last year. The incident occurred as they were attempting to fit a new gas cylinder to a portable heater.
Firefighters were alerted by patrons of a nearby pub, the Tylers Arms, where the couple, William and Marlene Mumford, were known and liked. Upon arrival, emergency services found the property engulfed in thick smoke and the structure severely damaged, initially preventing entry.
An inquest into their deaths at Gwent Coroner's Court revealed that the fire likely started while Mr. Mumford was connecting a new gas cylinder to the heater. Assistant coroner Sarah Le Fevre stated that Mr. Mumford may have realized the fire had ignited and, in an effort to extinguish it, attempted to remove the cylinder from the house. This action, however, appears to have exacerbated the situation, causing the flames to spread.
The coroner concluded that the fire was accidental, resulting from a mechanical or connection failure with the portable gas heater and cylinder, leading to an uncontrolled release of gas. Mr. Mumford's attempts to remove the burning cylinder unintentionally spread the fire throughout the property.
The causes of death for both Mr. and Mrs. Mumford were attributed to exposure to combustion products from the fire. The inquest officially recorded their deaths as accidental.