Husband wants justice after Kiwi’s salon death
Body lay unnoticed for more than two hours and partner is asking for answers
The Welsh husband of New Zealand woman Piata Tauwhare wants justice after his wife was found dead at a tanning salon in Swansea.
Tauwhare, 30 from Hokitika, died at the Lextan studio on May 28.
Booked in for an 11-minute session, Tauwhare was reportedly in her designated room for more than two hours before her body was found after her mother-in-law came looking.
It is understood the cause of death was sudden arrhythmic death syndrome — when someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly from a cardiac arrest.
Husband Ifan Jones, 23, believes salon staff were negligent and forgot Tauwhare was in the building until the alarm was raised.
“How can that happen?” Jones wants to know. “The room where she was is bang in front of the reception desk, you cannot miss it.”
While he accepts it might not have saved his wife’s life, Jones said she could still be alive if staff had checked on her after the 11 minutes were up.
A Lextan spokesperson confirmed a customer had died at the Fforestfach salon and said it was assisting a police investigation.
“We give our condolences to the deceased’s family and friends, and we have also offered counselling to any affected staff.
“We are co-operating with the investigation into this case by South Wales Police and any further inquiries should be made to them.”
The Herald has contacted South Wales Police and inquiries have been passed on to the relevant officer.
Tauwhare, employed by mental health wellbeing service VitaMinds, finished work at 1pm on May 28 ahead of her 1.45pm booked session at the tanning salon.
Jones, a warehouse worker, had been texting Tauwhare throughout the day when she stopped responding. Jones found her silence odd and tried to call her multiple times.
Knowing something was wrong, Jones called his mother to check their house and then the salon.
Salon staff initially showed Jones’ mother an empty room. Presuming Tauwhare had left, Jones’ mother exited the salon, only to be called back in by staff who had found Tauwhare’s room.
The door was locked, but looking underneath, Jones’ mother could see Tauwhare’s legs on the ground, where she had collapsed.
Jones said by that time, it had been more than two hours since Tauwhare’s appointment began.
Arriving at the salon a short time later, Jones said one staffer appeared to be “panicked” and “frantic”.
He suspected a miscommunication during a staff changeover had meant staff were unaware Tauwhare hadn’t left the room.
Had staff checked on her, he said, it could have increased her chances of survival. “Even if they were able to help within the first 5-10 minutes I’m not saying they would have saved her life, but there’s a chance.”
Jones didn’t know if Tauwhare had any heart conditions that might have contributed to her death.
He said losing his wife had been incredibly tough for him, friends and family. “I’m a mess, I’m just depressed and I don’t know what to do with myself.”
He spoke of the love and support he was being shown by Tauwhare’s family and friends.
Her family were devastated, Jones said. Some friends had posted loving tributes on social media.
The couple had met on a night out in Bristol, England, two years ago, while the Kiwi was travelling.
“She was amazing, I’ve never [met] anyone like that before.”
The pair married on September 1 last year in Swansea in a small wedding, witnessed only by his parents.
Tauwhare’s trip to the tanning salon had been in preparation for a holiday to the Spanish island of Tenerife.
She had spent about three years away from New Zealand, Jones said, so they also planned to travel Downunder in December — where he would have met his wife’s family for the first time.
“She was so excited. I was as well, but I was so nervous,” Jones said.
Tauwhare would often call home over FaceTime and had a strong group of friends around her.
Jones described her as a very generous person and extremely proud of her Kiwi roots.
Even if they were able to help within the first 5-10 minutes I’m not saying they would have saved her life, but there’s a chance. Ifan Jones, Piata Tauwhare’s husband
However, Jones felt Tauwhare’s memory was not being honoured by the salon where she died.
He said he hadn’t had any contact from Lextan and staff were seen smoking outside the shop in the spot his mother was laying flowers.
“They haven’t said nothing to me, they haven’t sent condolences, they were open the next day, what does that say?”
Jones was now planning to bring Tauwhare back to New Zealand. A GoFundMe page, started on his behalf, had raised almost $12,000 to help travel costs.
In a WalesOnline article, Detective Inspector Gareth Jones of South Wales Police believed there were “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding Tauwhare’s death. The case had been passed to the Coroner.
Jones understood a police investigation was ongoing but said he wouldn’t stop until the truth was known. “Even if the police say there isn’t [an investigation], I’m taking it all the way,” he said. “I’m pretty confident I’ll get justice.”