MAN DIES IN CHURCH COLLAPSE HORROR
EMERGENCY CREWS LOCATE MAN’S BODY IN RUBBLE AT CITY LANDMARK
TRAINS STOPPED AS WRECKAGE SPILLED ONTO SOUTH WALES MAIN LINE
BUILDING DANGER WARNINGS WERE RAISED LAST YEAR
A MAN has died after a “dangerous” derelict church building collapsed – causing major disruption on the rail network.
Emergency services were called to the incident in the Adamsdown area of the city at 2.51pm yesterday.
The building, which sits on the junction between Splott Road and Pearl Street, was in the process of being demolished when part of it collapsed.
Two casualties escaped with minor injuries, while a third died, the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.
Area manager Gareth Davies said: “A gentleman was sadly found trapped within the collapsed structure and has tragically lost their life.
“In the coming hours, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews and the All Wales Urban Search and Rescue specialist rescue team will be working to extricate the gentleman and will be supporting South Wales Police, as well as other partner agencies in their investigations. As a service, we wish to extend our sympathies to the individual’s family at this very sad time.”
Mr Davies described the rescue operation as “arduous” and slow due to unstable conditions and specialist equipment.
He added: “As a further precaution, the adjacent railway line between Cardiff and Newport continues to have limited services running. We are working with Network Rail to ensure that the line is fully reopened as soon as possible.”
An eyewitness said work stopped after shouting was heard and a passing Cross County train was flagged down.
Jarred Brekke said: “An old chapel collapsed partially.
“I knew there were people working on taking it down so looking outside I could see a small could of dust.
“I heard the men shouting the same word or possibly a name and all work stopped.”
A resident from nearby Agate Street said the tragedy took place within 10 minutes.
The 40-year-old woman said: “In the 10 minutes it took to get my daughter from school the building collapsed.
“It’s really worrying to think it’s a couple of doors down from you.”
Pictures from the back of the building facing the railway line show collapsed walls and scaffolding, with emergency services surveying the scene.
Nearby residents have described the long-standing empty church as “dangerous”.
Chris John, 57, from Railway Street said: “It’s been empty for donkey’s years.
“It used to be a Salvation Army and then a second hand furniture shop.
“The windows have been smashed up for years, it’s been looking fragile for a while.”
Recent pictures from residents show the steeple of the church supported by what they described as “bits of old wood”.
One woman from Agate Street described the incident as “an accident waiting to happen”.
She said: “It was dangerous, points on the roof were swaying Saturday night.”
“It’s awful. You just think of your friends and family nearby.”
Steve Boaka from Splott Road said: “I’ve been in the army and I’ve never seen anything like it.
“This is the reaction from emergency services you get when there’s an explosion.”
An application made in November to demolish the building said it was in poor condition, with the back of the building “partially collapsed.”
The report added the three-storey building had no ceiling to ground floor with damp and cracked internal plaster.
Local blogger Inksplott said Network Rail suspected the building was unsafe following an assessment of Splott Bridge last year.
MP for Cardiff Central Jo Stevens said the building had been “subject to comment” during a recent meeting with Network Rail.
She said: “I am really concerned about the collapse of the derelict Citadel building on the corner of Pearl Street in Adamsdown. During my recent meeting at the nearby work site with Network Rail, the stability of the building was subject to some comment.
“Network Rail staff acted quickly following the incident to ensure the safety of track staff, drivers and rail passengers and I am pleased to hear that two lines have now reopened and