Inquest opened into teenager’s death
A BOY whose death sparked the Mayhill riots died from a drug-related death.
Ethan Powell died after collapsing at his grandmother’s home at Llys Hafan on Lamberts Road in SA1 on May 18 this year.
The opening of an inquest yesterday into the death of the 19-year-old was told that after he collapsed in the living room, his grandmother contacted the ambulance service, which took him to Morriston Hospital’s A&E department.
Coroner’s officer Gareth Heatley told the opening: “Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he died later that day.
“The death is not treated as suspicious and a post-mortem [examination] was carried out on May 14. The results suggest his death being drugrelated”.
Mr Powell’s death prompted a vigil at the top of Waun Wen Road in Mayhill two days later.
The vigil, which attracted scores of young people, quickly spiralled out of control, with cars being torched and homes vandalised, the deployment of riot police, some of whom were attacked. Crowds of people were filmed chanting and cheering as a car was pushed down a steep hill into bollards and another vehicle while another car was set alight.
Rioters also threw bricks through the window of a family home while young children cowered inside.
Relatives of Mr Powell strongly condemned the riot – with his dad Jonathan Russ saying: “Ethan would have found it disgusting – it’s not something we want to be associated with.
“I don’t know how a peaceful vigil for my son turned into a riot with innocent people caught up in it.
“I want it to stop right now. We have lost one life already, we don’t want someone else to die.”
The opening of the Mr Powell’s inquest was held at Swansea Guildhall.
It was adjourned ahead of a full hearing, which is set to take place on January 24 next year.