MAN, 87, DIED AFTER BEING CAUGHT UP IN DELIBERATE FIRE

AVULNERABLE pensioner was tragically killed after being caught in the path of a deliberately lit grass fire, it has been revealed. Mystery surrounds the identity of the person or people who unintentionally caused the death of Richard Davies, 87, from Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot.

Now his family have spoken out to raise awareness around the devastating consequences that grass fires can have.

Mr Davies’ charred body was found near a walking trail six days after he was reported missing in 2015.

An inquest into his death, only conducted earlier this month, found that Mr Davies died in a fire which “on the balance of probability” was started without any knowledge that he was in the area.

No individuals have ever been questioned in connection with the blaze.

Speaking after the inquest, the victim’s niece Barbara Jones, 58, said: “We had suspected that outcome all along.

“It’s a bit of a mix of emotions, really, because obviously it was not started with any intent of causing direct harm but they set these fires without realising the consequences.”

The inquest at Swansea Coroner’s court heard that the fire covered around one square hectare, roughly equivalent to the size of an international rugby pitch, on the Glan Gwerlych Trail in Glynneath.

Mr Davies was eventually found but could only be identified through DNA tests and by comparing dental records, due to the in- tensity of the fire.

Mrs Jones’ husband Lindsey, 70, said: “In the days before it happened two other fires had been started nearby.

“Richard was very fit but he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.

“He always avoided crowds and he wasn’t a big talker.

“We don’t really know how the fire started. The inquest said that the fire was started by an unknown person who probably didn’t know that Richard was there.

“Some of the evidence given said that the amount of CO2 in Richard’s blood stream was about 30% and there was no soot in his lungs or airways, so he was probably asleep on the ground and inhaled the smoke when it happened.”

Mr Jones said: “Richy, we used to call him. He used to like going to visit places and sit on the grass and have a sleep.

“He used to walk miles and was always up early in the morning.

“The place that he was found was an isolated area.

“He was found days later [after going missing] by some walkers from the village.

“After he went missing everyone went out looking for him.

“Because of the isolated areas that he used to take himself it made it quite difficult.”

Mrs Jones added: “He was a quiet man. He kept himself to himself and he liked to walk. He would walk 10 miles a day sometimes.”

Assistant Coroner Aled Wyn Gruffydd stated in his narrative conclusion that Mr Davies died from a fire “that on the balance of probability was started deliberately without the knowledge that the deceased was in the vicinity”.

The inquest recorded that Mr Davies died from exposure to fire and fire effluent.

A South Wales Police spokesman said they were notified by family members that Mr Davies was missing on July 1.

They added: “Despite a rigorous and thorough investigation, including the use of a variety of specialist resources, Mr Davies was unfortunately discovered deceased on a hillside near to the Glan Gwerlych trail three days later.

“The circumstances of Mr Davies’ death were subject to an intense investigation involving Forensic Scientists and a Home Office Pathologist to ascertain if any criminal activity was attributed to the discovery of Mr Davies; however, none was identified.

“Our thoughts and sympathy have remained with the family.”