WHY DID MY SON DIE IN BURNING GARAGE?
Two years after tragedy, mum is still looking for answers
FIREFIGHTERS turned up to battle what they thought was just a garage fire, then they made a shocking discovery. The body of a man was found inside, and that was when the questions started.
The body was that of Mark Logan, a 31-year-old devoted family man who was married to his wife Kirsty and had two young children, Kian and Jaxon.
This Wednesday – March 10 – will mark the second anniversary of the tragic death
But why was he even in the garage in Rhos, near Pontardawe, a significant distance from his home in Godre’r Graig? What were the events that led him to find his way in there, and begin a chain of events which would end up depriving him of his life, and a family of a beloved father and son?
They are questions his mum, Susan James, is still searching for answers to, two years on
“It only seems like yesterday,” she said. “As a family we are still in shock at the way things happened and there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
“We understand he died as a result of a fire started within the garage, but we have questions of the run-up to him being there.
“Why was he in the garage? Why was he down the street with those boys? Why was he in the taxi? Why were his jeans ripped?
“I do feel I have not done enough. Since lockdown came in we’ve been told to stay home, stay safe.
“When you’re stuck in the house on your own, who do you ask these questions to?
“We are still all devastated. When I say I don’t feel like I have done enough it’s because I have not had the whole information of what led up to him being in that garage.
“I can’t change anything. I have lost my son, but I feel like I have lost my voice. I know because it was a case of accidental death it’s not going to be touched any more.
“What I would like is to have more information and have more assertive answers.
“It is the worst feeling as a parent asking yourself, could it have been prevented?”
An inquest into Mark’s death returned a conclusion of accidental death, hearing the cause was smoke inhalation.
It heard how he had been to a stag night in Cardiff, and later on he and his two friends went to return to the apartment they’d booked at Cardiff Bay after watching the Wales v Scotland Six Nations match.
They were joined by three others, but their booking was cancelled as it was mistakenly assumed they were trying to get all six people into the same room.
They decided instead to get changed in the van they had travelled to Cardiff in and continue with their night before getting a taxi home afterwards.
When they headed back, the men got out of the taxi at the Delforth estate in Rhos, a significant distance from where Mark lived in Godre’r Graig.
The inquest heard Mark had decided to seek shelter from adverse weather by gaining access to a garage through its shutter door.
The door closed shut behind him, leaving him in darkness, as there was no lighting inside.
While inside the garage, smoker Mark accidentally started a fire and was unable to get out. The homeowner was in hospital at the time, and the property was empty.
Susan said she thought about her son every day.
“I find the only person I can speak to about my son is Kirsty, because we shared so much,” she added.
“He was her husband and he was my son. It is quite easy for us to speak about him.
“I am still devastated and still can’t believe what has happened. There is not one day that goes by where I don’t think of him.
“Sometimes it catches you unawares – something can come from nothing. It could be a song, or a thought.
“He is constantly on my mind every day. I think a lot about the memories we shared.
“He was such a fantastic family man and I feel with him not being here his children are going to be missing out on a fantastic bond.”
Mark was a popular person in the community, and loved by many.
He had excelled at school, where he went to Cwmgors and Cwmtawe, and was classed as a high achiever, and he had a lifelong love for rugby, playing at district and county level.
He had also helped with the coaching for the youth side of the rugby team in Trebanos.
“I have kept memory books for the children with photos of Mark and stories of the things he did and achieved,” Susan said.
“Because he used to play rugby for Trebanos they have a trophy in memory of Mark, and the Christmas tree lights in Pontardawe were in memory of Mark too during the Christmas just gone.
“The amount of support has been fantastic, especially to Kirsty and the boys. We feel when things like that are done that his memory is being kept alive.
“We are really thankful and grateful for the support we have received from the community. That in itself is a massive thank you from us.”