Couple found dead after explosion at home, inquest hears

An elderly couple found dead in their home following an explosion in their garden and house fire have been named.

Marlene Mumford, 84, and William Mumford, 90, died at the incident on Heol Fawr in Nelson, Caerphilly county, and had to be identified through DNA analysis.

Emergency services struggled to get into their home on 12 December 2025 because off the extent of the fire, structural issues and concerns for safety, Gwent Coroner's Court heard on Monday.

At the opening of their inquests, senior coroner Caroline Saunders said there were no suspicious circumstances and a provisional post-mortem examination gave a cause of both deaths as "exposure to combustion products of fire".

The inquests were adjourned while investigations continue and full hearings are scheduled to take place in October.

Speaking afterwards, councillor Eifion ap Llwyd Dafydd said everyone in the community was "sad" and described the incident as "tragic".