Treforest explosion: Rhydyfelin rugby players’ bravery honoured

A group of rugby players have been commended for their bravery after helping people to escape from a fatal explosion.

The blast at Treforest Industrial Estate in Rhondda Cynon Taf in December killed 40-year-old Danielle Evans, whose body was found in a subsequent search.

Despite the ferocity of the ensuing fire, no-one else died and there were no other serious injuries.

That was partly thanks to eight members of Rhydyfelin RFC who were in the site’s gym at the time and tried getting everyone to safety and the players have now been recognised by South Wales Police with a bravery award.

Coach Kieron Phillips was among those involved and told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that “everyone was scared”.

“We were all told to go to the back end of the car park but if we had just sat there God knows what would had happened,” he said.

“We decided to get everyone evacuated and away from danger and not to wait for the fire service.”

After the “traumatic time,” Mr Phillips said the team met for weekly coffees in order to check in with each other.

“The thought of ‘what could have happened’ would go through my head,” he added.

Mr Phillips said the police bravery accolade was “very rewarding”.

The blast at Rizla House on the evening of 13 December 2023 caused a fire which tore through the 60,000 sq ft estate’s 13 commercial units.

Danielle Evans’ business, Celtic Food Laboratories, was one of the firms based there.

The company was set up by Mrs Evans, from Gorseinon in Swansea, in 2009 and specialised in the microbial testing of food.

She died from traumatic crush injuries after being caught in the explosion.

Mrs Evans’ family said she was a “whirlwind of a woman”, a “fiercely loyal and loving wife” and an “intelligent, caring and beautiful soul”.