Ystrad Colliery Explosion, Glanamman, 1978

A gas explosion in a heading about half a mile into Ystrad Colliery, a small licensed anthracite mine at Glynmoch, Glanamman, killed two colliers, David Fish and Vivian Brown. Cigarette ends and matches were found in the heading afterwards, but at the inquest no witness had seen anyone smoke, and the coroner recorded that the cause remained unknown.

Cause

An explosion of gas in a heading. Several cigarette filters, parts of cigarette packets and a box of matches were found in the heading afterwards, but no witness had seen anyone smoking underground and the coroner said the cause of the explosion remained unknown.

Contributing factors

The manager said it would be easy for men to hide cigarettes despite searches, and that he had not searched the men for about six weeks before the accident. A part-owner said he had smelt smoke coming from the mine about six months earlier and had warned the men, threatening dismissal. Seven miners said at the inquest that they had never seen anyone smoking underground.

What happened

Both men were working in a heading about half a mile into the mine when the gas exploded. Dorian Roblin, a collier nearby, felt a strong blast and rush of air and saw Dai Fish running out badly burned. He got about twenty yards towards Vivian Brown before the gas stopped him, and helped bring Fish to the surface instead.

Rescue & recovery

Dorian Roblin helped bring David Fish out. Derek Gealy was overcome by fumes trying to reach the men. The manager, Glanville Thomas, went in for Vivian Brown and found him terribly burned, with nothing left on but his wellington boots; the coroner praised his efforts. Both men died of their burns.

Investigation & inquiry

At the inquest the coroner, Dr Huw Walters, found that both men died of burns and returned a verdict of death by misadventure, adding that no one had actually seen anyone smoking and the cause was unknown.

Legal & regulatory aftermath

A forum account of the mine's history records that the owner of Ystrad was prosecuted by the Inspector of Mines and Quarries in 1979 and fined 2,800 pounds; the charge is not stated, and the link to the explosion is unconfirmed.

Memorials & commemoration

Unknown.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• The explosion happened on 11 May 1978 at Ystrad Small Mine, Glynmoch, near Ammanford. ¹
• One forum account dates the explosion to 1 May 1973; a former worker in the same thread put it at about 1978. (disputed) ²
• David Fish, 36, and Vivian Brown, 25, colliers, were killed by an explosion of gas. ¹
• Two men were killed; one was known locally as Dai Fish. ²
• Cigarette filters, packet fragments and a box of matches were found in the heading; seven miners said they had never seen anyone smoke underground; the coroner said the cause remained unknown and returned a misadventure verdict. ¹
• It was said locally at the time that the explosion was caused by men smoking in the return airway, though Dai Fish did not smoke. (uncertain) ²
• Derek Gealy was knocked unconscious by fumes during a rescue attempt, and the coroner praised manager Glanville Thomas for his efforts to save Vivian Brown. ¹

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “A gas explosion in a heading about half a mile into Ystrad Colliery, a small licensed anthracite mine at Glynmoch, Glanamman, killed two…”
• Firedamp (hazard involved)
  Explosion of gas in a heading; the sources say only 'gas', which in a coal mine is firedamp.
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s aftermath: “…history records that the owner of Ystrad was prosecuted by the Inspector of Mines and Quarries in 1979 and fined 2,800 pounds; the charge is not…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (secondary) 1978 (Welsh mining fatalities by date) — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (observational) Ystrad mine Glannaman (Welsh Coal Mines forum thread, 2008-2009) — Welsh Coal Mines forum

Record created: 16 September 2026 · Last researched: 16 September 2026