Tributes to a loving father (From Free Press Series)

Tributes to a loving father

THE community of Trevethin was still in shock this week after the tragic death of father-of-two Shane Powell.

An inquest into the 29-year-old's death opens tomorrow, seven days after the BMW in which he was travelling plunged 100ft into a quarry at Swffryd.

Mr Powell's father, Fred, said: "Shane was a wonderful son who would do anything for anybody. He will be missed by myself and my family."

Another family member spoke of their devastation and said no funeral plans could be made until Shane's body is released. A police spokesman said: "The post mortem was completed on Monday, but we are still waiting for the results of a toxicology report."

TRIBUTES were paid to a young father-of-two and much-loved brother and son, who died exactly one week ago.

Shane Powell, from Beechwood Walk, was killed as the car he was travelling in left the B4471 at Swffryd and plunged 100 feet down Monk's Quarry.

Mr Powell's family and residents of Trevethin have been devastated by the tragic loss of a well-known local man, who "will be truly missed."

Mr Powell's father, Fred, said: "He was a wonderful son. He was willing to do anything for anybody. We are all devastated by his death and we would like to thank everybody for their support."

The fatal accident happened at around 3.50pm last Wednesday afternoon as the car was travelling towards Llanhilleth, it is thought the BMW left the road and then rolled down the embankment, before plummeting half way down the quarry, stopped only by some large boulders.

It took police and fire fighters at the scene over three-and-a-half hours to retrieve the badly smashed BMW from the sheer drop.

During the week the family have left flowers at the scene - heart-rending, simple messages of condolence.

St Cadocs and Penygarn councillor Mike Davies is a lifelong friend of Shane's dad Fred.

He said: "I feel so deeply for the family. You invest so much in your children. To lose a son at that age is such a terrible tragedy.

The BMW had been modified for use by a disabled driver but it crashed through a concrete barrier on the Swffryd Road, Swffryd, near Crumlin and alongside Mr Powell were Jack Magee, 47, from Aberbeeg, 21-year-old Alex Williams from Malpas, Newport, and Karl Devlin, 19, from Malpas.

They all died at the scene.

Before his untimely death Mr Powell had been waiting for the arrival of his third baby. His girlfriend Kerry is due to give birth in December.

His sister, Wendy Taylor, said: "He was hoping for a baby daughter as he has two boys already. He loved his children."

She said that her only brother had been a keen motorbike scrambler and had won several trophies in competitions.

The family had lost their mother, Joan Powell, 12 years ago and Mrs Taylor said, "He always wanted to be with her and now he is."