Families still waiting for answers two years after Chevron oil refinery blast in Pembrokeshire

Two years after the tragic incident at the former Chevron oil plant in Pembrokeshire in which four people died, the families of those affected are still waiting for answers about what happened. It was the UK's worst refinery disaster for almost four decades, claiming the lives of three men and one woman. But two years on after the tragic incident at the former Chevron oil plant in Pembrokeshire, inquests into the four deaths have still not been held.

Yesterday marked exactly two years since the incident at the site, now owned by Valero, in Rhoscrowther. Julie Schmitz, 54, a fire guard from Pembroke, died in the blast on June 2, 2011, along with three men from Milford Haven, Dennis Riley, 52, Robert Broome, 48, and Andrew Jenkins, 33. Another worker, Andrew Phillips, known to his friends as Pansy, suffered critical burns after the blast.

The inquests were opened on June 13, 2011 at Milford Haven Town Hall, where Pembrokeshire coroner Mark Layton was told the four who died were identified using DNA samples. But a full hearing into how each of the co-workers died cannot be held until a full inquiry into the accident has been completed. Pembrokeshire coroners' clerk Dave Friend said they could not say when the inquests were likely to be held. "Unfortunately none of the inquests can proceed until the full health and safety investigation into what happened has been completed," he said. "We are in regular contact with Dyfed Powys Police as to any developments but unfortunately there has been no recent news. We appreciate how difficult this must be for al the family members concerned."

An inquiry is continuing into the cause of the explosion, which Chevron said happened while a storage tank was being taken out of service for maintenance work. Chevron, which immediately after the incident flew in experts from the US, has said the investigation will be a lengthy process.

The only survivor of the explosion has been undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Dad-of-four Andrew Phillips, who was hailed a hero after the disaster, is still haunted by the memory of the explosion at the refinery. Mr Phillips underwent a series of surgical operations at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, after suffering extensive burns to his shoulders, head, back and chest. He has also had gruelling skin grafts to his face. But for the oil worker, it is the emotional scars that are proving hardest to heal. He still tortures himself with thoughts of what might have been and is wracked with guilt for being the only one to survive. Mr Phillips said he still felt unable to talk about what happened. His wife Angela said the family were still uncomfortable talking about the accident and that her husband found it difficult to recount the worst day of his life. She said her husband was wracked with guilt for being the one who is still alive and it was difficult for him to talk about his survival, particularly when so many were still trying to come to terms with the fact their loved ones had died. In a statement made on behalf of her husband, she said:" I am devastated for the loss of Julie and Andrew, Robert and Denny. There isn't a day that passes that I don't think of them or their families. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them. It is all still too difficult to talk about at this time." Mr Phillips was said to have returned to help his colleagues when the final blast happened.

The four killed in the massive explosion included two grandparents and a father of young twins. The accident happened during routine maintenance of one of its storage tanks at the Pembroke refinery. Two employees of US oil giant Chevron have been questioned over gross negligence manslaughter. Dyfed-Powys Police said the questioning took place as part of the wider investigation, and "no conclusions should be drawn at this stage". Jane James, spokeswoman for Chevron last night said: "Chevron confirms that it continues to co-operate fully with the police and the HSE on their joint investigation into the incident of June 2 2011."

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