On a quiet January evening in the Southall Avenue neighborhood of Skewen, Neath, tragedy struck when Daniel Burton, a 27-year-old mechanic and devoted father of two, lost his life in a freak accident beneath an Audi A3. The incident, which unfolded on January 22, 2025, has left a community reeling and a family mourning the loss of a man described as loving, dedicated, and on the verge of advancing his career.
According to reports from BBC News and The Sun, Burton was working on his partner’s father’s Audi A3 when the axle stand supporting the car slipped, causing the vehicle to collapse and pin him underneath. The accident occurred in the early evening hours, with the winter sky already darkening and the street marked by a gentle but significant slope—an overlooked detail that would prove fatal.
Burton, who lived in Port Talbot with his partner Abbie, her daughter Maddie-Mae, and his own child Benny, had recently taken voluntary redundancy from the Port Talbot steelworks. He was on the cusp of passing his MOT testers course at Bridgend College, a milestone that would have further solidified his credentials as a skilled mechanic. Those close to him described their home as a "lovely little family bubble," a testament to the close-knit nature of their lives together, as noted by the Swansea Coroner's Court.
The events leading up to the tragedy were marked by both caution and, in hindsight, missed warnings. Abbie, Burton’s partner, had urged him not to tackle the repair on his own, citing both the scale of the job and the encroaching darkness. "It was a big job and it was too dark outside," she reportedly told Detective Constable Kelly Hurley, hoping to dissuade him from working under such risky conditions.
A neighbor, too, had observed Burton working on the car parked on the sloped street. Although she considered warning him about the apparent danger, she ultimately decided against it, fearing her advice might not be well received. These moments—brief, fleeting, yet heavy with consequence—would later weigh on those who witnessed the unfolding scene.
At approximately 18:30 GMT, two women searching for their stolen car noticed Burton lying beneath the Audi. Initially, they approached, hoping to ask if he'd seen their missing vehicle. But when he failed to respond, their concern grew. It quickly became apparent that something was terribly wrong. One neighbor, upon realizing the gravity of the situation, rushed to help, using a jack to lift the car in a desperate attempt to free Burton. Despite these efforts, emergency services arrived to find that Burton had already succumbed to his injuries. He was declared dead at the scene at 18:53 GMT.
The police investigation, which included house-to-house and forensic inquiries, found no evidence of foul play. Officers discovered a jack and one axle stand lying on its side beneath the car, while another axle stand remained unused, still in its box. These findings painted a clear picture: the support mechanism had failed, likely due to the combination of the sloped street and the weight of the vehicle, leading to what experts later described as a classic case of traumatic asphyxia—more commonly known as crush asphyxia.
Coroner Colin Phillips, presiding over the inquest at Swansea Coroner's Court, delivered a verdict of accidental death. He explained, "This is also known as crush asphyxia, which sometimes happens in sports stadiums." The coroner's words underscored the tragic randomness of such accidents, where a momentary lapse or a minor miscalculation can have irreversible consequences.
Phillips expressed his condolences to Burton’s family, stating, "He was very much loved and will be sorely missed and I hope you get a degree of closure now." The sentiment was echoed throughout the courtroom, as friends and family grappled with the suddenness and senselessness of their loss.
The accident has prompted reflection within the local community and among fellow mechanics about the importance of safety when performing vehicle repairs—especially outside of professional garages. While many seasoned mechanics are accustomed to working under cars, the risks are amplified when working alone, in poor lighting, or on uneven ground. The presence of unused safety equipment, such as the axle stand still in its box, serves as a sobering reminder that even experienced professionals can fall victim to unforeseen hazards.
Burton’s story is not just one of tragedy, but also of ambition and familial devotion. Having qualified as a mechanic before taking up work at the steelworks, he was on the verge of expanding his credentials with the MOT testers course. His commitment to his family was evident in his daily life, as described by those closest to him, and his loss has left a void that extends well beyond the confines of his immediate household.
The circumstances of Burton’s death have also highlighted the delicate balance between offering unsolicited advice and respecting another’s expertise. The neighbor who hesitated to speak up voiced a sentiment many can relate to—uncertainty about when to intervene, especially when the person in question appears knowledgeable and confident in their abilities. In this instance, that hesitation has become a source of lingering regret, though, as the coroner and investigators made clear, the ultimate cause was a tragic accident rather than negligence or oversight.
For the wider community, the incident has served as a catalyst for conversations about safety, support, and the unpredictable nature of life’s hazards. It’s a story that resonates not just in Port Talbot or Southall Avenue, but wherever people take on hands-on work, trusting in their skills and the reliability of their tools.
As the inquest concluded, the focus shifted from the mechanics of the accident to the enduring legacy of Daniel Burton—a man whose life, though cut short, was marked by love, ambition, and a deep commitment to those around him. The hope, expressed by Coroner Phillips and echoed by many, is that his family may find some measure of peace, even as they mourn a loss that will never fully heal.
