Inquest: Reen tragedy men drowned

Scott Harding, 25, his brother Warren, 27, Andrew Brooks, 30, and Geraint Hill, 26, all of Risca, were going on a fishing trip when the car veered off the coast road at St Brides and overturned into the reen.

Funerals of three of the men are due to be held next week. A joint service for Warren and Scott is being held at Moriah Baptist Church, Risca, on Wednesday at 1.30pm.

Andrew's funeral is being held in the same church the following day at 1.45pm. Funeral arrangements for Geraint have yet to be announced.

Today, Gwent Coroner David Bowen opened and adjourned the inquest into their deaths.

Kenneth Le Provost, coroner's officer with Gwent Police, said the car was found overturned in the reen and when it was recovered, the bodies of the four men were discovered.

Post-mortem examinations were carried out and the preliminary cause of death in each case was given as drowning.

"Further tests are being carried out and police enquiries are continuing to establish why the vehicle left the road," said Mr Le Provost.

Mr Bowen adjourned the inquest for three months to allow those enquiries to continue and released the bodies of the four friends, three of whom had young families, so their funerals could take place.

Tributes were paid to all four men following the tragedy which left their families and the community shocked and heartbroken.

Scott was married to Aimee and had a five-year-old daughter Tyla. He was close to Warren who leaves a fiance Katie Holder, his five-year-old son Jacques, and Louis, aged two.

Andrew was also the father of two children, Tyler, aged 18 months, and Macy, three months, with his partner Jodie Sefton.

Geraint, a former pupil of Bassaleg comprehensive school, was also well known in the Risca area and was described as an all-round sportsman.

Scores of mourners visited St Margaret's Church, Brynmawr, in the wake of the tragedy after a book of condolence was opened.