Ex-champ's grief at family deaths

Three members of ex-boxer Robbie Regan's family died

An ex-world boxing champion has spoken of his grief at the deaths of three relatives - likely to have been caused by as carbon monoxide poisoning.

Patrick Chidgey, 71, his wife Gloria, 68, and McCauley Thomas, 5, died at a house in Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, south Wales, on Tuesday.

The couple's nephew, former WBO bantamweight champion Robbie Regan said he owed his career to Mr Chidgey.

Gwent Police said the provisional cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.

Inquiries continuing

The force said on Thursday it had received a preliminary report of the post mortem examinations on the bodies of Mr and Mrs Chidgey and their great-grandson McCauley.

Police inquiries on the deaths are continuing and the heating system used at the house in Brynhyfryd Street, Pontllanfriath, is being examined.

Mr and Mrs Chidgey and McCauley died at the house

Their bodies of the three were discovered by McCauley's mother on Tuesday, who called at the at about 2030 BST after a shopping trip.

Traces of carbon monoxide were found at the address by South Wales Fire Service.

Neighbours spoke of their devastation at the deaths of Mr and Mrs Chidgey and McCauley, as bouquets were laid at the house by family members.

Mr Chidgey's nephew, Robbie Regan, who won the WBO Bantamweight title in 1996, spoke of his grief at the deaths on Thursday.

He said: "I would never have made my career in boxing but for him.

"I owe him my success. I wouldn't have made it without him and would certainly never have been world champion.

"He was a tremendous guy and one in a million. He threw himself into things 100 per cent and nobody had a bad word to say about him."