Miracle gas blast escape
Published: October 24, 2005
A MAN amazingly escaped with only minor injuries after a huge gas blast turned a terraced house into a fireball.
The explosion blew the front off the property, in Levenshulme, showering bricks and glass across the street.
Neighbours on Highfield Road rushed out of their homes to find the man partially covered with bricks and debris as flames shot out of the former fish and chip shop.
Emergency services believe a cylinder of propane gas inside the property was responsible for the explosion, which also caused severe structural damage to an adjoining house.
A 56-year-old man was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary last night suffering from back and leg injuries and minor burns. His injuries were not believed to be serious.
Explosion
The former takeaway shop had been closed down for several years, according to local residents, although it continued to be occupied by a couple, who previously ran the business, and their teenage son.
Alan Wrench, who lives on nearby Cranage Road, said that the son had to be restrained from entering the house after he witnessed the explosion on the street.
He said: “It was just a giant explosion. I ran out and someone was lying injured covered in bricks.
“The family who live there used to run a chippy.
“Their son was trying to get inside, but he had to be held back because of the flames. It was a miracle that no one was killed.”
Firefighters were on the scene for several hours making the two affected buildings safe.
Police cordoned off nearby streets, including Broom Lane, while work took place. Transco and special police investigators were examining the scene to rule out any suspicious circumstances.
A police spokesman said: “We believe the cause of this fire was a cylinder of propane gas.”
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