«Breaking News» Woman in her 70s escapes as bungalow explodes in Buckfastleigh Devon

A pensioner has had a miracle escape after her bungalow exploded while she was brushing her teeth.

Neighbours claimed the woman, believed to be in her seventies, walked out of the wreckage after the suspected gas explosion at her home in Buckfastleigh, Devon.

Emergency services were scrambled to the destroyed property after residents heard a deafening bang and felt the ground shake just before 8am.  

Aerial images of the building show the devastating extent of the blast, with bricks and other debris littering the road.

The elderly resident was rushed to hospital with serious burns, while another is being treated for minor injuries.  

Aerial images of a bungalow in Buckfastleigh, Devon show how it has been totally destroyed, with bricks and other debris littering the road and pavement in front after a gas explosion there this morning 

Bricks and debris were left lying across the road and on top of nearby parked cars after the suspected gas explosion 

The cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed, but local reports suggest there was a gas leak.  

Pauline Manfield, 75, who lives on the street said a passerby took the injured woman into a nearby home for a cup of tea before paramedics arrived.

She said: 'There was just this massive bang. It made the house shake for a good few seconds.

'My husband thought a plane had come down. There was this gust of smoke.

'I went to the window and saw her hair all singed off which I don't understand because there wasn't a fire.

'She normally has blonde hair but mind you she doesn't have much of that left.

'A young man who just so happened to be walking past ran over to help her and took her for a cup of tea at a neighbour's house.

'She was in her night dress. Apparently she was brushing her teeth at the time.

'The lady who lives next door to her, had her water tank fall on her.

'I am just so shocked that she is still here and she is still alive.'

Neighbour Tom Hall, who lives 100ft from the blasted property in Barn Park, said the fact that the woman survived was a miracle.

He added: 'I am not sure any of us saw the actual explosion, but it woke most of us up.

'If you have never heard a gas explosion before, you couldn't have guessed what that sound was. It's a bizarre, metallic sound.

'My girlfriend went there and she saw the woman walking out of the property.

'I don't know how she managed to walk out alive to be honest. The force of the impact blew the door opposite open.

'It is absolutely insane. There is significant damage. The house to the right, the joining wall is gone. Luckily the chap was out when it happened.

'There is debris on the road and cars are smashed up. It was quite intense but luckily no one died.'

Investigators are pictured examining the wreckage to determine what caused the explosion in Buckfastleigh, Devon this morning 

Tom said residents have been asked by the fire service to stay inside with their windows closed until further notice.

Other locals described hearing a loud bang that left them thinking their windows were going to smash.

One wrote on Facebook: 'A young lad in his 20s had to help the poor lady out from the rubble.

'I watched him with my heart in my mouth. He and a couple of others were real heroes getting neighbours out also.

'I hope someone is now giving him a strong cup of tea and a hug.'

Another added: 'The house shook. I am just round the corner and my garden overlooks the location.

'By the looks of it, the house is in tatters. I just hope everyone is OK.'

The bungalow was blown almost entirely to pieces after the explosion in Buckfastleigh, which neighbours claimed happened when the pensioner was brushing her teeth 

The elderly resident is in hospital with serious burns and her home has been left destroyed. Neighbours thought a plane had crashed when they heard the deafening bang just before 8am today 

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said emergency serviced were called to a 'potential gas explosion' at 7.50am.

He added: 'On arrival officers found significant damage to a bungalow.

'A female occupant in her 70s suffered burns and has been taken to hospital. A second person was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

'Other nearby residents have been evacuated while the building is being made safe.

'Police and Devon Fire and Rescue Service are currently working to establish the cause.

'A cordon remains in place covering the Barn Park and Jordan Street area of Buckfastleigh.'

A spokesman for Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service added: 'Fire crews from Buckfastleigh, Ashburton, Newton Abbot and Ivybridge are currently attending what seems to be a gas explosion at a property on Barn Park in Buckfastleigh.

'At this time there is limited information as our crews are dealing with the incident.' 

The remains of the woman's home are pictured as officers investigate the blast that shocked Buckfastleigh this morning 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/23/woman-in-her-70s-escapes-as-bungalow-explodes-in-buckfastleigh-devon/
Main photo article A pensioner has had a miracle escape after her bungalow exploded while she was brushing her teeth.
Neighbours claimed the woman, believed to be in her seventies, walked out of the wreckage after the suspected gas explosion at her home in Buckfastleigh, Devon.
Emergency services were scrambled to...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/23/14/11361568-6842233-Aerial_images_of_a_bungalow_in_Buckfastleigh_Devon_show_how_it_h-a-87_1553350825011.jpg