A suspected gas explosion has injured six people,
including three police officers. One of the officers suffered serious burns to
his face in the blast which ripped the roof and front off the single-storey
home. The six, who also included a paramedic, a gas engineer and the elderly
occupant of the house, were treated in hospital after the explosion shortly
before 5.30pm on Monday.
Debris from the blast, including glass, roofing materials
and the man's curtains, was thrown up for 60ft on to a green in front of the
property above the River Tyne in Marian Court, Gateshead.
The Health and Safety Executive is leading an
investigation into the explosion, Northumbria Police said.
Police Superintendent Dave Byrne said: "The house
has been completely destroyed. It has been a sizeable force that has caused the
damage." Officers were met with a strong smell of gas when they arrived,
he said, after concerns were raised for the safety of the man in the house. The
elderly occupant of the house was being led away by a paramedic wearing
protective gear when the blast occurred. The paramedic shielded the pensioner
from the worst of the blast force, a North East Ambulance Service (NEAS)
spokesman said.
Three police officers who had got the man out of the
small property were hit by the explosion, as was a gas engineer. All six were
taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for treatment.
An NEAS spokesman said: "There were three police
officers injured, two of whom have burns to the head and forearms, and one of
them has more severe burns to his face and is in a more serious condition. The
gas engineer had minor burns."
There was no fault with the local supply leading up to
the explosion, Northern Gas Networks said. The firm, which operates the gas
emergency service for the north east of England, northern Cumbria and most of
Yorkshire, said: "Our engineers isolated the gas supply to the properties
affected by the gas explosion in Gateshead earlier this evening and have made
the area safe. We can confirm that the explosion was not the result of any
issue with the local gas network."
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