House destroyed in blast horror

A plume of smoke and dust rises from the wrecked house as debris showers down

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Brave Martine drags man from debris of his house

A MAN had a miracle escape after being left trapped in the rubble of his obliterated house following a suspected gas explosion in Roundthorn.

John Allen (43) was dragged from the debris by a hero neighbour as fire took hold after the huge blast demolished his home in Byland Avenue at 1pm yesterday.

Mr Allen, who was already being treated for a brain tumour, was taken to hospital suffering from burns.

He lives in the house with his wife, who was out at the time, and his mother Patricia Allen, who is wheelchair-bound and was also out as she spends the daytime at a care home.

The gas fire in the property had recently been condemned.

The neighbouring half of the semi-detached property was left with a huge hole blasted through the roof.

Martine Maguire was first on the scene and was hailed a hero for rescuing Mr Allen before alerting the emergency services.

She said: “It just blew up, exploded. I was at my daughter’s house two doors away and her house shook and rocked back and forwards.

I ran up to see what had happened and it was a horror scene. I’m in shock.

“There was none of the house left — it was just gone.

“Every outer wall was gone and had landed in the garden.

“All I could see was him covered in debris. I pulled him out the rubble

He was badly cut and the skin was peeling off his arms.”

Distraught relatives rushed to the scene but could only watch as fire fighters tackled the blaze.

Devastated sister Tracy Webster was left in shock as she anxiously awaited news of her brother.

She said: “My brother has a brain tumour and is on medication. It’s amazing he has got out.

“If it was not for Martine he probably wouldn’t have got out.

“They had to condemn the gas fire in the front room last week as it was leaking out fumes.”

Neighbour Carolanne Frew, whose house overlooks the destroyed property, said: “The blast threw me off the settee.

“I could see the walls of the house just collapsing. The house has just gone.

“I could see it falling before my eyes, it just went. I was in complete shock, I have never seen anything like it in my life. It’s just madness.”

Pauline Hurst was walking her dog on playing fields off Wildmoor Avenue, Alt, when she felt the explosion.

She said: “I heard this almighty bang and the impact lifted me off the floor.

I could see flames 40ft to 50ft high. I thought ‘please god let there be no one involved, especially children.’”

Several roads were closed and 20 neighbouring houses evacuated as a precaution as dozens of police officers cordoned off the scene.

They were allowed back to their homes at 6pm.

Oldham Council’s dangerous building officers were also on the scene.

The occupants of the adjoining property were offered emergency accommodation by the council but made their own arrangements.

Oldham fire station watch commander Dunc Millington said: “It was pretty spectacular.

“The cause is still under investigation. It was definitely a gas explosion but we don’t know what type of gas.”

Eighteen firefighters were at the scene and used two jets to control the fire. One fire engine stayed overnight and a JCB will be used to help clear the debris.

The house was rented from First Choice Homes Oldham which said the cause would not be known until fire investigations were complete.

A spokesman added: “We are helping the families and those involved and are working with Greater Manchester Fire Service who are carrying out an investigation.”

Fire and police were due to resume investigations this morning, but it is believed the mains gas supply to the house was capped, and the investigation will focus on a gas cylinder inside the property.

Mr Allen was this morning still in the Royal Oldham Hospital, where his condition was described as stable.