Six injured as explosion rips through home
House destroyed in blast
Published: 22/05/2012
A SUSPECTED gas explosion 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 occupant of the house, were treated in hospital after the explosion about 5.30pm yesterday.
Debris from the blast, including glass, roofing materials and the man’s curtains, was thrown around 60ft on to a green in front of the property in Gateshead.
The Health and Safety Executive was leading an investigation into the explosion, Northumbria Police said.
Supt Dave Byrne said: “The house has been completely destroyed.”
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.
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