Child killed in huge gas explosion

[Reece]

Oldham gas explosion: resident describes how the doors and windows blew off Oldham gas explosion: Police search rubble for victims after huge blast hits terraced houses

A child has died after a massive explosion destroyed three houses in Oldham leaving another person trapped and a third unaccounted for. Witnesses described how the 'earth shook' as the blast tore through several other homes in what is believed to have been caused by a huge gas leak. One man, named locally as Adam Williamson, has been airlifted to hospital with 'severe' burns to 80 per cent of his body. He lives in one of the houses with his partner, mother-of-six Tanya Williamson. Police and fire services cordoned off Buckley Street in the Shaw area of Oldham following the explosion which happened at around 11.15am today. Emergency services described the explosion, which damaged a number of terraced properties, as very serious. Superintendent Neil Evans of Greater Manchester Police told reporters at the scene that the child had been confirmed dead. Supt Evans said: This is an ongoing search and rescue effort and we are offering our full support to the fire and other emergency services. Our main and immediate focus right now is to assist in ensuring those injured in the explosion get any medical assistance that they need. A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said one patient had been taken by helicopter to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester with 80 per cent burns. We are currently assessing the scene and working closely with other members of the emergency services, with our priority being to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible,' she said. In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: 'One man has been rescued following a possible gas explosion in Shaw in Oldham. The control room has received numerous calls from members of the public and the initial information from the public is that it involves a number of terraced properties in Duchess Street with possibly people trapped. Mr Williamson's landlord, Iltaf Hussain, is a well-known local businessman. Another son, Waqar Hussain, said the couple and their six children moved into the house only around six weeks ago. Waqar Hussain, 23, lives just around the corner and was working a 6am to 2pm shift as a manager at a local warehouse. He had gone home on his 11am break, walking past just moments before the explosion. Mr Hussain said: 'I just got home and at first I just thought it was my ceiling because it collapsed in, I covered my face. I went out and saw everybodys windows smashed and cars in the street wrecked. People were shouting and screaming. I went back in my house to make sure my family was OK and went back outside to the houses. Just two minutes before I had walked past, I could have been done in as well. There were tiles, slates, bricks, all over the street. Sam Gibson, 25, of Oak Road, which adjoins Buckley Street, said: 'There was a really strong smell of gas all morning and it was getting progressively worse as time went on but obviously you don't expect anything like this to happen. I was in my living room and heard this horrendous explosion and you could feel the earth shake. I live around 100 yards away yet it still felt like it had happened in my own house. Another woman, who did not wish to be named and lives on Buckley Road, had her windows and doors blown out of their frames. She said: 'As soon as I got up I could smell gas and I reported the smell myself but within the hour it had happened. Now me and all my neighbours are left out on the street and we don't know how long it is going to be but I imagine even when we get back we'll be facing massive repair bills. But everyone is just praying for those who are trapped. Lauren Patterson, who lives nearby, said she had been evacuated following the blast. She said: 'I live opposite where it all happened. I was in bed asleep and I heard this massive bang. I literally fell out of bed and looked out of the window. I saw a mass of smoke and there were three houses that had been flattened. I saw all the debris flying everywhere and my neighbour's front door was blown in. We aren't allowed back in at the moment so were just waiting in the street near to where it happened. She added that there were people in the houses and in at least one there was a mother and child but she did not know how many people had been injured. Josh Nadin, who also lives nearby, said 'It's around the corner from me. We believe it was a gas explosion and it's blown three houses to smithereens and some others have been quite severely damaged. The police won't disclose anything to us, but if there was anyone in any of those houses they would be lucky to get out alive. A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said one patient had been taken to Wythenshawe Hospital with 80 per cent burns. She added: At 11.31am today we received a call to reports of an explosion on Buckley Street in Oldham. We have sent a number of ambulances, including our Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart) to the scene, with the first crews arriving at 11.18am. We are currently assessing the scene and working closely with other members of the emergency services, with our priority being to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible. Our primary role is to assess the level and nature of injuries and ensure that those people most in need are treated first and taken to hospital. At this stage, we can confirm that we have taken one patient to Wythenshawe Hospital with 80 per cent burns. In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: 'Emergency services are at the scene following a large explosion in the Shaw area of Oldham. Shortly after 11.15am today, Tuesday 26 June 2012, police were called to Shaw following a report that homes had been seriously damaged in a large explosion. Police, fire and ambulance services are at the scene and a cordon is being put in place. At this stage there are no confirmed details on casualties or the number of homes damaged. More information will be released when it becomes available.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2164893/Oldham-gas-explosion-Child-killed-blast-destroys-3-houses-leaves-people-trapped.html#ixzz1yv1Nsvgr

[Thomas_A]

That's one hell of a explosion, poor people.

[Gandalf]

Did I leave the gas on ?

* Gandalf lights a match to check...

[Hellrocker]

Wow. That's some real destruction.

[SafetyMoose]

Yes.... Gas  :roll:

[Reece]

UPDATE: It was not a gas explosion. Turns out the familly of the house had a domestic.

[Gandalf]

UPDATE: It was not a gas explosion. Turns out the familly of the house had a domestic.

A domestic ?

[Mario_Rinna]

A domestic ?

Domestos. :skull:

[Reece]

A domestic ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence

[SafetyMoose]

So..... Having a domestic Dispute causes an explosion? Wut... Explain....

[Reece]

So..... Having a domestic Dispute causes an explosion? Wut... Explain....

It was reported to the police that shortly before this explosion occurred, the family was head having a domestic dispute.
Post Merge: June 27, 2012, 09:43:44 pmAnd now they are saying it could be gas again...

[SafetyMoose]

Domestic probably led to them forgetting the gas was on.

[Reece]

Update:

A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the death of a toddler in an explosion in Oldham.


   The man was taken into custody following two-year-old Jamie Heaton's death in Shaw on Tuesday.

   The child died after what was believed to be a gas blast ripped through three terraced houses and reduced them to rubble.

   National Grid has confirmed that the blast was not caused by a leak from one of its gas pipes and Greater Manchester Police have launched a "homicide investigation".

   Jamie, who was killed while he watched television, was described by his family as "a happy, loving little boy... full of laughter".

   Earlier his relatives visited the destroyed buildings and laid flowers at the edge of the police cordon.

   In a statement the family said: "Jamie was a happy loving little boy - precious son to Michelle and Kenny and loving little brother to Jodie and Jack.

   "Jamie's life was full of laughter. He loved going to preschool, playing with sand and water and going to the park. He touched the hearts of all who knew him and will be missed by all."

   His mother survived the carnage after she momentarily stepped into the yard to hang out washing to dry.

   Her husband and two other children were not at home and were spared serious injury.

   On Wednesday detectives said they have "significant questions" for the boy's neighbour, Andrew Partington, who was seriously injured in the blast.

   Mr Partington, 27, who is not related to the child, was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital with severe burns after the explosion, where police said he was "unconscious and sedated".

   Assistant chief constable Steve Heywood, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "We've had information to suggest that it might not have been accidental, so we are treating it as a suspicious death and, therefore, a homicide investigation is being undertaken."

   He said reports of a domestic argument on Monday night were being investigated.

   Police say Mr Partington was alone in the house where the explosion happened.

   Asst ch con Heywood said: "Obviously we want to speak to Mr Partington when he wakes up and he's currently got some colleagues with him from police."

   Police confirmed another adult and five children live in the house with Mr Partington but were "in another town" when the explosion happened.

   The massive blast flattened number 11 Buckley Street, where Jamie lived, and number nine, where Mr Partington lived. It is understood Mr Partington had only moved into the property around six weeks ago.

To give you an idea of the devastation, here is the house on google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/qtG0

[aleksandar_gojkovic]

Is it just me or are the accidents getting worse every day?