Birmingham house explosion: Recently-sold property 'needed new boiler'
A home which exploded leaving one woman dead was sold with boiler in need of repair, it has emerged.
The gas explosion ripped through the property in Dulwich Road in Kingstanding just after 8.30pm on Sunday.
In a tweet on Monday, West Midlands Fire Service said: "We’re very sad to confirm that a woman has been found dead at the scene of last night's explosion in Kingstanding. Our thoughts and sympathies are with everyone affected."
A man remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital following the blast, which completely destroyed one house and left several others significantly damaged.
It has been reported the home was sold recently for £160,000 by Paul Carr Estate Agents, based in Birmingham.
On the advertisement for the property it reportedly said: “Boiler requires repair/replacement.”
The description said: “A three-bedroom terraced in need of some upgrading and offering a competitively priced starting point on the property ladder.
Watch: Fire service confirm a woman has died in Birmingham gas explosion
“The lounge floor in the bay requires attention and the property is priced to reflect the amount of potential on offer rear.
“Outside the rear garden has a slabbed patio area leading to the good size lawn, there is a shared side passage and viewing is advised of this majority centrally heated (boiler requires repair/replacement) and double-glazed property.”
A group of about 12 heroic residents went through the flames and past the rubble to rescue an injured man from the destroyed home.
One rescuer, who declined to give his name, said: “Everyone was watching, the house was on fire, nobody was going in, so we could see a way in – so we went in the house, me and about a dozen others.
“There was a guy in the back (of the house), we could hear the guy screaming.
“He was in the kitchen, lying flat on the floor, with his back against a fridge or washing machine.
“He was going ‘don’t pull me – my legs’ and I said ‘mate, we’re going to have to take you out now’.”
“The dust from the loft insulation was burning around us. We managed to get to him, and pull him out – I still have his blood on my jeans. We got him out, he ended up coming out on a mattress.
“His clothes had been blown off, you couldn’t even see him, he was covered in blood."
The heroic neighbours broke damaged water pipes, amid the rubble, to try to douse their own clothes, to protect from the flames.
“There’s nothing left of that house at all," said the resident. “We went through the house – and that house is gone.”
A man “put his own life at risk” by running into a burning house to save someone inside after the explosion, according to his cousin.
Callum Attwood’s cousin Reece wrote on Twitter: “What happened in Kingstanding tonight is devastating… my cousin saved a life! He’s a hero. I’m so proud of him."
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) said people at the scene rescued a man from the destroyed house but he had “very significant injuries” and was taken to hospital.
Four other men suffered minor injuries and were assessed by ambulance crews at the scene, WMAS added.
A spokesperson said: “A man was helped from the property by people at the scene but had suffered very serious injuries.
“After assessment and treatment at the scene, he was taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham with the MERIT team travelling with the ambulance.
“His condition on arrival at hospital was described as life threatening.
“Four further men have been assessed by ambulance crews for minor conditions but have been discharged at the scene."
Footage from the aftermath of the explosion posted on social media showed flames, damage and debris from a terraced red brick house. Aerial shots also showed flames billowing into the sky.
Speaking from the scene on Monday, Martin Ward-White, an area commander at West Midlands Fire Service, said it “was clear that a gas explosion had taken place”.
He said: “There was one male casualty who was taken to hospital immediately with life threatening injuries.
“There’s no update on that casualty at this point in time.
“However, what we can confirm is that sadly one female has lost her life at this incident.
“Obviously, that’s really sad and tragic, not just for the individuals involved, not just for the local community, but especially the family and friends of the individuals who have been affected by this.
“We continue to thank the local residents for their support and understanding.”
Ward-White said investigators will look into what exactly caused the gas explosion.
He also praised those who went into the burning ruins to save the man.
More than 20 people were evacuated nearby and a handful were treated at the scene for minor wounds.
Watch: House in Birmingham destroyed after fatal gas explosion
