Man whose home was destroyed in suspected gas explosion in Buckinghamshire dies
The man whose Buckinghamshire home was destroyed in a suspected gas leak has died as a result of injuries he suffered during the incident.
Thames Valley Police confirmed this morning that the occupant of the bungalow which exploded in Cobb Hall Road, Newton Longville, passed away in hospital.
Video footage showed the moment the blast blew apart the man’s household at 9:42am on Sunday morning. Now, Thames Valley Police has confirmed that the man who was in his 60s and has been named locally as Stephen, died in hospital.
He was rushed to hospital following the incident and reports suggest he was helped by his neighbours before emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene.
Lead Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Philip Turner-Robson said: “This is a tragic development and our thoughts are with the man's family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
“Thames Valley Police is managing a coronial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosion and collapse of the property, working jointly with the Health and Safety Executive.
“Our enquiries remain ongoing as we seek to establish the full circumstances of what happened.”
A fundraiser has been set up which raised thousands of pounds to support both Stephen and the The Crooked Billet pub which looked after some of his neighbours that were forced to evacuate following the explosion.
Two major response units were sent to the scene by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to help extinguish the subsequent fire and make the debris-covered area safe.
The service also revealed that it sent four fire engines to the scene and Thames Valley Police officers also assisted with the response.