Evesham explosion: Man critically ill after suspected gas blast at Worcestershire home
A 31-year-old man remains critically ill in hospital following a suspected gas explosion at a home in Evesham, Worcestershire.
Emergency services were called to the incident in Hemmingway shortly after 5pm.
A further two people, a man and a woman, were also injured at the address and a man from a neighbouring property was taken to hospital.
Police say the injuries of these three people are not believed to be life threatening and they have since been released from hospital.
The building suffered extensive damage and, to ensure the safety of the public, ten neighbouring homes were evacuated.
The gas supply also had to be temporarily cut off from 35 homes, officers said.
Neighbour Sandra Cox said she was having a family get together when they all heard "an almighty bang...like an earthquake."
"I thought it was a thunderbolt."
When asked by ITV News Central Correspondent Mark Gough on how it felt, Ms Cox said: "Awful."
Ms Cox described what happened during the explosion, telling ITV News: "It was frightening and I felt sick, we went in different directions to try and find out what happened.
"I couldn't see anything and then we heard all the emergency vehicles coming."
Ms Cox said she could feel her house shaking when she heard the bang.
She said: "When we first found out it was something serious, my first thoughts were for the people who could have been injured.
"Because let's face it, you can't replace a person but you can replace a house."
Officers say Hemmingway, which is a cul-de-sac, remains closed "for the time being" and is likely to remain so "until tomorrow".
Superintendent Nigel Webster, who led the police response on Tuesday night, said: “This was, of course, a devastating incident and our thoughts are with those injured, their families and the local residents.“The community pulled together last night to support each other and we’d particularly like to thank the local public house, which kindly gave shelter to those that had been displaced from their homes last night.
“At the moment we remain at the property with a scene guard in place and to begin an initial investigation with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.”
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Adrian Elliott said fire investigation officers remain on site to assist with the incident.
He said: “This was a significant incident to which we immediately deployed six crews, and we’re grateful for the support we have received from the local community and our emergency service colleagues.
“Our thoughts are with the people injured and their families, and with all those local residents who have been affected.
“Fire investigation officers remain on site to assist with the incident and to support the police and other emergency services in investigating the cause of the explosion.”