Elderly man has lucky escape after mystery explosion destroys part of house in South London
Tap above to watch video report by Simon Harris
An elderly man had an extraordinary escape when a mystery explosion destroyed part of his house.
The blast in Elsley Road, Battersea, south London, sounded ‘like a bomb’, according to neighbours.
They ran outside to find rubble and glass from the house in the road but no sign of the pensioner who lived there.
One man went into the damaged property to rescue him and they emerged a short time later.
The elderly man was said to be shocked but uninjured. He was taken to hospital for a check up.
London Fire Brigade described the blast as a suspected gas explosion but later ruled out gas supply.
It is understood work being carried out on the damaged house may have involved gas cylinders.
A spokesperson from gas supplier Cadent said: "Gas emergency service, Cadent were called to a property in Elsley Road, Battersea this afternoon, to a report of an explosion. We have tested our gas network and it is sound and no gas escapes.
"We have been advised by the emergency services on site this is NOT gas related. However, we may cut off the gas supply to this one property for safety reasons and because the building is not structurally sound. Our engineers will be leaving site once this work is complete.
"It is now up to the Fire & Rescue service to investigate the cause of this incident."
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