A shell-shocked man who crawled through the wreckage of his next door neighbour’s house before helping to pull the seriously injured homeowner out of the rubble has described the moment the massive explosion 'changed his whole world in a second’.
Standing next to the bricks and rubble which had been thrown from the two-bedroom house in Wooburn Green, Paul Edwards told the Bucks Free Press how he desperately tried to help his neighbours.
A man and woman who lived in the house, both in their 50s, were taken to John Radcliffe Hospital following the blast in Old Watery Lane at about 5.30pm yesterday.
Mr Edwards, whose house was also badly damaged in the blaze, said: “It went bang, there was no warning, nothing, just an immediate, massively violent explosion.
“We were in our house and the wall came through, just exploded in on us. The hallway exploded and the next thing I know we are crawling on the rubble looking for our neighbours.
Paul Edwards - ARM Images.
“First the dust came down the hallway and then the masonry came down the hallway and that was that. I just ran and called-out for help.
Video from the scene and reaction from High Wycombe crew commander Adam Burch - footage by UK News In Pictures.
“We were climbing over the rubble and we were trying to get water and throw it down on the fire as quickly as possible. But fairly quickly people from the pub [The Falcon, in Watery Lane] came with fire extinguishers.”
He added: “The middle of the house was just gone and that’s where I kind of crawled through to their house to try and find them.
“We called out for him and he definitely responded and that’s where we knew to look, near the front of the house. Another guy was able to pull him out.
“The whole world changed in one second, it wasn’t a case of wait, it was all about doing it now.”
After getting his partner Leanne out of the house, Mr Edwards made his way into the neighbouring property to help others.
Dozens of firefighters were called to the scene to tackle the blaze and make the scene safe while homeowners were evacuated from their properties with some fearing there could be another explosion.
Initial reports suggested that it was a gas explosion, but this has not been confirmed by the authorities.
An investigation is expected to take place this afternoon to determine the cause of the blast.
Watch commander at Beaconsfield Fire Station, Pete Skinner, said: “I came down here this morning, but crews have been down here all evening, as have police.
Picture from the scene - ARM Images.
“At this moment we don’t know what has caused the house to collapse, it could either be electric or gas, that is what we expect, but until an investigation takes place we don’t know.
“Hopefully the investigation will take place this morning and there should be some specialist crews coming down to hopefully make the place safe so that investigation can take place.
“The whole house has collapsed and taken some of the internal walls connecting the other one with it.”
Two fire engines and crews from Beaconsfield, one from High Wycombe and one from Maidenhead attended, along with two urban search and rescue vehicles and the incident command unit from Aylesbury.
The British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service (FESS) vehicle from Marlow and two officers were also called-out.
Picture from the scene of the house explosion in Wooburn Green. Two people taken to hospital pic.twitter.com/COuuYqnjJZ
— Bucks and MK Fire (@Bucksfire) November 22, 2015
Old Watery Lane, Wooburn Green - Google Street View.
Following the blast, many residents who had to leave their homes were invited to The Falcon pub where some are understood to have stayed for the evening.
Mr Edwards said: “They are really, really, nice people around here, we’re a really close-knit community. It was just amazing to see everyone do their bit to try and help.”
Other neighbours have also been showing their support.
Peter Mawditt said: “We are a near neighbour and were on the scene shortly after many others within two to three minutes. By then dozens of neighbours were at the scene.
“One part to highlight is that neighbours rushed straight into the collapsed smouldering building to rescue them.
Picture from the scene - ARM Images.
“The fire brigade response was tremendous arriving as the man was pulled out and just as the place started to burst into flames again.
“Great bravery and selflessness was shown as people rushed in without regard to their own safety or from further explosion, fire or more likely further collapse.”
He added: “How four people survived the explosion and collapse is incredible.”
Tania Hancocks, who lives in nearby Old Moor Lane, added: “It was absolutely incredible, I’ve never heard anything like it.
“The whole house shook, even glasses on the side came down. So it really was a hefty boom. It sounded like a bomb had been dropped on us. I rushed outside and the first thing I did was look up at the sky expecting to see something disastrous.”
Click here for more reaction from neighbours and other residents.
Old Watery Lane, Wooburn Green.
Bucks Fire and Rescue crews have thanked members of the public for their help during the course of the evening.
They said: "Public-spirited local residents placed themselves in positions of considerable risk to come to the aid of casualties immediately after the explosion.
"We are relieved that they came to no harm themselves."
Do you live near to where the explosion happened? Speak to the Bucks Free Press by emailing andrew.colley@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 07824 530126/ 01494 755089.
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