Birmingham explosion: Man suffers life-threatening injurieson June 27, 2022 at 6:38 am

A man suffered life-threatening injuries in a suspected gas explosion that destroyed a house in Birmingham and damaged at least three others.

Emergency crews were called to Dulwich Road, Kingstanding, on Sunday evening.

The man was rescued from the house by people at the scene “but had suffered very serious injuries”, the ambulance service said.

Four other men suffered more minor injuries and were discharged by paramedics.

Footage on social media showed flames, damage and debris from a terraced red brick house.

The badly injured man was taken to the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment in its major trauma centre.

West Midlands Fire Service said further investigations are to take place at the scene on Monday.

Following the blast and fire, which also damaged vehicles, evacuations took place and people were urged to avoid the area.

Police said Dulwich Road and surrounding roads were closed and would be “for a very long time”.

West Midlands Police thanked those who had “helped shocked and injured neighbours”.

One man posted on Twitter to praise his cousin, who he said had run into the burning building to rescue someone.

Birmingham councillor Sharon Thompson said her thoughts were “with everyone involved in tonight’s horrific explosion”.

Six fire crews, three ambulances, five paramedic officers and a national inter-agency liaison officer were among the resources sent to the scene.

West Midlands Fire Service said Cadent Gas and the National Grid were among those working to manage the incident.

Fire service area commander Steve Ball said the scene was “challenging”.

“One house had been completely destroyed, and three neighbouring properties had also been quite badly affected,” Mr Ball said.

“One man had already been rescued, prior to our arrival, and he’s been taken care of by West Midlands Ambulance Service.

“There are approximately six other houses that have been evacuated and the residents are currently being looked after by the local authority.”

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