This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/29/washing-machine-saves-woman-gas-blast-destroys-home-wolverhampton
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Washing machine saves woman as suspected gas blast destroys home | Washing machine saves woman as suspected gas blast destroys home |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman saved by her washing machine after a suspected gas explosion destroyed her home, has thanked rescuers. | |
| Wendy Ayoub, 73, said she was recovering well in hospital after being freed from the rubble of the house on Monday. | Wendy Ayoub, 73, said she was recovering well in hospital after being freed from the rubble of the house on Monday. |
| In a statement released through New Cross hospital, Wolverhampton, where she is being treated, Ayoub said: “I am comfortable and recovering well. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the emergency services and hospital staff who have helped me.” | |
| She was found by rescue workers wedged in a void next to her washing machine, with the roof and upper floors above her, according to firefighters. | She was found by rescue workers wedged in a void next to her washing machine, with the roof and upper floors above her, according to firefighters. |
| Emergency services arrived at the scene in Wolverhampton shortly after 8am on Monday to find the two-storey detached property flattened. Fire crews and specially trained medics worked by hand for 90 minutes to free the woman. | |
| David Baker, the incident commander of West Midlands fire service, said: “They were able to locate the elderly lady in the rear ground-floor kitchen with the remainder of the roof and first floor on top of her. She was wedged in a void next to the washing machine. | David Baker, the incident commander of West Midlands fire service, said: “They were able to locate the elderly lady in the rear ground-floor kitchen with the remainder of the roof and first floor on top of her. She was wedged in a void next to the washing machine. |
| “Due to the presence of gas – we believe the explosion was as a result of gas – there was still an explosion risk. We couldn’t use any cutting tools, so we had to manually handle all the debris away from her.” | “Due to the presence of gas – we believe the explosion was as a result of gas – there was still an explosion risk. We couldn’t use any cutting tools, so we had to manually handle all the debris away from her.” |
| A West Midlands ambulance service spokesman said: “She has suffered cuts and bruises and a broken ankle, but when you consider the level of damage to the property, she has been extraordinarily lucky not to have been more seriously injured.” | A West Midlands ambulance service spokesman said: “She has suffered cuts and bruises and a broken ankle, but when you consider the level of damage to the property, she has been extraordinarily lucky not to have been more seriously injured.” |
| Ayoub was taken to hospital and three others, including a taxi driver who was going past the house when it exploded, were treated for shock. | Ayoub was taken to hospital and three others, including a taxi driver who was going past the house when it exploded, were treated for shock. |