Chef injured and doors blown off in hotel kitchen explosion
A chef needed hospital treatment after an explosion blew off doors and shattered windows in a hotel kitchen.
The chef, in his 20s, was injured when a gas cylinder exploded in the kitchen of the Raven Hotel and restaurant in Much Wenlock.
He suffered first-degree burns and firefighters gave him first aid before he was taken by paramedics to Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.
Emergency services were called to the 17th century hotel as breakfast was being served shortly before 8.30am.
Station manager Craig Jackson was among the fire officers who attended the scene on Barrow Street.
He said: "We believe the explosion happened when a small gas cylinder came into contact with a hot surface in the kitchen area of the hotel.
"The chef was the only person in the kitchen at the time and he suffered first-degree burns to six per cent of his body, on his face, hands and arms.
"The explosion caused damage to the property including windows being blown off, doors being blown off their hinges and also damage to a conservatory.
"A receptionist who was on the same level of the building felt the shockwave from the explosion."
Two fire crews attended the scene from Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth, although no fire was caused by the accidental explosion.
Hotel owner Kirk Heywood said the chef was fortunate to have avoided serious injury, adding: "It's awful, the scale of the damage is phenomenal. It's blown all of the kitchen doors and the windows out.
"The chef is a very lucky lad and luckily there was no actual fire, somebody up there is looking after us."
The hotel closed for lunch after the explosion, while engineers and an electrician inspected the property to make sure it was safe.
Tom Foxall, a photographer who works from his home on Barrow Street, heard the explosion.
He said: "I heard the bang and then a bit later on I heard the fire engines and ambulance going past.
"I just hoped nobody was hurt."
