Heroes: Care home staff rescue pensioner trapped in Shrewsbury bungalow explosion

Emergency services were called to Westminster Close in Shrewsbury to reports of a major fire.

A pensioner was trapped inside the bungalow after two gas cylinders exploded.

Shrewsbury station manager Chris White today said the man was "extremely lucky" to be alive and paid tribute to the heroic actions of the staff at Ottley House Care Home who rescued him on Friday evening.

Mr White said: "The staff at the care home were finishing their shifts at 7pm and when they left the building they noticed smoke coming from the front of the bungalow and thick black smoke coming from the rear.

"About four of the staff ran to the front door and could see a fire through the glass.

"One man ran back to the care home and alerted more staff. He returned to the bungalow and forced entry. He kicked the door in and thick black smoke came out of the property.

"Another member of staff had taken an extinguisher from the care home and put out as much of the fire as they could.

"The other staff were shouting out for the occupier and saw there was a door off the hallway. They opened an found an elderly gentleman who was lying on the floor. They carried him out through the neighbour's garden and gave him oxygen therapy.

"It was an amazing act of bravery on their behalf."

Adrian Morris, a care assistant at Ottley House and one of the team members who assisted said it wasn't until he got inside the bungalow that he realised there was a person trapped.

“It wasn’t until we got inside that we heard the gentleman calling out for help," he said.

Relieved

"When we pulled him out, two nurses from the home had to administer CPR before the fire brigade arrived, while the rest of us used fire extinguishers from the home to put out as much of the fire as we could.

"I speak for my team to say we’re really happy to have rescued the person inside, we are all relieved to know that he’s OK, and now safely staying at Ottley House.”

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service believe the fire started following an explosion of two gas cylinders.

Mr White said there was a gas heater in the living room which had leaked.

Early investigations indicate that the man has switched the lights on which caused a mini explosion and caused the carpet, which was saturated in gas to start burning.

They then believe two gas camping cylinders pressurised and exploded, which blew the doors of their hinges, lifted the conservatory off its base and caused damage to the internal walls.

The first crew arrived within four minutes and took over from the care home staff.

Mr White said: "It was a very quick response and they took over the first aid and entered the building to extinguish any areas which were still burning.

"The man had minor burns but was up and walking the next day which is amazing considering what he went through.

"He would have been very lucky to survive without the quick-thinking actions from the staff at Ottley House."

A Barchester spokesperson added: "We are extremely proud of the acts of bravery shown by the Ottley House staff in rescuing a tenant from a burning bungalow.

"We are glad to report that the tenant is well and resting and without the efforts of our staff in pulling the tenant from the burning bungalow, extinguishing the fire and providing first aid this may well not have been the case. We would also like to thank the fire brigade for their quick response and support in making the area safe.”