A man has been left fighting for his life after an explosion at a home in Leeds on New Year’s Day.
Police, paramedics and fire crews rushed to the explosion at a house in Yeadon just after 10.30pm on Wednesday.
The 57-year-old was found in the wake of the blast on Marshall Street by emergency crews who rushed to the scene.
He was sent to hospital for treatment on injuries which are said to be serious.
A large number of emergency services were still at the Yeadon cul-de-sac after midnight as debris could been seen scattered across the street.
Local resident Kim Swales called emergency services after her nearby home was shaken by the blast, which she said was ‘1,000 times louder’ than the fireworks launched earlier that day to celebrate the New Year.
She said: ‘It sounded like a sonic boom… my house shook, all the windows, doors, everything – it just shook.
‘My (15-year-old) daughter, she’s autistic and blind, she came running down crying: ‘What was that noise?’
According to a police media statement, initial investigations suggest that gas may have ignited and therefore triggered the Marshall Street explosion.
The source of the gas is currently under investigation.
Northern Gas has made the gas mains connected to local residences safe.The area has been roped off from the public by authorities.
