Bristol gas explosion: Hero rescuer relives terrifying moment 'bomb went off'

A hero neighbour has described the moment she ran to help after a huge blast rocked her street.

Charlie Danes, 47, told The how she saw the happen in front of her eyes in her back and leapt into action. She said: “I watched it in real time, it was silent beforehand. No indication at all. When there’s this almighty bang, the explosion rocked through my body, shook the houses and all this debris just went flying up into the air. It was like a bomb had gone off.” Claire and her husband wasted no time and rushed towards the blazing where they found other rescuers trying to smash windows to let people out.

She said: “We didn’t think about our own safety we just knew people would need help.

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“An elderly couple had managed to get out and we helped them get away and some guys were smashing the window on the house next door because the two people on there were panicking and could not get out.

“One was infirm and the other was struggling to get the keys in the lock, the panic and shock meant she couldn’t do it.

“Eventually she got the door unlocked and two guys carried the lady with the bad back out to safety.

“She had cuts and stuff and we got her over the road but thankfully no one had life threatening injuries so we just wrapped them up in blankets and made sure they were and warm because they were still in their night clothes.

“There have been various rumours about how the elderly couple got out but I’m honestly I don’t know.

“Running through the debris passed the smashed cars was so strange but you don’t think about the debris you just think people need help so that’s what you do.

“But once the fire brigade turned up we handed them over to the professionals.

“The old lady was so upset she just kept saying “‘my dog, my dog, where’s my dog” and “that’s my house that’s my home my everything”, you just couldn’t help but feel for her they were shaking so badly.

“We couldn’t get her to sit down she was so upset, especially about her dog.

“The dog ran off sadly but I’ve been told it’s now been found thankfully.

“It was a real community effort, everyone just came together and didn’t think of the danger at all.

“It’s incredible no one died it really is.”