Mum ‘lucky to be alive’ after horror blast
A MOTHER miraculously survived a huge breakfast time gas explosion which obliterated her house yesterday.
Susan Shepherd, 40, was protected from the full force of the blast by a fridge which landed on top of her. She was taken to the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Paramedics described her condition as “serious but stable”. She suffered “life-threatening” burns and was stable when she arrived at hospital.
Her nine-year-old daughter was sleeping at her father’s home, and her son, 19, was out when the house in Ryhope, Sunderland, blew up at 8.50am.
Wrecked
Her sister Tracy Judson, 52, posted on Facebook: “There must be a God somewhere. How the hell can anyone survive that explosion?
“She’s absolutely fine under the circumstances, she’s got minor burns to her back, face and arms. She was conscious and talking – that’s all I know for now.”
Neighbour Tracey Pounder, 51, said: “I heard an almighty bang. I went upstairs and you could see dust rising. Half of the semi has gone and next door is wrecked.”
Ms Shepherd’s niece Jacqueline Seamen, 38, said: “I’m so pleased she’s alive – not many people would have survived something like that. You dread to think if the daughter had been there.”
Paul Moran was working close by when the blast happened.
He said: “I was 700 metres away and the building I was in started shaking.”
A Northumbria Police spokesman last night said: “It is now understood that the incident occurred as a result of a gas explosion and there was no third party involvement.”