A bloodied trapped victim of the devastating gas explosion in Birmingham made a desperate plea to heroic rescuers.
Emergency services swarmed Dulwich Road in Kingstanding, Birmingham, at just after 8.30pm on Sunday with nearby residents being evacuated.
One property was destroyed while three others were damaged in a suspected gas explosion.
As he lay trapped under rubble and a fridge in his destroyed home, Dave Murphy screamed: “Please save my missus, she’s still inside.”
Tragically the locals who dug through the ruins of the family home and rescued Mr Murphy could not save the life of Doreen Rees-Bibb, 79.
Doreen has been described by her family as a mum with a "heart of pure gold" after she lost her life in Sunday night's terrifying incident.
Rescuer Harley Seccombe said: “I acted on instinct.
“I hopped over a fence and saw this hand sticking out of the rubble. I shouted for help and a few more people arrived.
“Then we essentially started digging him out of the rubble.”
Mark Pearman also raced to help. He said: “We formed a human chain and passed each other rubble piece by piece.
“A few of the young lads held a wooden beam up and a woman pulled the man out.”
Another rescuer added: “Dave’s clothes had been blown off, you couldn’t even see him, he was covered in blood.”
Doreen, was found in the rubble of the house in Kingstanding, Birmingham. Rescuer Callum Attwood said: “We tried to get to her but the flames were too much.”
The explosion on Sunday evening was heard 20 miles away and hurt four other men.
Locals said the house was sold just days before the blast and an estate agent said a boiler needed “repair/replacement” in an online post about the sale.
Dad-of-two Dave was still critical in hospital last night.
His son Dean said: “Dad’s not in a good way.
“But he survived. Sadly the lady didn’t.”
Neighbour Lami Charlery, 40, had a lucky escape after leaving his lounge to go to the loo.
He said: “The ceiling came down. If I was in any other room I wouldn’t be alive.”
An investigation is under way.
