Father and son leap from burning house shouting 'where's Mum?' after 'earthquake-like' explosion blasted the walls off their Yorkshire home - and miraculously everyone survived
A father and son were seen leaping from their blazing home before asking 'where's mum?' after an 'earthquake-like' explosion blasted the walls off their Yorkshire home.
Liam McLaughlin and his son Jack were filmed jumping through the flames from a staircase inside their home in Illingworth, West Yorkshire, on Saturday.
Jack, who is in his 20s, was heard shouting 'where's my mum?' after escaping the inferno.
Moments after, his mother, Gwen, left the home. All three were rushed to hospital and are thought to be in a stable condition.
Father and son Liam and Jack McLaughlin managed to leap from the flames, while Gwen McLaughlin also escaped, before their home in Illingworth, West Yorkshire, collapsed on Saturday
Emergency services were called to the scene in Illingworth, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, just before 7.40am on Saturday after an explosion at the family home
An unnamed neighbour told The Sun: 'There was the colossal boom and they whole house has gone up.
'I expected the worst, but amazingly all four - Liam, Gwen, Jack and his girlfriend - got out.
'Jack didn't look too bad, but Gwen looked to be burned.'
Jack and Liam were seen fleeing the property in West Yorkshire just before 8am on Saturday
Jack McLaughlin could be heard shouting 'where's my mum?' after escaping the inferno yesterday
Fire crews at the scene on Saturday morning. They worked with West Yorkshire Police and Yorks Ambulance, Calderdale Council, to tackle the blaze in Illingworth near Halifax
Neighbours say they 'expected the worst,' after spotting flames rising at the house yesterday, but Liam McLaughlin was spotted fleeing the property moments later with his son Jack
As the fire took hold at around 7.45am yesterday, the family's home soon collapsed.
Neighbour Candice Nevison, 37, said: 'It sounded like there was a massive bang and it felt like something had fallen on my head. The impact was just so extreme I thought my own house was collapsing.
'I saw people running out of the house. I saw one person jump out the window while another person carried an older lady over her shoulder.'
Neighbour Tony McElroy, 73, said he was awakened by the blast.
Speaking about the family's escape, he said: 'Thankfully they were out of the house when it all collapsed. It was terrifying.
'I heard a loud bang and thud and when I opened the curtains I had debris flying at me. It all collapsed so fast it was a matter of seconds.'
Shocked neighbours looked on as the house collapsed on Saturday morning. Local firefighters are investigating the cause of the blaze
People living nearby likened the deafening blast to an earthquake, with one tweeting: 'I am only half-awake but either something just exploded nearby or we had an earthquake.'
One man said he got a phone call from his mother, about a mile from the explosion, adding: 'She heard a huge bang like an explosion… It was heard and felt in Denholme, more than three miles away.'
One neighbour said they thought Gwen McLaughlin suffered burns in the blaze, but all three members of the family are thought to be in a stable condition
The three people were treated at the scene on Green Lane in Illingworth, Halifax, before they were taken to hospital for further treatment
Neighbours have banded together to help the family, including setting up a fundraising page to collect donations from well-wishers.
Residents in six surrounding houses were evacuated as a safety precaution, including a 98-year-old, according to locals.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said yesterday that it was investigating the cause of the explosion.
It added: 'Crews continue to work with partner agencies including the Police, Calderdale Council, utility companies and health and safety executive.'