Man dead in suspected gas explosion that levelled house and wrecked neighbours' homes as police say everyone else is safe
A man has been found dead after a suspected gas explosion which left a house decimated.
A major incident was declared on Saturday evening when a house in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, exploded after a major 'gas leak'.
Aerial footage of the home showed the property completely destroyed with a huge amount of debris sprawling onto the street.
Nottinghamshire Police have confirmed this afternoon that the body of a man was recovered from the wreckage. The victim has been named in local media as Dave Howard, 53.
Emergency services attended to the man but were unable to save him. The male was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief inspector Clive Collings of Nottinghamshire Police said: 'This is an extremely serious incident that has led to a man's untimely death.
'The man's family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. I have no doubt that this incident will have come as a shock to the community in Worksop.'
Devastating aerial photos show a house struck by a major 'gas explosion' in Worksop, Nottinghamshire
The terraced property was 'partially destroyed,' with adjoining homes suffering serious damage
Multiple residents from in and around the street were evacuated as emergency services worked at the scene along with colleagues from Nottinghamshire County Council.
An investigation is ongoing to establish the cause of the explosion and anyone who may have been in the area at the time is now accounted for.
Inspector Collings added: 'It is likely that the cordon and road closures will remain in place for some time as we carry out our investigations.
'I would also like to acknowledge the cooperation of local residents and thank them for their patience.
'Officers will remain in the area to carry out enquiries relating to the investigation and anyone with concerns is encouraged to speak with an on-duty officer.
'It is an offence to fly a drone over or near to an ongoing emergency response without permission and I would ask that people refrain from doing that.
'I would also like to thank all partners, including our emergency services colleagues at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service, who have worked throughout the night in response to this incident.'
The public has been advised to avoid the area with investigations ongoing.
Residents rushed to the street yesterday evening after hearing a 'loud' bang
Images show the ruined house, with people on social media reporting hearing a 'huge' bang
Evacuated residents today told of their horror as the terraced home was destroyed, with one saying: 'There was an almighty bang, the whole street was violently shaking and we feared for our lives.'
Daniel Ilhaba, who was thrown out of bed, said: 'I ran out as quick as I could. The vibrations were so close it felt like the explosion was inside my house. I was terrified.'
The mature student, 31, reliving his ordeal as he takes refuge at a nearby community centre where he and other family members had to spend the night, said: 'This was the worst thing I have ever experienced. I thought I was going to die.'
Mr Ilhaba, who lives with his nephew and his partner and their two young children, said: 'I was the only one at home. Luckily the others were out so I only had myself to think about.'
Nigerian Mr Ilhaba, who fled with no spare clothes nor belongings but just his mobile, said: 'I was alone at home and had been lying on bed on my phone upstairs when I heard a loud bang, it was an almighty bang and it threw me out of bed.
'The house was shaking, I was shaking. I've been caught in an explosion before, back in Nigeria two years ago when a fuel tanker exploded. I was working nearby and had to run for my life. There were no casualties and it brought back horrible memories.
'But this was worse as it was so near. I was terrified and thought I was going to die. It was devastating. I picked myself up and somehow still had my phone in my hand and I ran outside.'
The tenant, who is studying project management at the University of Lincoln, continued: 'The vibrations were so close it felt like the explosion was inside my house.
'I wondered what had happened. I hear people talking about a lot of fires and gas explosions at homes in the UK.
'I ran outside, wearing just trousers and a T-shirt, and down the road as others were coming out too. Then the fire bridge arrived and it was mayhem.'
Another resident, supermarket worker Karen Fitzkerley, has told how of her 'horrible shock' after her house was rocked by an explosion which killed her neighbour, saying: 'There was a massive boom and I thought it was an earthquake!'
Local Daniel Ilhaba, who was thrown out of bed, said: 'I ran out as quick as I could. The vibrations were so close it felt like the explosion was inside my house. I was terrified'
He only moved into the two-bed privately rented property - just two doors away from the blast home - two months ago which has been severely damaged with windows and doors blown out.
He added: 'I have not idea if we'll be able to go back, or when. The house is a mess but at least it is still standing. When I saw the house next door but one which had been flattened I felt sickened.
'I know someone lives there but do not know him and just hoped and prayed he was not at home.'
His nephew, father-of-two Augustin Adejoh, 31, told how he had been working at the time of the explosion but feared for the safety of his partner Rosie Harrison and two babies when he heard the news.
The support worker for Nottinghamshire County Council, who was on a late shift, was alerted by a neighbour, and raced back to his terraced home.
He said: 'My partner and children live there with my uncle and I was so worried they may be inside.' While his uncle was at home, his partner had taken the children out prior to the explosion.
Another resident, supermarket worker Karen Fitzkerley, has told how of her 'horrible shock' after her house was rocked by an explosion which killed her neighbour, saying: 'There was a massive boom and I thought it was an earthquake!'
She was home alone and watching TV when disaster struck in her street yesterday evening. She said: 'I thought 'Oh my god' what is happening as I ran outside as quick as I could. I wasn't hanging about!'
The woman, whose husband Gary was at a wedding reception for a work colleague, said: 'I'm feeling very emotional because I ran for my life and had no clue as to what was going on. I thought it was an earthquake.
'I had been enjoying some peace and quiet on my own catching up on Adolescence when there was suddenly a bang, a massive boom which reverberated any my house shook.
His nephew, father-of-two Augustin Adejoh (pictured), 31, told how he had been working at the time of the explosion but feared for the safety of his partner Rosie Harrison and two babies when he heard the news
A gas explosion destroyed a house and led to widespread evacuations in Nottinghamshire on Saturday night
'My first thought was that is was an earthquake, it was very daunting and pretty traumatic. Outside I could see clouds of black smoke, and as I went down the road the house that once stood was a pile of rubble.
'I felt sick to the pit of my stomach because if anyone was in that property the chances are they wouldn't have survived. It was a horrendous thing to happen, a horrible shock.'
Mrs Fitzakerley, 52, who stayed with her sister nearby and still cannot go home, said: 'I'm literally in the clothes I walked out in.'
She has lived in the close-knit street, where residents home own ir privately own, for 30 years, told she had sought sheet at the nearby community centre on advice of police.
She said: 'I alerted my husband and he came back immediately from his night out and we went to stay with family.
'We weren't allowed to go back into our house, which is about eight houses up from the demolished one, and we're hoping it wasn't damaged but we don't know.
'Some of the evacuated residents had to stay at the community centre or went to a local Travel Lodge.'
She said her husband, a uniformed warehouse worker, was due back at work tomorrow while she is due to return to her job as a Tesco clothing sales assistant on Tuesday.
She said: 'We have no clean clothes or belongings, we still can't go back to our homes so have no idea what is happening. Some of my neighbours have pets, cats and dogs, and have been very worried about leaving them.'
Mr Ilhaba, who fled with no spare clothes nor belongings but just his mobile, said: 'I was alone at home and had been lying on bed on my phone upstairs when I heard a loud bang, it was an almighty bang and it threw me out of bed'
Emergency services near the scene on John Street in Worksop following the explosion
Roger Medlam, who owns Discount Glass, a glass and glazing shop told how he was alerted to the disaster by his daughter who lives nearby.
His business is located on the corner of John Street just feet away from the blast.
He said: 'It is just shocking, it was terrible to hear that someone had died.
'Nearby houses have been wrecked - windows and doors have been blown out and people are calling me to get them replaced but we're not allowed to get to then through the police cordon.
Neighbours Heida St John and her student son Kayden had been visiting the local pub when the blast, suspected to be a gas, happened diagonally opposite their home.
Kayden, 19, claimed they could smell gas in the street three days previously and had reported it to the relevant authorities.
He said: 'But no-one bothered coming out to inspect is as far as we are aware. If they had maybe this tragedy could have been prevented and a life saved.'
They teenager said: 'We were out at the pub and we heard the loud explosion which rattled the whole street and half of Worksop and there were pillows of black smoke.
'We ran back home to see what had happened and the house opposite had been completely destroyed. It was a pile of bricks. We feel so sorry for the person who died. It is very sad.
Drone footage shows the scene in Worksop following the explosion on Saturday night
Debris of the exploded house can be seen lying across several gardens
'We can't go home but my mum who suffers from anxiety and agoraphobia was allowed to go inside by police to get her medication. We're staying at the community centre on put up beds, we have nowhere else to go.
'This has been out home for eight years and we don't know when it is safe to go back. It is very distressing.'
MP for Bassetlaw Jo White, who visited the scene, told how she was on the train back home to her constituency, after debating the British steel fiasco, when she heard about the explosion.
She said: 'News that a life has been lost is shocking and devastating. The community is very tight knit and I want residents affected to know that I am here to help and support them in the days and weeks to come.'
She urged: 'Please contact me!'
She added: 'I hope the electricity is out back soon so all those evacuated residents can go back home.
'I know people who have pets at home, and medication, are desperately seeking help. The police have been very helpful and are letting residents back ins to get their animal and meds.'
Julie Leigh, the leader of the local authority, Bassetlaw District Council, said tonight: 'We are doing everyone we an to help. It is a dreadful situation.
'Many people have been put up in hotels and are camping out at the nearby community centre and can only go back home when the fire brigade deem that safe.
Emergency services at the scene on John Street in Worksop, after a major incident has been declared and homes evacuated following an explosion at a terraced property in Nottinghamshire. Picture date: Sunday April 13, 2025
'Some of the neighbouring properties have been damaged. They are owned or privately rented out and not council. Our condolences go out to family and friends of the person who has tragically died. It is a desperately sad situation for many.'
The nearby Crown Place Community Centre was opened as a place of safety for residents.
Residents living nearby recalled hearing a loud 'bang' on Saturday evening - presumably when the house exploded.
On X, formerly Twitter, one person asked at around 8pm: 'Did anyone else hear a loud bang /explosion sound in Worksop North Nottingham around 30 minutes ago?'
A Facebook user posted at about 8.10pm: 'I was driving back from Mass this evening, just turned into Gladstone Street from Gateford Road, when there was a terrific bang, like a very loud firework! I thought the back end had blown off my car.
'A house in John Street has had, presumably, a gas explosion!'
Karolina Ciolko, who lives nearby, told the BBC: 'I was lying in bed when I heard an explosion.
'I quickly looked out the window. I saw smoke and the car in front of me rocked, and the alarm went off. We quickly ran out of the house to see what had happened.'
Anyone who has any additional information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 612 of April 12, 2025.
