Man survives explosion that destroyed his home

A 72-YEAR-OLD man survived an oxygen cylinder explosion which destroyed his home yesterday.

The explosion, heard more than half a mile away, blew out the windows in his bungalow and blasted the front door off its hinges - it landed 10ft away in the garden.

A dazed Terry Sheehan miraculously made his way out of his burning home where he was found by a neighbour. He was rushed to hospital where he was treated for burns to his head.

“He was a very lucky man to come out of there. When we arrived the bungalow was well ablaze,” fire brigade spokesman Pat O’Connor said.

It is believed that the explosion was caused by a leaking oxygen cylinder in the hallway. The cylinder had been used by Mr Sheehan’s late wife for breathing problems. The fire brigade believe that the explosion was triggered after Mr Sheehan lit a fire in the sitting room of the bungalow in Glanmire, Co Cork.

Neighbour Geraldine Kearney said she heard a loud bang shortly before 9.30am yesterday. “There was a huge bang and my windows rattled,” Ms Kearney said.

Mr Sheehan’s cousin, Carmel Dennehy, noticed smoke billowing from the house as she was dropping her children to school.

“He (Terry) was standing outside dazed. He’s very lucky to be alive,” Ms Dennehy said.

Another cousin, Finbarr Dineen said: “It’s just unbelievable, the front door landed 10 feet away and all the windows were blown out.”

Three fire brigade units from Cork City and Midleton tackled the blaze but were unable to prevent the bungalow from being completely gutted.

Mr Sheehan’s stepson, Fergus Carty, was treated for shock after he came upon the scene. Mr Sheehan was taken to Cork University Hospital where he was said to be in a stable condition.

A Glanmire Garda spokesman said they would be interviewing Mr Sheehan as soon as he was well enough: “There is nothing to suggest the cause of the fire is suspicious.”