Girl, 9, killed walking past freak house explosion

A nine-year-old English schoolgirl died today after being crushed by a wall which collapsed when an explosion blew apart a house as she passed by.

The girl who died as a result of the explosion in the end terrace home is understood to be Stephanie Hammacott, who lived locally.

The youngster, understood to be on her way to the local Southway Primary school, died in hospital from serious injuries suffered in the incident in Bulteel Gardens, Plymouth, Devon, just before 8am.

The girl’s mother was also taken to hospital in the city suffering from minor injuries and shock.

The occupants of the council owned house, believed to be an elderly couple, were treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation.

A male passer by was also understood to have been affected by smoke.

The police said the four casualties are in hospital and their injuries are not thought to be serious.

Malcolm Carmichael, group manager of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said it appeared that a gas explosion came from within the property.

“Judging from the property, it seems the explosion took place inside the house,” he said. “We anticipate that the fire crews will remain at the scene through the day.

“Once it can be made structurally safe, we will go in and extinguish the fires.

“A gas leak outside of the property is continuing to burn. We are looking to isolate that section of the main.”

Mr Carmichael said it appeared that the girl was travelling to school with her mother when the blast occurred.

He said the house had been “almost completely destroyed” by the blast.

Superintendent Andy Bickley, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Our condolences are with the girl’s family and friends at this time. We will be working to support them.”

There were reports of a smell of gas in the area before the explosion, said a Devon and Cornwall police spokesman.

An eyewitness said he saw passers-by trying to free the girl from beneath a collapsed wall.

Witnesses said the front wall of the house exploded and collapsed on to the youngster as she was passing.

Dan Kershaw, who lives across the road from the damaged property, said he woke up and heard a woman screaming.

“There was a girl trapped under the rubble of the wall. The woman must have been the mother. She was hysterical.

“Loads of people came to dig out the girl from the rubble. I could not look any more because she was in such a bad way. She was all burnt and battered,” he told the Plymouth-based Herald newspaper.

Eyewitnesses spoke of flames leaping into the air and smoke billowing across the area, where rubble from the blast was strewn.

Gas and electrical engineers are at the scene in the Southway area of the city, where some properties were evacuated.

Neighbour Catherine Williams, who heard the bang, said: “People were crying. It was quite dreadful.”