Woman, 83, in blast escape
Neighbours raise roof to rescue pensioner
Matthew Taylor Monday June 7, 2004 The Guardian
An 83-year-old woman was pulled alive from what was left of her home after an explosion ripped through a street of terrace houses in Kent.
Elsie Howland was dragged to safety by neighbours who managed to lift a section of roof to get her out. The explosion in Faversham destroyed four houses but Miss Howland was the only person injured. Twenty people were evacuated as fire crews tackled a blaze which broke out after theblast, thought to have been caused by a gas leak. Kent fire and rescue service are investigating.
Nat Victor, a pub landlord, said: "It looked like something out of the second world war. There are no walls or anything left, it's just a big hole. Then someone heard a woman shouting for help under all the rubble. The roof had come down on her so we started pulling it away with our bare hands."
Miss Howland, who lives alone, was treated for minor cuts and bruises. Her nephew, Michael Tomlinson, said: "She's had a miraculous escape." http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1233051,00.html