Community raises £5.6k in 12 hours after family's home destroyed in explosion

02 December 2023 , 13:20

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The scene on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, after the explosion (Image: PA)

A community has come together to raise more than £5,600 in just a few hours after an 84-year-old man died and two people were rescued when an explosion destroyed their home in Edinburgh.

Emergency services rushed to the property in the Baberton area of the Scottish capital after a gas leak caused an explosion at around 10.25pm. A 43-year-old woman and 54-year-old man were taken to hospital for treatment, but their condition is currently unknown.

Police say there are no suspicious circumstances. A number of homes were also evacuated as a precaution and the road – Baberton Mains Avenue – remains closed as of Saturday morning.

Gas engineers and police officers at the scene in Edinburgh (PA)

Ross Aitchison was one of the first on the scene, after hearing a bang from his home. He pulled a woman out of the rubble with the help of another individual, and has now launched a fundraiser for the family, reports EdinburghLive.

On the fundraising page, Ross said: "I’m trying to raise funds for a family who have tragical lost their home due to a devastating gas explosion in Edinburgh Baberton. With it being so close to Christmas they have lost everything and their home! I would like to please ask for anything small so we can give this family something back so close to Christmas. Thank you for anything donated!"

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Ross' son, Ben, said: "Around 10.26pm last night I got a phone call from my dad saying 'did you hear that big bang?' "I replied no, I didn’t hear anything at all. He then said a house has just exploded from a gas leak so I say to him I will run over and check. My dad only stays 20-30 seconds from where the incident happened so he was one of the first people there.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the explosion last night (PA)

"By the time I got to where he was he had already got the woman out the house with another person's help and luckily she was still alive." Ross added: "Both are safe and away to hospital. Me and another guy pulled the woman from the rubble! Very scary that was."

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were alerted at 10.26pm on Friday, 1 December, to reports of a gas explosion affecting two residential properties on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh. "Operations Control mobilised five fire appliances and specialist resources to the scene.

"Two casualties were rescued prior to our attendance. Crews have now left the scene." You can donate to the fundraiser here.

Lee Dalgetty