Neighbours have spoken of their shock after finding a man they feared was dad following a horror gas explosion in the Forest of Dean today.
Police, paramedics and fire crews from across the county rushed to the property at High Nash, Coleford, shortly after 7.30am today.
People who live nearby say they heard a loud bang and discovered a 43-year-old man in the property who was later taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
A neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, went into the house after the explosion to check on the three children who live there. He said: "Another neighbour and I went into the house because we thought the children were there. Thank god they weren't there.
"When I found the man I thought he was dead. There was no fire, the house just blew outwards. Everyone in the street woke up."
Locals say a woman and the children, who live at the property, were not in at the time of the blaze.
The neighbours who rushed into the house say the explosion blew an internal wall out and have described it as "completely unsafe."
Another neighbour, who also withheld their name, said: "I was asleep and when I heard the explosion I thought my mother had fallen out of bed.
"I was in shock when I saw what happened. It's a peaceful street so I didn't expect it to happen. The man must be indestructible to survive something like that."
Police closed the road for much of today so the house could be examined by structural engineers and the cause of the explosion is being investigated.
A 43 year old man was found at the property in High Nash with serious injuries and was taken to South Mead Hospital in Bristol where he is currently undergoing surgery.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service said: "There has been a gas explosion and there are no fatalities but the fire service did rescue one male who has serious injuries."
The house adjoining the property had to be evacuated. Nobody else was in the property at the time and nobody else was injured in the explosion.
Police are currently not looking for anybody else in relation to this incident.
Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the explosion or seen anything suspicious before or after the incident. If anyone can help they are asked to call 101 quoting incident no. 65 of 14/01/15.
