This is the pensioner who was killed in a house explosion that was caused by a ‘catastrophic’ pipe failure which led to a gas leak.
Janet Jasper, 79, a grandmother-of-three, died after a huge blast obliterated her home causing her bedroom wall to collapse as she lay in bed.
Her husband John, 80, who had been downstairs making a cup of tea, miraculously survived after being rescued from beneath the rubble of a flight of stairs.
Janet Jasper, 79, a grandmother-of-three, died after a huge blast obliterated her home
A battered and bruised John Jasper made an emotional return to the site of the explosion, where he sorted through what remains of his belongings after his wife died
John Jasper, pictured in orange jacket was seen making an emotional return to what is left of his home, after his wife died
Two houses were blown to pieces by an early morning gas explosion that was so fierce it also damaged neighbouring properties
Neighbours reported hearing an ‘almighty bang’ at around 7.30am on Monday morning when the semi-detached property exploded
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service today revealed the blast was caused by a ‘catastrophic failure of an internal gas pipe joint’.
In a statement they said: ‘The joint investigation has determined that there will be no criminal investigation.
‘As a result, the scene was lifted yesterday afternoon, although police officers have remained in Allington Drive to reassure local residents who have been affected by the incident.
‘The cause has been categorized as accidental and the seat of the explosion has now been identified.
‘The explosion is attributed to a catastrophic failure of an internal gas pipe joint, in the floor of the property, and the escaping gas being ignited by a cooker spark generator switch.
‘A forensic investigation is now underway by the Health and Safety Executive to identify what caused the failure of the internal gas pipe.
‘As a result of the explosion, the semi-detached property where the seat of explosion has been identified, was a total collapse and the adjoining property a partial collapse with a significant number of other properties in the vicinity damaged by the blast.
‘Three casualties were taken to hospital, one of whom has subsequently died.’
Another man who was also injured remains in hospital.
A resident’s camera captured the moment the huge explosion tore through two houses in Leicester
A ‘catastrophic’ pipe failure led to a gas leak which caused the fatal house explosion
Mr Jasper, wearing a high-vis jacket and accompanied by two police officers, returned to the scene on Tuesday to survey the damage.
He said: ‘I just don’t know what I’m going to do from here on in.’
The retired electrician had a bruise on his left eye and a cut on his nose.
The couple, who have two sons and three grandchildren, had lived in the house all their married life.
The site as it appeared before the explosion. The property on the right is the Jaspers’ home before Monday’s carnage
The massive explosion on Monday morning could be felt half a mile away and damaged more than 50 homes in the street in Birstall, north of Leicester.
It partially destroyed the Jasper’s home and reduced their neighbour’s to a pile of rubble.
People living in the street described being woken by an ‘almighty bang’ which shook doors and windows.
Dramatic pictures showed how the force of the blast tore the roof off one property, destroyed floors and left an upstairs bedroom exposed.
Properties nearby had windows shattered and doors torn off hinges, while bits of roof and insulation were found lying in surrounding streets.
An elderly man was dramatically pulled alive from the rubble by rescuers, while the bedroom of a house next door was said to have been ripped away by the blast