Suspected gas blast traps man, reducing shop to rubble pile in Glasgow

A MAN is recovering in hospital after being rescued from a building that was turned into a pile of rubble after a gas explosion.

The 29-year-old, who has not been named, was found by emergency services when they were called to the east end of Glasgow in the early hours of Friday. The cause of the blast is still unknown.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said it took nearly an hour to free the man before he was rushed to hospital with unspecified injuries. His condition at Glasgow Royal Infirmary was described as serious but stable.

Only one wall was left after the blast, which left rubble strewn across the area.

According to reports, eyewitnesses said a man was trapped by his legs under the rubble and was screaming for help. Fire crews sent three appliances to the scene, which initially reported that a car had crashed into the building.

Police and fire service forensic experts are still on the site trying to determine the cause of the incident.

Scotland Gas Networks, who were at the former newsagents at Springboig Road earlier on Friday, said there was no mains gas supply to the property. They also checked the gas network nearby and confirmed it did not contribute to the fire.

Springboig Road remained closed last night between Tynecastle Street and Greenfield Avenue, police said.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police, which is leading the investigation into the suspected blast, said: “Around 3am, police received a report of a fire within a shop at 100 Springboig Road. Emergency services attended and a man was rescued from the building by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and taken to hospital.

“It appears there may have been some kind of explosion. However, the cause of the fire is unknown at this time and enquiries are continuing to establish the exact circumstances of the incident. The building was not in use and it has been extensively damaged.

“Police and Fire Service forensic experts are on site to try to establish the cause of the fire.”

Initial reports to the Scottish Ambulance Service suggested a vehicle had driven into the shop and the man was rescued from it, but police later confirmed there was no vehicle involved.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said: “We were alerted at 2:58am by calls from the public, and three pumps attended the incident.

“Our investigations into the cause are continuing.”

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said building control staff were assisting the emergency services and carrying out dangerous buildings operations to remove parts of the remaining structure.

Residents reported that the shop had been empty for about six months and expressed shock at the scene on Friday morning.