Originally published by TheScottishSun
A COUPLE cheated death after a massive gas explosion ripped through their home yesterday morning.
Donna Cunningham, 39, suffered severe burns to her hands in the 6.25am blast which destroyed the detached property.
The mother of three and partner Scott Donnelly, 43, were both rushed to hospital after the horror in Bargeddie, Lanarkshire.
Donna’s daughter, 15, and son, 13, were not at home at the time of the explosion which blew out the back of the villa and left windows and rubble strewn across the back garden.
A local said: “It could have been much, much worse.
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“The ground shook and there was a noise like thunder.
“Scott is okay but pretty stunned by what happened.
“Donna has badly burned hands and her hair is singed.”
Scott was later discharged from nearby Monklands Hospital while Donna was transferred to Glasgow Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.
Firefighters were scrambled and extinguished a blaze within the house before rescuing the couple.
The force of the explosion sent a teddy bear belonging to Donna’s daughter flying 30 yards into a nearby hedge.
Demolition contractors sealed off the property with metal fences, while the front was boarded up with wooden panels.
The resident added: “It’s unclear exactly what happened. The bear was flown a good 30 yards out the front window and that wasn’t the worst side — it just shows that the force was incredible.
“It’s likely the house will have to be demolished because it’s in bits at the back. “
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Emergency services were called to an address in Bargeddie at around 6.25am following a report of a gas explosion within a property.
“A 39-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were taken to University Hospital Monklands.
“Neighbouring properties have been evacuated as a precaution.
“Officers remain at the scene.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman confirmed two crews attended the scene.
