A MAN who got off his sick bed to help a pensioner after a gas blast has spoken about the rescue.

Henry Pearson needs to be on oxygen all the time, but rushed to help David Dunkley after gas exploded in his kitchen yesterday morning.

And quick-thinking Mr Pearson, 63, even took his gas key with him so he could turn the supply off immediately.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the cause of a gas blast at Mrs Dunkley's home in Richmond Avenue, Fartown, at 10.30am.

Mr Dunkley suffered burns to his hands and is in a comfortable condition at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Henry Pearson - who lives opposite Mr Dunkley - suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and constantly needs oxygen from a cylinder. But he leapt up to Mr Dunkley's aid and left his oxygen behind.

He said: "I was laid in bed when I heard a noise.

"It was more like a wooosh than an explosion. I pulled the curtains back and saw smoke and flames coming from across there.

"Then it dawned on me that there was not a window left in.

"I took my tubes off, rang for the fire brigade on my mobile phone and got dressed."

Mr Pearson guessed it was a gas explosion and took his own key that opens the gas meter so he could turn off Mr Dunkley's gas supply.

"I went into the hall and helped him out. He was confused and did not know whether he was coming or going. It absolutely stank of gas."

"I turned the gas off to stop any more escaping."

Mr Pearson said: "He seemed to have burns on his hands and his wrists."

Firefighters turned out in force with 32 firefighters called from Cleckheaton, Mirfield, Elland, Brighouse and Hunslet, near Leeds.

A paramedic ambulance and doctor arrived and took Mr Dunkley to hospital.

Neighbours discovered that the ceiling in the kitchen and lounge had been damaged.

Mr Pearson suspected that the explosion happened in the kitchen as the window was blown out and all the cupboard doors had blown open.

A spokesman for gas pipeline provider Transco said engineers called to the scene had not found a problem with any of their pipes.

"We suspect it is an internal escape.

"The Health and Safety Executive are now investigating the incident."

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