Two fight for life after blast

5:59am Saturday 21st April 2007

Two young men were critically injured after an explosion at a disused factory.

The men, who are in their early twenties, were severely burned in the blast which is thought to have been triggered in a live 1100 volts electricity switch at the former Solaglas factory in Ripley Road, West Bowling.

It is not clear what the two men and two others, who were left suffering from shock, were doing at the disused factory.

A neighbouring resident, who rushed to help, said that one of the men looked as if "part of his arm was hanging off" and was screaming not to be allowed to bleed to death.

The explosion was heard by residents who live about 100 metres away from the vast building, which is separated by a railway track, at 4pm yesterday.

Sharon McWilliams, 34, and her husband Andrew, heard the loud bang from their home in Dalcross Grove and alerted the emergency services.

Mr McWilliams, 30, said: "We were both in the garden when we heard a bang - like a powerful wind shattering. I thought a skip had fallen but then I saw four or five lads running around. The clothes of one of them were shredded like something out of the Incredible Hulk."

As Mr McWilliams spoke to the emergency services, his wife ran to the factory yard.

"There was one boy on the floor and at first I thought he was dead," said Mrs McWilliams.

The mum-of-five added: "Skin was hanging off his hand and he was burned. The other lad was sat up and part of his left arm had ripped off and you could see the bone. He was screaming. He was saying' don't let me bleed to death.' "There were also two friends - I think they were in shock. I asked one to take his sweatshirt off so I could tie it round the lad's arm and I was trying to keep the other one awake. He said: I'm awake but I'm cold."

Mr McWilliams, who joined his wife with towels, added; "They both had skin peeling off their hands. I have never seen anything like it."

Both men were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary before later being transferred to specialist units elsewhere.

Sergeant Martin Baxter, of Bradford South Police, said yesterday: "Officers found two lads, aged about 21/22 who were very poorly. Initially they were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

"From what we can gather an electrical breaker has melted in front of them and they have caught the brunt of it.

"It appears an 11,000 volts electrical cable runs through the building and we think it is that which may have been severed. It is possible that's gone up and they have been caught by the flash from it.

"One man suffered extensive injuries to his left arm and both men have been badly burned. Their two friends, who were not injured, took their clothing off in an attempt to stem the bleeding."

Households and industrial units in the vicinity suffered power cuts following the blast.

Sgt Baxter added: "There can be no fault apportioned to the owners of the premises. They have done the best they can to put secure grills on the back entrances to the premises which have been disused for some time but it's obvious that people over a period of time have been breaking in and taking items from the premises.

"This highlights the inherent dangers of going into a disused buildings"

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire Service have launched an investigation.

Staff from electricity firm Yorkshire Electricity Distribution Limited (YEDL) were called to make the building safe before fire investigators started their probe last night.

Fire investigator Chris Clarke, of Bradford fire station, said: "We came across four youths in the yard. Two of them have bad burn injuries to the front of their bodies and faces. We administered first aid. We understand a big bang was heard. The cause is still under investigation."