Family's devastation after gas explosion destroys home

Liam and Gwen McLaughlin's home on Green Lane, Halifax, blew up in December 2020 after a pipe in the street fractured and leaked gas into the property.

The tragedy happened at around 7.30am when Gwen switched on a light, sparking the massive blast which flattened the home.

The scene of the devastating blast

Gwen, who was 64 at the time, suffered burns to 36 per cent of her body in the blast.

She was subsequently put in an induced coma and suffered a stroke which impacted the right-hand side of her body.

Gwen eventually left hospital - but she sadly died of lung cancer at the start of this year.

Liam and Gwen's daughter, Gemma, told the Telegraph & Argus that life had been a "nightmare" since the gas explosion.

She has now launched a petition calling for a change in the law to make gas companies more accountable when faults happen.

Gemma said: "Things have been really hard since the explosion, especially for my parents, but there's also been a domino effect on the whole family.

"We just get up every day and try our best to get through the best we can.

"It was heartbreaking seeing what this did to my parents.

"The first time I saw my mum face-to-face was four-and-a-half months after the explosion when she came home from hospital - this was due to Covid restrictions and not being allowed to visit.

"She went from a happy, bubbly person who could do everything for herself, to having to rely on others to do everything for her.

"She was left in a wheelchair due to suffering a stroke while in an induced coma, her body was under so much stress due to having 36 per cent burns to her body.

"She wasn't the same person - she didn't even want to live anymore.

"It was so upsetting.

"She sadly passed away in January with lung cancer - due to her health after the explosion she couldn't withstand any of the treatment available.

"She was taken far too soon."

Family hope petition will make a difference

Gemma's petition to Parliament comes after she battled for three years for a personal injury claim against Northern Gas Networks on behalf of her parents.

However, Northern Gas Networks was excused from liability as the pipe in question was not due to be replaced for another decade.

Gemma said: "I'm really angry Northern Gas Networks was excused from liability for this.

"With my petition, I really want to raise awareness and change regulations to stop any other family ever being in the situation my family is in right now.

"I feel as the public, we deserve better protection.

"Gas is such a dangerous substance."

Liam said he missed his wife deeply.

He added: "I feel robbed of the last three years of my life - and my wife's life.

"It's not living, it's just existing in life.

"I'm still struggling with severe post-traumatic stress disorder after the explosion.

"This is something I will never get over or forget."

Liam recalled the moment he was left trapped.

He said: "I managed to fight my way out.

"Then I just walked down the gable end because the house just collapsed.

"And all I heard then was my wife shouting 'Liam, help!'"

A spokesperson for Northern Gas Networks said: "Northern Gas Networks co-operated fully with the Health and Safety Executive investigation into the incident on Green Lane which found no wrongdoing on the part of the company as the pipe was not due for replacement at the time of the incident.

"We have every sympathy for the McLaughlin family, but we cannot comment on any ongoing proceedings which may be related to the case."

The spokesperson added: "Northern Gas Networks is committed to delivering the highest standards of safety for customers, colleagues and members of the public, and maintaining a safe and reliable gas network is our top priority."

Gemma's petition can be signed at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/658025