Holiday cottage EXPLODES close to Alton Towers as woman airlifted to hospital with ‘serious burns’

A holiday cottage near Alton Towers has exploded causing a woman to suffer from serious burns.

The woman was airlifted to hospital while fire crews tackled the blaze at the property on Bradley Lane, Threapwood in Staffordshire at around 12.40pm.

Fire crews attended the scene after reports of an explosion, with crews from across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent attending the scene.

It is understood the building was completely destroyed in the explosion.

A spokesperson from Staffordshire fire and rescue service said: “We have extinguished a fire at a holiday cottage in Alton this afternoon (29 December) following reports of a gas explosion.

Crews from Longton and Hanley were sent to an address on Bradley Lane, Threapwood, shortly after 12.40pm. Our colleagues from Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service also went to the scene.

Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, which was put out around 1.30pm.

“Emergency services carried out a search in the area to make sure everyone was accounted for in the neighbouring properties.”

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The fire and rescue service spokesperson added: “A woman, in her 50s, suffered serious burns at the scene. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance. As a result of the explosion, the building was destroyed. Gas engineers came out and isolated the supply to make sure the area was left safe.

“An investigation into what caused the explosion is ongoing and emergency services will remain at the scene.”

Tommy Beardmore, 59, told Stoke on Trent Live his father attended the scene and wanted to assist.

He said: “‘My dad was on the scene. He heard the explosions. Pieces were falling on him. It blew windows out on the nearby properties. My dad was on a walk nearby and went straight there. He wanted to go and help. Three log cabins were all destroyed, they were all over the place and in the trees.”

Beardmore added: “It’s a disaster. I assume it was a gas explosion. When my dad told me I was terrified and hoping everyone was OK.

“I’m proud of my dad. He always taught me to run away from any danger but he runs to it even at his age.

“I’ll have to give him a telling off when I see him. I don’t know if anyone was in the cabins at the time.”