AND HE LIVED.. Man escapes gas blast horror.

Byline: By LOUISA PILBEAM

A MAN miraculously escaped this wreckage as a gas explosion blew up three houses.

The man, 20, was in the worst-hit home, reduced to rubble by the 2.30am blast, but survived with burns.

And a woman was pulled out from under debris next door as firefighters heard her screams. They and two others were taken to hospital but amazingly none was badly injured. Three others suffered shock.

The blast damaged other homes and saw 60 families evacuated. Taahir Hasezi, 21, who lives opposite the scene in Bolton, said: "It was chaos. There was thick smoke everywhere and huge aftershocks. Rubble was flying through the air.

"My car's been badly damaged and all our windows have been smashed. It's a miracle no one was killed." And mum-of-three Sofiya Darvesh said: "It was like an earthquake. A lot of wood landed in my kitchen. We were lucky not to be hurt."

The fire brigade's Jed Higgins added: "We were met with a scene of unbelievable destruction."

Investigators fear a leaking gas pipe may have sparked the blast.

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