An investigation learned that a woman who was making a video call with her partner was killed by a house explosion, which was most likely caused by a ruptured gas main.
61-year-old Hazel Wilcock died when a row house in Summerseat Village in Ramsbottom was destroyed by an explosion. bury Just before 9:30pm on Wednesday, February 17.
An investigation conducted at the Coroner’s Court in Rochdale on Thursday revealed that Miss Wilcock, a bereavement counselor at St. Ann’s Hospice, was talking to her when she saw the screen turn black at about 9:15 p.m. Boyfriend Tony Dewey makes a Facetime call.
Miss Wilcock’s brother Graham On the 70th, he said that he heard an explosion in an apartment about 100 meters away. When he could not reach his sister, he walked out of her house in East View.
“There is nothing there, you can see through it directly.”
The hearing was informed that at around 3 am on February 18, searchers found Ms. Wilcock’s body on the sofa in the front hall.
The cause of her death was recorded as traumatic asphyxia.
Mr. Wilcock thanked the emergency services for the response. He said: “I still can’t believe it happened. I miss her. I miss her very much.”
The investigation heard that Miss Wilcock’s next door neighbor was taken to the hospital with her daughter after the explosion, and later told the police that she smelled gas around 9pm.
Engineer Steven Critchlow, from Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stated that the most likely cause of the explosion was a gas leak from the main cast iron pipe 35 meters from the house, which had penetrated the soil and entered the basement of Ms. Wilcock’s house.
The coroner’s court heard that the fuel was probably ignited by the washing machine or freezer in the cellar.
Mr. Krichlow said: “We have been able to eliminate all causes except for the failure of the gas main at the bottom of the road.
“We know that the gas has penetrated into the soil from the failed natural gas main, and we know that the gas has entered the basement, so my conclusion is that this is an accident caused by a failure of the cast iron main.”
HSE inspector Ian Redshaw said that after the explosion, natural gas company Cadent found about two-thirds of the ruptured pipeline.
He said that as part of the national 30-year plan started in 2002, the cast iron pipelines in the natural gas network are being replaced, but in this case, the main pipeline is not listed as a high priority for replacement.
He said: “Cast iron is a very strong material, but it is also a brittle material. The cast iron pipes in the gas network have and continue to have many failures.”
Detective Inspector Alison Witkiewicz (Alison Witkiewicz) told the investigation that she had considered whether to commit any criminal offences, but nothing reached the threshold for prosecution.
Joanne Kearsley, a senior coroner in North Manchester, recorded the conclusion of the accidental death.
Speaking to some of Miss Wilcock’s friends and relatives who attended the hearing, she said: “Whether professionally or personally, she sounds like a very remarkable lady.”
