Latest news with #RichCainey
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
Yate explosion neighbours: 'We've seen best and worst of people'
The neighbours of a house that was destroyed after a gas explosion fear their empty home has been Cainey has been unable to enter his home since the explosion in Lancaster Road, Yate, on 29 April, because the building was deemed structurally said neighbours spotted someone in his house at 05:00 BST on Tuesday before they were seen "carrying something and running off"."You see the worst of people as well as the best. It's just bewildering. Why would you risk it?" he said. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed reports were made about a man entering one of the homes but no arrests had been force said the man was described as being in his 20s or 30s, white, of medium build with dark hair and wearing a dark denim jacket or shirt, blue jeans and with information was asked to get in touch with Cainey, who has lived in the house for 35 years with his parents, said he was thrown out of bed and across the room when the property next door said he was still suffering nightmares and flashbacks of the explosion."For a few days after, every time there was a noise in the night I was up on my feet without even consciously doing it, having strange dreams about being trapped in houses," he said."It has affected me more than I would probably show. It's hard." More than 40 residents were evacuated after the flames spread to neighbouring people were taken to hospital, with two of the injured people believed to have lived at the house, the BBC said their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. Rich's father Rob said: "It's raw because you've got no base, you've been to one house then you go to another."However, he said he and his family had been "brought to tears" by the kindness of their community in the wake of the explosion. 'Destroys everything' As well as setting up a fundraising page, friends and neighbours have offered the family places to stay, clothing and other essential items."It's really moving," Rob said."No-one expects it. One day you're just living you life, the next minute something like this happens and it destroys everything, and it's people's humanity that makes it easier for every one." The family have been struggling to get their lives in order, but have been hampered by being unable to access documents and devices in the Caineys became entangled in a dispute with Virgin Media after being they would have to pay £225 to terminate their account because the digiboxes stuck in the house could not be Media has since apologised and, after the BBC contacted the firm, confirmed it would waive the charges.
Wales Online
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Family 'loses everything' after home of 35 years destroyed in gas explosion
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A family have been left with nothing after their home of 35 years was destroyed in a suspected gas explosion. Rich Cainey, along with his parents Rob and Deb, both 60, were devastated when their house was caught in a catastrophic blast on Tuesday, April 29. The explosion in Yate, Gloucestershire, left four hurt with onlookers describing it as a 'miracle' that no-one was killed. READ MORE: The 'confusing' Midland road with seven different names but it's still the same road The force of the blast flattened one home in Lancaster Road and left another uninhabitable, while residents say up to five homes may need to be pulled down due to severe structural damage. Rich's family home was among those damaged and needs complete demolition and reconstruction, expected to take around 18 months. The family had to leave with virtually nothing. Rich said he only had the boxer shorts and mobile phone he took with him following the explosion. They are now staying with relatives and are looking to move into a rental by the end of next week. The explosion also destroyed Rich's car, prompting his friends to start a GoFundMe page to support the family in rebuilding their lives. The 35-year-old Airbus repair worker said: "Every day is different stress and a different worry. "I came to terms quite quickly because all of my property is in the loft so I know I'm not likely to get anything - if I can get anything it is a bonus. "For my parents it is a lot different - it is all their memories for 35 years when they lived in the house." Surveyors said the house was "not in a good place to get in". Rich said: "It has been a stress for my mum trying to see if we can get photos of my grandparents. "Where the hole was there was also fire damage and water damage the upstairs. "The cracks around the front of the house and the damaged extension indicate it's all going to need to be torn down and rebuilt. "I was hoping to move out from my parents this year so I was collecting a lot of stuff to get into the new house,". "But it is starting from scratch again for me. I have my savings but I had stuff in the house, which I was gonna be moving into a new house with, before this happened. "Pretty much everything is still in the house. I walked out on the house in the morning in just my boxers and my phone on my hand and that is all I have in terms of my possessions. "I have borrowed clothes and bought a few pieces but I have absolutely nothing. "It is the same with my parents - they have nothing because everything is in the second floor and we can't get up the stairs to get in the house because of the state of the damage." He said the situation was something "you never think it is going to happen". Rich added: "It is 35 years of memories but all the neighbours are out safe. Everyone I grew up with is now OK." His pals have begun a fundraiser to gather funds for items and the reconstruction of their lives. A GoFundMe organised by Kate Godwin along with three of Rich's friends read: "Our amazing friend Rich Cainey and his parents are one of the families sadly affected by this incident and have unfortunately now lost their family home and all of their possessions within, while Rich has also lost his car due to the blast. "Amid the chaos, both Rob and Rich showed extraordinary courage, entering the burning neighbouring house to help the residents escape to safety-an act of selflessness and bravery that likely saved lives. "This fundraiser is to support the Cainey family in any way we can-whether it's helping them secure temporary housing, replace essential belongings, or begin the long journey of rebuilding their lives." For more information and to make a donation, visit:
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Bristol explosion: Family living next to gas blast house homeless as home set to be demolished
Onlookers said it was a "miracle" no one was killed when a property in Yate, Gloucestershire was blown to pieces after a suspected gas explosion which has left other residents homeless A family is going to be left homeless after a neighbouring property blew up in a suspected gas explosion - and insurers plan to demolish their home. Rich Cainey, 35, a repair worker for Airbus, lived next to the site of the blast in Yate, Gloucestershire with his parents Rob and Deb, both 60 years old. On Tuesday, four people were left with injuries after the explosion, with witnesses saying it was a "miracle" that on one died. But neighbours have other concerns after insurers said that his and other properties on the row will need to be demolished due to damage sustained. Rich said: "We're staying with our family in Yate. The insurance company is trying to sort out long-term, temporary accommodation for us until it's all been sorted, but that'll be a couple of weeks yet. "They're planning on knocking the houses down. All my possessions are stuck in the loft - all my memories, like it's my whole life which is in there. I can't get anything out because getting up the stairs is completely out of the question. My mum wants to get in and salvage some stuff. "She's got photos and memories downstairs all the way from her childhood until now. But there's no point in risking it until you know if you can go safely. "I'm lucky, a lot of my photos are on a cloud linked to my iPhone, but my mum has wedding photographs she's desperate to save, as well as all of my grandmother's memories too. It's just a shame. "I'm in borrowed clothes now, but at the end of the day the material stuff comes and goes, it's just the things we probably will never be able to get back. But the main point is that everyone's safe - that's obviously the most important thing." Katie Winter, 36, a civil servant who lives opposite the row of houses, said she helped rescue the elderly resident in the home. "There was a huge bang when it happened, like a skip being dropped from the truck" she said. "I ran outside and went and knocked on the houses down the other end as soon as I heard it to make sure everyone had got out. "I broke the window pane and two people went in and went upstairs to get her and they carried her down. "The pane was already broken anyway so it just needed a bit more room to get someone in, and one of the two lads was wearing a suit, as he was getting ready for work, but just climbed in anyway to get her out. "She's 82 and I think she's been a little bit injured because part of the wall had come through onto her. "I believe she's the only one in hospital now as she's got a couple of broken ribs and a head injury." Emergency services were called to the explosion at a property on Lancaster Road in at 7am. Around 40 people were evacuated but most were allowed to return later in the day. A spokesperson from South Gloucestershire Council said it would be a decision for insurance loss adjusters. Rich added: "It happened at about 6:50 in the morning. I was launched out of my bed with a massive explosion because I slept next to the supporting wall in the house. "I ran downstairs and I could hear screams from inside the next door neighbour's house so I went outside and that's when I saw the destruction. "I'm still in disbelief. I thought it was an earthquake initially because the whole house started shaking. "Everything was falling off all the walls, and I was looking down and there was a massive hole just there. "Our front door is still open now because they're worried if the front door is shut, the force of that - as minor as it could be - could send that wall down. It's crazy. "The building assessors are coming around to see what, if anything, can get saved. But that would just be the end two houses who might be able to get things out. "But our possessions, we don't know yet, we're still waiting. "I think all five of the houses are probably going to be knocked down, which is so sad. "For us, it's 35 years of history of our lives and memories just gone. The whole street have been here such a long time. "Bev and John, who live there on the right, they've been there 39 years, then there's Jane and Paul who've been there for 36 or 37 years. "Mandy and Dave, are right on the end, they've been living there nearly 40 years as well. "It's only really Margaret who's moved in recently, she's been here for the last three or four years, but everyone's majority of us have been here like, our whole lives. It's so sad."
