Pictured: Elderly man, 84, who was killed after house explosion horror rocked neighbourhood like a ‘mini earthquake’ – as hero neighbours pull woman from rubble

• Pensioner who died after a house exploded has been pictured for first time
• Footage of house was shared online showing it had been completely destroyed
• Did you see or hear the explosion? Email [email protected] 

The pensioner who tragically died in a devastating house explosion in Edinburgh has been pictured.

James Smith, 84, known as ‘Jim’, lost his life in the explosion in Barberton Mains Avenue last night.

Police officers were called to the Baberton area at 10.25pm on Friday after ‘multiple reports’ about the blast.

A 43-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man were taken to hospital. Their condition was unknown on Saturday evening.

It is understood that Mr Smith was in a neighbouring property and his next of kin have been told of his death.

James Smith, 84, known as ‘Jim’, lost his life in the explosion in Barberton Mains Avenue last night

A partially demolished house is seen on December 2, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland

The explosion was said to have shaken the neighbourhood ‘like an earthquake’, according to reports

Some locals reported hearing the explosion as far away as Gilmerton, a suburb miles from the blast site

Police said there are no suspicious circumstances.

Cammy Day, leader of Edinburgh City Council, said: ‘This is incredibly sad news for the city and all of our thoughts are with those affected.

‘We’re very grateful to the emergency services who responded so quickly and tirelessly last night, evacuating the scene and making the surrounding area safe.

‘I know that council officers assisted into the early hours of this morning and continue to stand ready to support all agencies and the local community.’

Sue Webber, a Scottish Tory MSP for the Lothian region, said on social media: ‘Such tragic news, in such a close community.

‘Thank you to all the emergency services that attended. My thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this incident.’

The explosion was said to have  rocked the neighbourhood like a ‘mini earthquake’ last night.

Hero dad Ross Aitchison, who lives nearby, pulled a woman from the rubble of the explosion with the help of another good samaritan.

Mr Aitchison’s told EdinburghLive that he and another man ‘pulled the woman from the rubble’. He said the situation was ‘very scary’.

His son son Ben told local news that he received a phone call from his father at the time of the explosion last night saying: ‘Did you hear that big bang?’

Ben said that his father told him the house exploded after a suspected ‘gas leak’.

Police officers were called to the Baberton area at 10.25pm on Friday after ‘multiple reports’ about the blast

Ross said Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances had attended and two people had been rescued from the ruins of the home before their arrival

People in a nearby cinema felt the explosion and residents reported their homes shaking

The road to Barberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, was closed on Saturday morning following the devastating explosion

Ross was one of the first to arrive on the scene as he only lives around half a minute from where it happened.

His son said that by the time he arrived he had already rescued a woman from the debris with the help of another local. ‘Luckily she was still alive,’ he added.

Ross said Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances had attended and two people had been rescued from the ruins of the home before their arrival.

An aerial photo showing the destruction in the Baberton area of Edinburgh after a house explosion last night

An an elderly man has died after an explosion at a house in Edinburgh rocked a neighbourhood like a ‘mini earthquake ‘ last night

Police officers at the scene on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, after an 84-year-old man has died following an explosion at a house on Friday night

The property was reduced to rubble and debris was strewn across the residential street in Baberton after the blast at around 10.25pm

A number of homes were also evacuated as a precaution and the road remained closed as of Saturday morning.

The property was reduced to rubble and debris was strewn across the residential street in Baberton after the blast.

The service left the scene at 6.39am on Saturday after handing control to Police Scotland.

Some locals reported hearing the explosion as far away as Gilmerton, a suburb miles from the blast site.

Neighbours said they felt their homes shaking, while another person posted that they had heard the blast from inside a cinema in nearby Wester Hailes.

The shockwave from the blast shattered windows from houses across the street

The force of the explosion ripped the house apart causing irreparable damage

Gas engineers at the scene of the explosion on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, today

Gas engineers and police officers at the scene on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh

Huge amounts of rubble little Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh, after a house exploded last night

Police at the scene of the explosion this morning, as stunned locals look on

The explosion completely destroyed the house which killed at 84-year-old man

Dramatic footage of the house was shared on social media showing it had been completely destroyed.

A car on the driveway was covered in rubble and damage could be seen to the neighbouring house. Residents said it was a suspected gas explosion.

A spokeswoman for gas distributor SGN said the body was brought in to assist emergency services and ‘ensure the immediate vicinity’ was ‘made safe’, adding it was ‘too early to speculate’ on the cause of the explosion.

‘At around 10.45pm last night, we received a request to assist the emergency services following reports of a serious explosion in Baberton, Edinburgh,’ the spokeswoman said.

‘Our engineers worked with the emergency services to ensure the immediate vicinity in Baberton Mains Avenue was made safe in our role as the gas emergency service.

‘Our deepest sympathies are with the family of the man who has tragically died as well as those who have been injured.

‘While it is too early to speculate as to what has happened, we are working closely with the authorities to help discover the cause.’

One local wrote on Facebook: ‘Very scary. What a fright we all got. The couple/owners are out and away to hospital.’

Another claimed to have pulled a person out from under the rubble, commenting: ‘Both are safe and away to hospital! Me and another guy pulled the woman from the rubble! Very scary that was.’

A third penned on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘I heard the loud bang from my house.’

A fourth said: ‘Heard the bang but thought it was fireworks going off.’ 

People in a nearby cinema felt the explosion and residents reported their homes shaking.

A car which had its windows shattered in the explosion last night in Baberton, Edinburgh

The scene on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, after an 84-year-old man has died following an explosion at a house on Friday night

A car on the driveway was covered in rubble and damage could be seen to the neighbouring house. Residents said it was a suspected gas explosion

People in a nearby cinema felt the explosion and residents reported their homes shaking

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘Around 10.25pm on Friday, 1 December, 2023 we were called to reports of an explosion at a property on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh.

‘Emergency services are at the scene, and we would advise people to avoid the area at this time.’

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘We were alerted at 10.26 pm on Friday 1 December to reports of a gas explosion affecting residential properties on Baberton Mains Avenue in Edinburgh.

‘Operations control mobilised five fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters worked to make the area safe.

‘Two casualties were rescued prior to our arrival, and the crews remain on scene.’

Sue Webber, a Scottish Tory MSP for the Lothian region, wrote on social media: ‘Such tragic news, in such a close community.

‘Thank you to all the emergency services that attended. My thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this incident.’

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