Newcastle house explosion: 'Lovely lad', 7, killed in horror blast with family 'devastated'

Archie York has been named locally as the seven-year-old boy killed in an explosion in Newcastle, which destroyed two terraced houses in the early hours of Wednesday morning

A seven-year-old boy who was killed in a horrific house explosion in Newcastle has been named locally, as a distraught neighbour revealed his family are "in bits".

Archie York, described as a "lovely lad", died at the scene in Violet Close in the Benwell and Elswick area of the city in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The explosion and blaze prompted a huge emergency services response, with devastating pictures showing the scale of destruction to two terraced homes.

The "large scale incident" took place at around 12.45am with engineers from Northern Gas Networks joining police and ambulance crews in rushing to the scene. Six people were taken to hospital as a result of the blast with "varying injuries", according to police.

Paying tribute to Archie, a neighbour said today: "Everybody knew him. He was a lovely lad. The family are in bits. Archie was always with his dad and he was playing outside a lot. You would see him with his two dogs. He went to a school just up the road from here. My kids are having nightmares about what happened."

His aunt Abbie York said the family are "all so truly devastated and heartbroken beyond words". She added in a Facebook post: "Archie was my nephew and the most beautiful, funny, & caring little boy and his name deserves to be shouted from the rooftops! We all love you so much little man, you didn't deserve this."

Nearby residents were also evacuated, with people warned to close their doors and windows and motorists asked to avoid the area. The neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that a woman in one of the flats destroyed in the blast had complained to the council about her boiler just days prior.

"The woman whose house it started in had complained to the council about her boiler very recently," he said. "She said 'my boiler smells like gas' and they told her turn it off and they will have someone out in two days.

"Since the blast happened we're being told it was because of the old gas pipes underneath the houses. There are old gas pipes that are there but we know the boiler had something to do with it.

"I think she only complained two days before it happened. If you complain about a repair here, the council will say they have it on order and the lads will be out soon. But nobody turned up this time. I think it's because they are old houses and they don't have the parts and they try and push you away."

Speaking of his own experience the night of the blast, he said: "I was in bed at the time but I was straight out when I heard the bang. People were shouting that there were kids still inside and the house was on fire."

He added that neighbouring residents were being housed elsewhere while investigations are underway. He said: "We're trying to find out what is going on but the police have said they don't even know what's happening. The investigation is still going on and it could be a while.

"I want to know if our houses are going to be safe moving forward. People are scared in case it happens again it might take out the whole block. A roof caved in two doors down from me in the past. Now this has happened and it's so sad."

One woman who lives close by recalled: "Me and my husband woke up to a big bang. It was really loud. My husband is a heavy sleeper, and he woke up straight away. We saw people outside. It was about 12.45am. I have heard two properties have been affected. I heard from a police officer they still don't know what caused it. There were about ten fire engines one after another. It's a shocking thing to have happened."

Giving an update to the media at a press conference yesterday afternoon, Superintendent Darren Adams confirmed: "It is with great sadness I stand before you today following the death of a young child. As a result of the incident here in the early hours of the morning a seven-year-old has sadly passed away.

"Despite the efforts of emergency services he died at the scene. This is a truly devastating outcome. I have no doubt the people of Elswick and Benwell, and our wider region, will want to join me in sending their thoughts and condolences to family and friends. The loss and pain they must be suffering is unimaginable.

"The boys' loved ones are being supported by specialist officers and we would ask the their privacy be respected at this time. I can confirm six people were taken to hospital with varying injuries. A number of people were also evacuated and are being supported by our colleagues from Newcastle City Council. It is likely the cordon will remain in place for some time as we continue to carry out our investigations. This is an incredibly tragic incident."

Another neighbour said people were crying in the street in the moments following the bang. They added: "It was a massive blast. There was an explosion about one-ish and then there was a massive fire.

"We could see it from the top floor. I woke up hearing people outside the house. There were people crying in the street. It was really sad."

This is a breaking news story. Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage.