Ayr explosion: what happened and was anyone hurt after blast at house in Kincaidston

A family of four, including two children, are in serious condition in hospital after an explosion destroyed a house in Ayr.

The blast caused severe damage to the building and was heard for miles around.

Residents were evacuated from part of the Kincaidston area following the incident on Monday evening.

Family taken to hospital after blast

Police Scotland said that a family of four were taken to hospital following the blast in Gorse Park, which could be heard for miles around.

A 43-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy are being treated at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, a 47-year-old man at the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and an 11-year-old boy at the Royal Hospital for Children.

Chief Inspector Derrick Johnston, area commander for South Ayrshire, described it as a “complex incident” and said agencies are working together as investigations continue to establish what happened.

He said: “Our thoughts are with the family and everyone within the local community affected by this.

“A joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is being carried out.”

He said the family of four are in serious condition in hospital.

What caused the explosion?

Councillor Chris Cullen told BBC Good Morning Scotland he thinks that gas caused the explosion.

Describing the scene, he told the programme: “It is quite harrowing actually.

“Early yesterday evening there was a row of houses and now there is a hole.

“Two-and-a-half houses are missing. It is quite shocking how far the debris has fallen and the damage it has caused.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said nine fire engines, as well as specialist appliances, were sent to the scene with two remaining on site at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

Ian McMeekin, SFRS Area Commander, said: “This has been an extremely complex and challenging incident which significantly damaged multiple properties in the area and resulted in the evacuation of other nearby homes.

“We will remain in attendance for some time as we work with our partners to ensure the area is safe.”

Gas distribution company SGN was helping emergency services.

What neighbours said about the explosion

Marcus Tindal-Wiles, 25, who lives near to where the blast occurred, said he’s “never felt anything like it before”.

He told the PA news agency: “The entire building shook from the shockwave.”

The friend of a woman, whose house was directly opposite the blast site in Kincaidston, described the scene as “something you cannot comprehend unless you see the sheer scale of the damage”.

Moira Muir, 59, told the PA news agency: “Her lounge window was blown in and the radiator in her upstairs bathroom was blown off the wall.”

Ms Muir, who runs a holiday home rental in North Ayrshire, rushed to her friend’s aid within 30 minutes of the explosion and added that: “The smell of smoke was quite overpowering, but the biggest shock was seeing the amount of rubble and how far it had travelled.

“I have never seen anything like it.”

What the Scottish Ambulance Service said

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 7.16pm to attend an incident at Gorse Park, Ayr, alongside Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“We dispatched a number of resources to the scene, including three specialist operations vehicles, six ambulances and an air ambulance.”

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