A COUPLE lucky to escape with their lives after a gas explosion destroyed their home celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary last week.

More than ten years ago, Arthur and Alice Humphrey of Wayside Avenue, Bushey, were thrown from their beds and found under a pile of rubble in the front garden after an explosion caused by an undetected gas leak in their road.

Mrs Alice Humphrey, 84, lost her hair and eyebrows and suffered burns to her legs and face. She spent two weeks in hospital being treated for burns while her fireman husband Arthur was discharged the next day.

She said of the incident: "We were buried and the firemen had to dig us out. I could feel myself being burnt. And Arthur could feel burning. We just thought the bedroom ceiling had come in."

That was back in November 1989 and with the house rebuilt and the incident well behind them the couple were counting their blessings on Thursday, June 6, as they celebrated 60 years together.

June 12, 2002 15:30