A frail pensioner who survived a suspected gas explosion which destroyed the Perthshire home she shared with her husband has spoken for the first time about the devastating blast.
Marion and Robin Cunningham’s bungalow in Callander was ripped apart early on March 28 last year.
Mrs Cunningham, 75, was in the back bedroom, the only section of the house left standing, and escaped with cuts and bruises, but Robin, 77, who was in the kitchen making a cup of tea, suffered severe burns.
Almost a year on the couple have recovered from the injuries they suffered on that day. But in an exclusive interview with The Courier Mrs Cunningham revealed the devastating long-term consequences for their health.
The mother of two also spoke of her sadness at the loss of precious photographs taken on her wedding day almost 57 years ago.
She said: “Three weeks afterwards I was fine but gradually I’ve gone downhill. My sight is affected. I can’t remember things. I can’t taste anything.Photo gallery:Gas explosion destroys Callander house“It’s the most horrible feeling. It really is. My leg goes numb. It’s arthritis, I know, but it’s got worse. It’s a year and I’m not getting any better.
“I don’t get much sleep either because my husband gets up in the night. He sees things. He sleeps in the day and gets up at night.”
The shattered couple lost everything when the explosion flattened their house in Murdiston Avenue.
Mrs Cunningham said: “I’ve no wedding photographs now and I can’t get them anywhere because we got married 57 years ago. The girls’ graduation pictures, the honours degrees.
“All my lovely photographs I got restored of my grandparents and great grandparents. They’ve all gone. Everything’s gone.”
Work began to rebuild the bungalow late last year but Mrs Cunningham, who now lives in a top-floor flat with her husband, admits she may never return to Callander.
“It was just such a shock so I don’t know, I just don’t know. My husband wants out of here. He says he wants to go back to his house but he doesn’t understand it’s not the house we lived in.
“I didn’t want it the same anyway. To be honest I really don’t know what I want. I’m just so fed up. I’ve had enough.”
Mrs Cunningham, who was raised a Catholic, also said the tragedy has forced her to question her faith, adding: “I’m not a believer any more. There are so many horrible things happened. It sounds stupid but I still pray. And I’d help anybody. But I don’t go to church any more.”
An investigation was launched before they left hospital but a year on they are still waiting for answers.A spokesman for the Crown Office confirmed a report was submitted by the Health and Safety Executive.’A big shock’ for neighboursMarion and Robin Cunningham’s detached house in Murdiston Avenue was destroyed by a blast shortly before 6am on March 28 2013.
Mr Cunningham, a retired engineer who worked at United Closures and Plastics in Bridge of Allan, was buried under the rubble and later airlifted to hospital where he was treated for burns and a back injury.
The bungalow was flattened apart from a back bedroom where Marion lay in bed. She suffered minor injuries and was also rushed to hospital.
Speaking to The Courier, neighbour Magdalene Forsyth, 91, who has lived in the street for 17 years, said: “It was a big shock. It was about six in the morning and I heard the bang and my bed shook.
“I looked out and I just could not believe my eyes. It was flat, apart from the end bedroom which Marion was in. The kitchen where Robin was had gone.
“They’re a very nice couple. Very, very friendly. I hope they come back but I heard they’re not very keen.
“One wouldn’t blame them. It was very traumatic.”
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I was in bed. There was a noise. The next thing the neighbours across the road were there saying ‘get out, the next door house has blown up’.
“You never think it’s going to happen to you, and then it does. We were thankful we got out of it reasonably soundly.”