Man with burns rescued from rooftop

A DRAMATIC rooftop rescue took place today following an explosion at the Buttermarket shopping centre in Ipswich.

Glynn Terry, who is foodhall manager was injured when he tried to relight gas burners in one of the plant rooms at the centre and it blew back in his face.

Fire crews from Ipswich, Felixstowe and Holbrook were called to the scene and Mr Terry was stretchered down to safety on a turntable ladder, which was originally being used at the waterfront fire, before being taken to Ipswich Hospital.

Colin Roberts, manager of the Buttermarket Shopping centre told how the drama unfolded.

He said: “The incident started when I was in the control room. I got a phone call from the police to say that paramedics and fire crews were on their way because they had had a report that a person was injured in the plant room.

“We have 25 of them and he couldn't be more specific.”

“We sent a team out to each of the plant rooms by which time the paramedics and fire service had arrived. We went through every single plant room and it was in the food court.

“It was a good job the door was open and as we went past I found Glynn Terry lying on the floor shouting for help.”

Jason Gillingham, of East Anglian Ambulance Service said: “He suffered burns to his face and head.

“They are moderate in nature and not life threatening. There was just one patient injured, he was in quite a lot of pain and we gave him morphine for the pain.

“We had to call the fire service in because it was in the main plant room on the roof and that is served by quite a number of passages.

“We got up there ourselves and gave him treatment and he has now been taken to Ipswich Hospital.”

Scott Ludbrooke, Assistant Manager of the food court said Health and Safety Executives had already been informed.

He said: “Mr Terry has got some minor burns I think, but he was fine and he was still joking about it. We do not know what caused the explosion yet.”