The body of a man in his 30s has been found following an explosion at a council house in Newcastle which killed a seven-year-old boy.
An explosion in the Benwell area of the city took place at around 12.45am yesterday, with several flats reduced to rubble and a huge emergency response in the area.
Archie died at the scene with police confirming six others were taken to hospital.
His name has been widely shared on social media and a resident at the scene described him as a ‘lovely lad’.
The same man has told how a woman in one of the flats destroyed by the blast had complained to the council about her faulty boiler just days earlier.
Pictured: Archie York has been named locally as the seven-year-old boy killed in the explosion
Photographs show emergency services scouring through piles of rubble as smoke emits from the burned debris
Pictured: Flowers left at the police cordon on Buddle road in Benwell, Newcastle
Emergency services at the scene at Violet Close in Benwell after the explosion at the council house
An emergency response was launched to treat the injured as the six other casualties were taken to hospital from Violet Close in Benwell.
Despite their efforts, Archie, who is understood to have lived in an upstairs property, died at the scene, where two bouquets of flowers have now been left.
The neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘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.’
A GoFundMe page has since been set up by Archie’s grandmother Maxine Baxter raise funds to give him a ‘wonderful send off which he deserves’.
The fundraiser, which has raised more than £2500, says: ‘Archie lights any room up where ever he goes, this is one little angel who didn’t deserve to gained his wings and we as a family we lost the most precious thing in the world who got ripped away from us.’
Aerial views showing the scene of devastation on Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle, (pictured) as police confirm one boy has tragically died
Aerial photos have shown the harrowing extent of the devastation from the explosion
The neighbour went on to add that the woman whose house it started in had complained to the council about her boiler ‘very recently’.
‘She said my ‘boiler smells like gas’ and they told her turn it off and they will have someone out in two days,’ he said.
‘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.
‘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.’
This morning there are gas vans at the house and there is still a emergency service presence at the scene, which remains blocked off to the public.
The roof joining the attached properties has completely collapsed, while doors, windows and possessions lie strewn across the garden and onto the street outside
Flames engulfing what appears to be a property on Violet Close in Newcastle (pictured)
Emergency services were pictured working amongst the rubble and debris to ensure no-one else had been caught up in the blast
The tenant has since been moved into a hotel but has no access to his belongings which are still inside his property.
The man says neighbouring residents are being housed elsewhere while investigations are carried out.
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.’
Newcastle City Council have been contacted for comment.
It is currently unknown what caused the ‘explosion’ but police have confirmed an investigation is now underway.
Speaking yesterday, Superintendent Darren Adams said: ‘It is with great sadness that I stand in front of you today following the tragic death of a young child.
‘As a result of the incident in the early hours of this morning, a seven-year-old boy has sadly passed away.
‘Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he tragically died at the scene. This is a truly devastating outcome.’
Firefighters pictured at the scene were a massive explosion broke out
Firefighters, police, and paramedics arrived on the scene shortly after the incident was reported
Superintendent Adams added: ‘I have no doubt that the people of Elswick and Benwell, and our wider region, will want to join me in extending their thoughts and condolences to family and friends.
‘The loss and pain they must be suffering is unimaginable.
‘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.
‘They are working with our partners and the community to ensure all those remain in the area are safe.
‘Investigations are ongoing to establish how the explosion occurred.
‘These enquires are still in the very early stage and in the coming hours and days we will continue to piece together what has happened so we can provide answers to the family as well as the wider public.
‘We would appeal to anyone who has any information about what has happened to contact us.
‘It is likely that the cordon will remain in place for some time as we continue to carry out our investigations.
‘This is an incredibly tragic incident.’
A large emergency presence on the scene in the Benwell area of Newcastle
It is currently unknown what caused the ‘explosion’ but police have confirmed an investigation is now underway
Firefighters, police and gas engineers are at the scene on Violet Close in Benwell
Northumbria Police has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
Emergency services were pictured scouring through piles of rubble and burned debris this morning and they continue to search the area to ensure no-one else was caught up in the blast.
The roof joining the attached properties had completely collapsed, while doors, windows and possessions lie strewn across the garden and onto the street outside.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Lynsey McVay from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said six flats had been ‘badly affected, two of which suffered the main brunt of the explosion’.
She said crews attended within five minutes and she confirmed that all the fires are now out.
Eight fire engines were at the incident, at its height, plus specialist units, including the urban search and rescue team.
Following the incident, a Married At First Sight UK star has raised more than £15,000 for the families affected by the incident.
Married at First Sight UK star Kieran Chapman set up the fundraiser to ‘raise as much money as possible for the families involved’
Firefighters at the scene in Violet Close, Newcastle, following the overnight explosion
Kieran Chapman, who is currently appearing on Married at First Sight UK and is based in Newcastle, said he set up the fundraiser to ‘raise as much money as possible for the families involved’.
On hearing about the explosion, Mr Chapman said: ‘I received a message about what had happened this morning and my jaw just dropped.
‘I put myself in the position of the family who lost their son and those people who have lost their homes, and I knew I needed to do whatever I could to help.
‘It’s an awful situation and my heart is breaking for all of the families involved. I think that the West End is a real community, and I just want to do my bit and be part of the community coming together in this way.’
This fundraising is alongside the work being done by Merton Lodge community centre, which has been taking donations throughout the day, after manager Emma Skillen decided to provide shelter for around 50 families who have been evacuate.