Watch: Ambulance explodes after dropping off 91-year-old patient

‘It’s incredible no one was killed’, says neighbour whose home and car were damaged by blast

Footage shows the moment an ambulance exploded moments after a 91-year-old patient in a wheelchair was dropped off at her home.
David and Marilyn Brinklow were having a cup of tea when they heard a huge bang and saw flames in their front garden at Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire.
Minutes earlier, the private ambulance had dropped off the couple’s neighbour following a stay in hospital.
The footage shows two care workers wheeling the woman to her home in the village at around 1.45pm on March 14.
One of the care workers is seen checking the ambulance after a passer-by spots smoke pouring from the engine and alerts them.
Minutes later, the vehicle explodes with such force that its roof is ripped off and flies 50ft into the air before crashing through the Brinklows’ garage.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames, but the ambulance was completely destroyed. 
Nobody was injured in the blast, which caused extensive damage to the Brinklows’ home and set fire to their garden.
The heat was so intense that the back of their Honda Civic melted, while their living room windows shattered and their curtains were singed.
Mrs Brinklow, 74, said: “It was like a Hollywood movie. I suffer with my nerves, and it didn’t do me any good.
“I keep having flashbacks. There was nothing left of the ambulance and all the bits of it, like a volcano, were flying off like glass and started burning our nets. It’s horrible to talk about.”
Mr Brinklow, a 69-year-old retired carpenter, said the house suffered smoke damage and the electricity to the garage was cut off.
He said: “It went off like a roman candle. I was shocked – it was like a horror show. It’s incredible no one was killed. Our neighbour was in the ambulance a short time before it exploded.
“The heat was so bad the back of our car literally melted. We just want the insurance company to hurry up so we can repair our home.”
EMED, a private ambulance company that provides patient transport, said it was investigating the cause of the explosion.
A spokesman said: “On Thursday 14th March, during a routine patient drop-off in Barton-under-Needwood, the engine of our ambulance caught fire.
“Unfortunately, some of the neighbouring properties suffered damage, which we are now managing through our insurer.
“All our ambulances undergo robust safety checks on a regular basis, and our absolute priority is the safety of our patients and the communities we serve.
“We are working closely with the vehicle manufacturer and an independent safety consultant as part of our ongoing internal investigation.”