Chippenham gas blast victim comes out of induced coma

Kyle Roe is still in intensive care after receiving 87% burns to his body six weeks ago

A teenager who suffered 87% burns in a gas blast at a flat six weeks ago has been brought out of an induced coma.

Kyle Roe, 19, was seriously hurt in the explosion in Market Place, Chippenham on 18 October, resulting in nearby buildings being evacuated.

His mother Tracy Roe said her son had been through "a horrific ordeal" and was still in intensive care.

Kyle is being treated at Morriston Hospital's burns unit in Swansea which Mrs Roe said was "totally amazing".

She said: "He's still in intensive care, and is awake. However, the doctors say it's a marathon, and he still has a long way to go. But he's showing progress and is taking steps in the right direction.

"It's a wonder he even survived at all. But it's just testament to Kyle's strength. It's been life-changing. Not just for Kyle but for the whole family."

The blast happened in a third floor property in Chippenham's Market Place on 18 October

Ed Deedigan, who has known Kyle since he was 13, has organised an event to raise funds for the burns unit in Swansea where Kyle is being treated.

Mr Deedigan, from community organisation Kandu Arts, said he had seen Kyle just before the explosion.

He said: "He'd recently moved into the flat and everything was looking up for him, and then I heard about what had happened.

"We are fundraising to try to to respond in a positive way to something that is traumatic and out of the blue."

He said the event was taking place at 20:00 GMT at the Constitutional Club in Chippenham.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion is being lead by the Health and Safety Executive with support from Wiltshire Police.