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Stourbridge AN 89-year-old man who died after a gas explosion at his Stourbridge home was a former wartime firefighter.
Wheelchair-bound Alf Welch, of Witton Street, a former part-time leading firefighter at Stourbridge Fire Station, suffered severe burns in the blast which destroyed his kitchen as he made a cup of tea.
The 89-year-old, who lived alone, was taken to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, but he died from his "horrific" injuries the following afternoon.
Neighbours, who were praised by firefighters for their rescue attempts, are shocked by the tragic incident, which happened at around 6.15am on Saturday.
Gutsy next-door neighbour Alison Taysum, who dragged the pensioner from his burning kitchen with his clothes and wheelchair still alight, said: "It's so sad. He was a very brave man."
Tracy Winnall, also one of the first on the scene, said: "I'm so upset about it.
"It's horrible that a poor old man has had to suffer like that.
"He was sitting in his wheelchair burnt from head to foot with flames still shooting up the back. It was absolutely horrific."
Fire service spokesman Bill Gough said Mr Welch had been trying to light the hob to make a cup of tea, but a build up gas vapours ignited - sparking a massive blast which shook the street.
He added: "Police, the fire investigation team and gas company Transco are investigating the cause of the explosion, but everything points to it having been a very tragic accident."
Neighbour Bert Niblett, who was friends with Alf for more than 50 years, said: "It was a terrible tragedy to end like that. We were always friends, but he was very independent. He was a very straightforward man who spoke his mind."
Brave Alf Welch was one of only 2500 soldiers to survive the bombing of 9,000 men crammed on The Lancastria just outside Le Havre, France, during WWII.
He was later seconded by the fire service to fight fires in Birmingham and Coventry during the blitz.
Afterwards he went back to the army and served in Italy for the rest of the war.
After the war he set up his own shoemaking business in Brettell Lane, Audnam, making shoes for notable clients including the Wolverhampton Wanderers football team.
But when the road was later widened he abandoned the business and became a postman at Stourbridge until he retired.
Widowed three years ago, he leaves a niece who lives in Hertfordshire.
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