Amazing escape as building’s collapse leaves street looking like bomb site

Four people had to be rescued after the first and second floors of the building in the middle of a row of terrace shops on Broad Lane gave way, leaving a gaping hole.

The collapse was initially blamed on a gas explosion, but it is understood an internal wall may have been taken down during building work.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the incident, which happened on Saturday. Yesterday a police cordon remained in place while a large digger demolished the remains of the terrace property.

An eyewitness to Saturday’s incident said it looked as if a bomb had gone off, blowing the front of the building away, adding: “It is a miracle that nobody was killed.”

Crews from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called just before 2.30pm. The four were quickly rescued before firefighters searched the rubble for other casualties, but none was found.

A male and a female were taken to Northern General Hospital by ambulance, but no one was thought to be seriously injured.

Incident Commander Stuart Nicholson said: “We had crews on scene very quickly and they were faced with a huge hole in the middle of the three storey terrace building.

“The first and second floors 
had collapsed onto the ground floor.”

David Owens, from Sheffield City Council, said a small number of students had been rehoused by Sheffield Homes, with the others deciding to go and stay with relatives.

Work was being done with neighbouring residents to make sure they were safe from any falling debris.

Coun Jack Scott, Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet member for Environment, Recycling and Street Scene, added: “It is a miracle no one was seriously injured. “Re-homing the occupants who were living in this building is our key priority. We will also be working with businesses affected by this collapse.”

A spokesman for the HSE said: “The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the incident. Three inspectors attended the site on Saturday and their enquiries are ongoing.

“The investigation will look to establish whether any work was being carried out at the site, and if so whether risks were being managed appropriately.”