Ex-BBC reporter and wife flee Penarth fireplace explosion

Ex-BBC reporter and wife flee Penarth fireplace explosion

A dramatic incident left a couple severely injured after they narrowly escaped a fire at their home that exploded into a blazing inferno. Angela Palit, 59, recounted the terrifying moment when she was thrown across her kitchen, her hair catching fire and her face burning. The couple, who reside in Penarth Marina, Vale of Glamorgan, endured the horrifying experience when a bioethanol fireplace ignited their home with an unexpected explosion.

The series of events unfolded when Angela returned from work and asked her husband, former BBC Wales reporter Nick Palit, 60, to start a fire so she could relax with a glass of wine. However, the bioethanol fireplace that had not been used for months triggered the explosion, engulfing their home in thick black smoke. Nick’s quick thinking and action saved Angela’s life as he pulled her to safety before the fireball engulfed their residence.

The aftermath of the incident left Angela with burns on her face and hands, while Nick suffered burns on his arm and elbow from falling debris. The couple received initial treatment from paramedics at the scene and underwent further medical care at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff before being transferred to the specialist burns unit at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital. Forced to vacate their home for at least six months due to extensive damage, the couple is currently residing in temporary Airbnb accommodation.

In a devastating turn of events, the couple faced another setback when their four e-bikes, worth hundreds, were stolen from outside their damaged home. Despite deploying security measures like cameras and lights, the thieves managed to make off with the bikes, leaving the couple feeling violated and vulnerable. The couple’s efforts to track down their stolen belongings led them to a property two miles away, but the inability to pinpoint the exact location within the building thwarted their attempts at recovery. Local authorities have been alerted to the theft, but the fate of the stolen bikes remains uncertain

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