A Wirral father who lived through the devastating explosion in New Ferry has described the experience as sitting 'in a war zone.' Christopher Lee-Power, 57, was at home with his wife Pauline and their son on March 25, 2017, when Pascal Blasio tampered with a gas valve in his furniture showroom, causing a catastrophic blast.
The explosion and its aftermath
The explosion, which Blasio caused in his failing business 'Home in Style' on Bebington Road, destroyed or damaged around 63 properties and injured 81 people. Wirral Council called it the worst peacetime disaster the town had faced. Blasio was later convicted of causing an explosion likely to endanger life and fraud, receiving a 20-year prison sentence before his death earlier this year.
Christopher's account
Speaking during a tour of the housing regeneration scheme in the area, Christopher recalled: 'It was like a war zone, I thought it was a car bomb. It was horrific.' The family could not return to their Grade II-listed cottage for two years while repairs were carried out, and the ordeal severely affected his mental health. After their son joined the RAF, Christopher and Pauline decided to pay off their mortgage and start anew in Oxton.
Christopher praised the regeneration efforts, saying: 'As a community we are like a phoenix rising from the ashes. This is what we want to see – a community rising again.' Ellesmere Port and Bromborough MP Justin Madders added: 'It was moving to hear Christopher's account. His story is a reminder of the resilience shown by the community over the past nine years. It's encouraging to see new affordable homes being built and New Ferry continuing its recovery.'
