Tragic House Explosion Followed Rent Increase Warning
A devastating house explosion that claimed the life of a man and his dog occurred after he warned friends "it will go with a bang" following a rent increase. David Howard, who had lived at the property on John Street in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, for eleven years, died when the massive gas blast reduced his home to rubble on April 12, 2025.
Rent Hike Triggered Distress
On the day of the explosion, Mr. Howard received a letter from his landlord informing him that his rent would be increased by £80, bringing the total to £540 per month. The rent was mostly covered by the local council. Friends reported that Mr. Howard became extremely upset upon receiving this news, telling multiple people he was going to "blow the house up" and saying "you wait until the end of the day."
DC Daniel Akehurst read accounts to the inquest court, where one friend stated Mr. Howard was "p****d off and could not cope anymore" due to the rent increase. Another friend, Shanelle Williams, described him as being "in a mood and depressed."
Final Calls and Warnings
At approximately 3:00 PM, Mr. Howard called Ms. Williams to tell her he had "pulled the pipes" and made comments about blowing up the house. In a subsequent call at 3:29 PM, he declared, "I’ve done it, I’ve pulled the pipes off the gas. It’s going to go with a bang." This call lasted only 42 seconds before Mr. Howard ended it abruptly.
Friends revealed that Mr. Howard had been awake for three days without sleep and was "very upset" about the rent situation. He ignored advice from friends, instead making ominous statements like "You watch" and "You wait to see what happens."
Scene Before the Explosion
Around 3:00 PM, Mr. Howard locked the doors of his rented property after two friends left to visit a shop, which they described as "strange." Upon their return, he urged them to leave, saying, "go, I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. Please just go." When asked if they could take his dog, Roxy, he insisted, "Roxy is staying with me."
Another friend attempted to speak with him but was told to "f*** off." This individual reported smelling gas at the scene. A further warning was shouted through the locked door: "You are being stupid, there are kids next door. You are a f****** idiot." The inquest noted that none of the friends contacted emergency services prior to the explosion.
Catastrophic Blast and Aftermath
Police received a call at 7:39 PM reporting an explosion at 26 John Street. DC Akehurst described the scene as "chaotic," with the house having "fully collapsed" by the time emergency services arrived. A major incident was declared, and up to 200 people were evacuated from the surrounding area.
The explosion was "large and powerful," causing significant damage to adjacent properties and some opposite the street. A first responder's statement read in court indicated that Mr. Howard was still conscious when crews arrived, reporting difficulty breathing and being "trapped under a significant amount of rubble." However, rescuers could not reach him due to the dangerous conditions, and he was pronounced dead at 9:58 PM.
Investigation Findings
Fire investigator Christopher Trendowicz from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service testified that the explosion originated on the ground floor, causing the upper floor to collapse. The Health and Safety Executive instructed gas company Cadent to investigate, but no external leaks were found. Tests on the gas meter, boiler, and piping all indicated they were safe.
The only abnormality discovered was damage to Mr. Howard's cooker, where the flexible gas pipe had been "stretched to capacity." Mr. Trendowicz identified this as the likely source of the gas leak, with ignition probably caused by the capacitor of the fridge/freezer being "ripped out." The appliance was found away from its usual location.
Coroner's Conclusion
Coroner Nathanael Hartley ruled the cause of death as 1a asphyxia whilst entrapped beneath collapsed building debris, with 2 heroin and cocaine use as a contributing factor. Mr. Howard had low levels of these drugs and alcohol in his system at the time, which could have led to "mild cognitive impairment."
Mr. Howard had a history of mental health issues, including a diagnosis of PTSD and moderate depression in 2021, as well as a substance abuse history dating back to 2012. His two daughters, Keely and Lauren Howard, attended the inquest but declined to comment on their father's mental health or personal character.
Coroner Hartley stated, "Having heard the evidence from the fire service about the damaged gas pipe cooker and the evidence that David had informed his friend that he had 'pulled the pipes, was going to blow the house up and it was going to go with a bang', I find that David caused the damage to the gas cooker intentionally." He added that it was possible Mr. Howard did not appreciate the danger, and his intentions could not be definitively established, with no evidence found that he intended to end his life.
