Terrifying footage shows the moment an ambulance explodes into a fireball just moments after dropping off a 91-year-old elderly patient.
David and Marilyn Brinklow were having a cup of tea when they heard a huge bang and saw flames engulfing their front garden.
Only minutes earlier, a private ambulance had dropped off the couple’s 91-year-old wheelchair-bound neighbour after a hospital stay.
Footage shows two care workers wheeling the woman to her home in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, at around 1.45pm on March 14.
A worried passerby can be seen alerting one of the carers after they spotted smoke pouring from the engine.
Minutes later the vehicle explodes with such force that the ambulance roof was ripped off and flew 50ft into the air before crashing through David and Marilyn’s garage.
The footage begins by showing the ambulance dropping off a 91-year-old patient in a wheelchair
However, after smoke starts appearing from the ambulance’s engine, it bursts into flames
Just minutes after dropping off the patient, the car completely explodes
David and Marilyn Brinklow (pictured) were having a cup of tea when they heard a huge bang and saw flames engulf their garden
A look at the condition the ambulance was left in after the shocking fire
Firefighters dashed to the scene and managed to extinguish the flames before they spread to neighbouring properties.
Incredibly, no one was injured in the blast which caused extensive damage to the couple’s home and set fire to their garden.
The heat was so intense the back of their Honda Civic melted while their living room windows shattered and their curtains were singed.
Marilyn, 74, said: ‘It was like a Hollywood movie. I suffer with my nerves and it didn’t do me any good.
‘I keep having flashbacks. There was nothing left of the ambulance and all the bits of it like a volcano were flying off like glass and started burning our nets.
‘It’s horrible to talk about.’
Retired carpenter David, 69, said the house suffered smoke damage and the electricity was cut off to the garage.
‘It went off like a roman candle. I was shocked – it was like a horror show,’ he said.
‘It’s incredible no one was killed. Our neighbour was in the ambulance a short time before it exploded.
‘The heat was so bad the back of our car literally melted. We just want the insurance company to hurry up so we can repair our home.’
Firefighters dashed to the scene and managed to extinguish the flames before they spread to neighbouring properties
Incredibly, no one was injured in the blast which caused extensive damage to the couple’s home
The private ambulance company EMED said they were investigating the cause of the explosion
The heat was so intense the back of their Honda Civic melted while their living room windows shattered
Mr and Mrs Brinklow stand next to their shed, which was singed by the fire
The private ambulance company EMED, which provides patient transport, said they were investigating the cause of the explosion.
A spokesperson said: ‘On Thursday 14th March 2024, during a routine patient drop-off in Barton Under Needwood the engine of our ambulance caught fire.
‘Unfortunately, some of the neighbouring properties suffered damage, which we are now managing through our insurer.
‘All our ambulances undergo robust safety checks on a regular basis and our absolute priority is the safety of our patients and the communities we serve.
‘We are working closely with the vehicle manufacturer and an independent safety consultant as part of our on-going internal investigation.’
