A woman died after a paving slab exploded in her Chippenham garden – in what is being described as a “tragic accident” by police.
Emergency services were called to the fatal incident in Orchard Crescent at around 3.20pm on Thursday afternoon (5 March).
Neighbours heard a loud bang before rushing into the nearby home, before calling 999 to report that a woman was unresponsive.
An ambulance crew and ambulance operations officer were first on scene – but nothing could be done to save the victim, who was aged in her 40s.
Two fire crews, four fire officers and around ten police officers were in attendance by 3.30pm, with the road cordoned off as the risk to the public was assessed.
A joined probe was launched by Wiltshire Police and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, with investigators wearing protective suits and masks.
The force has since confirmed that the explosion was believed to be caused by a “patio slab overheating”, and described it as a “tragic accident”.
Wiltshire Police was keen to express that the victim was not fatally wounded by the paving slab exploding. The exact circumstances of the death have not been revealed.
The fire service also confirmed that the explosion was the result of a “concrete slab that had been overheated accidentally”.
Cases of exploding paving slabs are rare – and usually happen during periods of hot weather. It can also be caused by hot items being placed on the pavement.
It can occur when moisture trapped inside the slab heats up and expands, causing the material to fracture.
Emergency services statements
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “A woman in her 40s died following a fire at an address in Chippenham yesterday. (5/3)
“Emergency services were called to the address in Orchard Crescent at approximately 3.20pm following initial reports from neighbours that an ‘explosion’ had been heard.
“On arrival, a woman in her 40s was sadly declared deceased by emergency services workers.
“It is believed that the ‘explosion’ noise reported by neighbours related to a patio slab which had overheated as a result of a fire at the address.
“The woman’s next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
“There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a file is now being prepared on behalf of HM Coroner for Wiltshire.”
A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 15:12hrs on Thursday 05 March to an incident in Chippenham.
“We sent one double-crewed land ambulance, and an operations officer to the scene.”
A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to Orchard Crescent, Chippenham at 3.18pm today (5 March) to support the ambulance service and police at an incident.
“Two crews from Chippenham attended and one remains on scene.”
