Leicester gas explosion fear that mum and two sons were killed — as first pics of family emerge
Care worker Mary Ragoobeer's flat was decimated by the blash on Sunday night, where she was home with her two sons Shane, 18, and Sean, 16
A MOTHER and her two sons were last night feared to be among five people killed in a gas explosion.
Care worker Mary Ragoobeer, 46, and boys Shane, 18, and Sean, 16, were missing after the blast ripped apart the family’s flat above a shop in Leicester.
Shane’s girlfriend, Leah Reek, 18, and a 22-year-old shopworker known only as Victoria, were also said to be unaccounted for.
Mary’s husband, Jose, also a care worker, was thought to have been out at the time. Their other son, Scotty, 15, was reportedly pulled from the rubble by a passer-by.
The boys’ uncle, Krishna Rungen, 69, said Scotty was in hospital with his father and they were desperate for news. He added: “We are devastated. It is an awful situation. We are a very close family.”
Sunday night’s explosion destroyed the family’s two-storey flat, which collapsed on to a Polish shop below.
The cause remains unclear but the owner of the Zabka supermarket described hearing a loud bang before coming to, covered in rubble, on the storeroom floor.
Aram Kurd, 33, said: “I couldn’t breathe. Everywhere I could see fire, like I was inside hell.”
He had been holding shopworker Victoria’s phone as they had been looking at videos. He added: “I was shouting Victoria! Victoria! Victoria!”
Mr Rungen said Scotty had cuts and bruises but was otherwise OK.
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He added: “He was full of smoke, dazed, asking where everyone was.”
Police said they were continuing to search the rubble for survivors. They confirmed there were five deaths but would not release names.
Tributes were paid online to hospice volunteer Leah, from Asfordby, Leics. One pal said: “Heaven has truly gained another angel.”
