A MAN was fighting for his life after an explosion in a block of flats.

Albert Heys, aged 54, was working for Westhoughton-based Malrod Insulations Ltd, on the top floor of a derelict building in Blackburn when the machine he was using is thought to have blown up.

Remarkably, the council sub-contractor walked down 15 flights of stairs to wait for an ambulance despite his injuries.

Mr Heys was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with what police described as 50 per cent burns to the upper part of his body and was later transferred to the burns unit at Preston Royal Hospital.

He had been helping carry out preparatory demolition work on one of three blocks of flats at Livesey Court, Mill Hill, for the last three weeks.

One of his work mates, Alan Manley, from Burnley, said: "Albert was in a real bad way when the ambulance crews arrived. His injuries didn't look nice at all.

"I have only known him for a couple of weeks. He is such a nice chap and couldn't do enough for you."

Mr Heys has worked for Malrods for 14 years. A company spokesman said today: "Obviously, we wish him a speedy recovery, but can't comment further at the moment."

Mr Heys was supervising between 10 and 12 other workers at the time of the accident yesterday afternoon. John Thompson, director of the main Newcastle-based contracting firm, Thompsons, said he believed the incident was caused by a gas leak from a propane wallpaper steamer which exploded when Mr Heys went to light it.

Mr Thompson said a preliminary investigation had been carried out on the site and the Health and Safety Executive were continuing their investigations today.

He said: "That part of the site was closed down immediately and will not work again until a thorough investigation has been carried out."

Mr Thompson added that there were four fire extinguishers on the floor where Mr Heys had been working, of which none had been used and Mr Heys had managed to walk down from the fifteenth floor to the ambulance.

Another man who was working with Mr Heys was also taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with slight injuries.