Neighbours of a 47 year old man who was killed when the chimney of his house collapsed into a bedroom reported hearing a “loud bang” and screaming in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The accident happened on Knight’s Fold in the Great Horton area of Bradford. Emergency services received a call at around 5am and rushed to the scene.

The man’s 28 year old partner was taken to hospital although her injuries were not said to be life threatening. A family from the neighbouring house, including 3 children, were unharmed in the incident.

A neighbour who lives in nearby Southfield Lane, Paul Wright, 30, said that he was awoken in the early hours by a terrific bang, followed by the sound of a woman screaming.

He said he and his partner came outside and saw the roof collapsed with bricks and debris scattered everywhere. He went on to say it was a tragic accident and that all the neighbours are in a state of total shock. Mr Wright went on to describe how emergency services had to remove a window to get the lady out of the house, which took over an hour.

Paying tribute to the dead man he said that him and his partner were a lovely couple who kept themselves to themselves. It is believed the chimney fell from an adjoining two-storey home and through the roof of the couple’s single-storey home. Engineers and building surveyors were at the house on Sunday and the windows and doors have all been boarded up.

The dead man’s family have been re-housed and roads are said to be closed until the end of today. The Detective Inspector in charge of the case, Claudine Binns, said that the incident is “tragic” and work is underway to make the building safe. She went on to say that they are in the early stages of a full investigation to determine exactly how the incident happened. A report will be prepared for the coroner.

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