David Read, 69, swung into action after the blast tore through a neighbour's house in Middleton, Leeds, on Friday afternoon.

He dragged Harry Foster, who, amazingly, was unharmed, from the wreckage of his property.

Mr Read, whose house backs on to Mr Foster's, said: "The whole house shook and at first I thought it was a bomb or a plane come down.

"There was debris hitting our windows and doors so I raced outside and that's when I saw Harry's house almost completely demolished.

"Then I saw Harry, standing in what was left of the kitchen. He was covered head to foot in dust and dirt and he was standing stock still like he was in deep shock.

"I said 'You've got to get out, you've got to get out' and I pulled him by the arm through the broken window. I got him out on to the main road, away from the house.

"I didn't think about anything but making sure he was safe. I'm not a religious man but I think if there is a god or angels then that's what it was last Friday."

Mr Read's partner, Diane Craggs, said: "I was very worried about David, I didn't want him to get hurt. But I'm very proud. Not many people would have done what he did."

Mr Read said he saw Mr Foster on Sunday: "He sat at our table and he was still shaking. He was in his brother's clothes because he has lost everything. I said he hadn't slept because he was having nightmares. He was really shook up, you could see it in his eyes."

The cause of the blast is still under investigation.
But Mr Read said Mr Foster told him he had left his cooker on, causing gas to leak into the house.

He went for a sleep and came downstairs later. Realising his food had not cooked, he tried to relight the cooker – causing the escaped gas to ignite.

Mr Foster, who was treated at Leeds General Infirmary for minor injuries, is being rehomed by Leeds City Council and is expected to move into a nearby flat this week.

Meanwhile, demolition work is continuing on Mr Foster's home and that of his next door neighbour which was also badly damaged in the explosion.