An underground explosion engulfed a Queens sidewalk, sending flames shooting several feet into the air and injuring a man who happened to be standing on the grate at the precise wrong moment, surveillance video exclusively obtained by NBC New York showed.
Barry West was walking along Farmers Boulevard in St. Albans around 5:30 p.m. on July 22 to pay a cellphone bill when the sudden blast occurred without warning. It knocked the 57-year-old father to the ground on his chest, video shows, but he was able to get away before he was burned any worse.
He appeared shaken up, and friends told NBC New York that West suffered second-degree burns. He was said to be in good spirits as he recovers at Nassau University Medical Center, but still stunned by what happened.
Carrol Hamblin told News 4 that she believes her friend had help from above in order to survive the blast.
“You can see how God just picked him out of that fire. He staggered. He had his hands up and rubbed his head and fell,” Hamblin said. “Just a miracle. Nobody but God could do that. Not a man.”
In the surveillance video, some smoke can be seen coming out of the sidewalk grate just seconds before West was blown off his feet.
A statement from Con Edison said that they were “investigating the cause of this event which caused serious injury to a member of the public. We express our sincere concern for the victim and our regret for this incident. We wish him a full and fast recovery.”
The utility did not clarify whether there were any recent reports about problems with the underground infrastructure that caught fire.
He becoming a billionaire
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
damn underground transformers. 95% of the time that's what does this. Nearly every transformer under the sidewalk in any city has the potential to do this. If you hear an extra loud buzz, see any smoke, or it's just real hot outside, try to stay away from those grates, because this is possible to happen.
New work is so crazy
New work city stop just stop pls because is to much right now
The only question now is how much money can he get from this experience in the from of compensation, because doctor bills don't pay for themselves.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Conedison about to settle …in the millions for sure
Superman in the flesh
havato votes trump
I am here to stay I love to farm I'm classic yorker
Wait a minute a man survive an explosion whole Batman survive fall dozen of feet and survive an explosion that level a city block
😎He's now rich as fck💰
Hes goin to get paid good
Dear Lord take care of this man. Horrific seeing this. I pray for him that he heals fast.
God bless this man. I hope he has a speedy recovery.
I'm glad he did have help from above because he for damn sure didn't have any help from bystanders
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!
I love how everybody thinks he is going to be a millionaire. Uh no. He didn't suffer any real injuries, so he is not entittled to any REAL money. So if he sues, the only one that will make money is the lawyer. We all know how the system works.
That man is rich now.!
It was the TMNT
He hacked the steampipe he was walking on
must have been late with his cell phone bill
It's not his time. God be stay us for he is a child of you. Amen
Play it in slow motion. See how it threw him about 6 in the air or until he hit the awning?
Probably injured from the fall, too, besides 2nd degree burns!
He was like oh lord that’s a fire .. 🤣🤣
😳 o lord jesus
I hope he sued Con Edison
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck gettin' dirt and gritty
SOMEBODY OWES THIS MAN AN EXPLANATION.
Dude survived an explosion and just walked it off and dusted off his shirt.
Put respect on this man’s name.
Blessing from a blazing 🔥
That guy needs to sue Con Edison.
Dam why them people run by him and not check on him
Omydog
Glad he’s ok but I love how he made sure his shirt was fixed and back looking right. He was so focused on that😂😩
so America is like China now?
I might wanna point out the tunnels underground are full of methane
New York really a jungle bruh 😂
He deffentialy had his angels jump in 💖🕊
Does anyone else see a human figure in the fire 🔥, not the guy laying the ground but the face shoulders and arms???
welp there goes another lawsuit the city is gonna have to cough up.. gkad he survived that blast sheeeesh