A WORKER who survived a gas blast was blown across a room from the impact of the explosion, it was revealed today.

Michael O'Dowd, 20, flew across the flat he was working on but escaped serious injury.

His colleague, Albert Heys, suffered 50 per cent burns to his body and is in a critical condition in hospital.

Mr Heys, 54, believed to be from the Westhoughton area of Bolton, managed to stagger down 240 stairs after the gas powered machine he was using exploded.

The council sub-contractor with Bolton-based firm Malrod's, was carrying out preparatory demolition work on the top floor of Livesey Court flats, Mill Hill, Blackburn, when the accident happened at around 3pm on Tuesday.

Mr O'Dowd, of Florence Avenue, Burnley, was taken to Blackburn Infirmary after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning and singed hair.

His mother Maureen Young said: "As far as I am aware he was stripping asbestos from the premises.

"He had only worked for the firm for two weeks.

"When I got in from work on Tuesday night they were on the phone from the hospital to tell me what had happened to Michael. "He was blown across the room with the force of the blast. He was very lucky to escape with just singed hair, he has not actually received any burns.

"They kept him in hospital because he had inhaled a lot of smoke and they had to get his blood gas levels down to a certain level before they would allow him home."

Michael, who has two brothers and two sisters, has previously worked for an asbestos stripping company in Ireland.

Workmate Alan Manley, from Burnley, was in the next room when he heard the bang.

He said: "Albert was in a real bad way when the ambulance crews arrived.

"His injuries didn't look nice at all.

"The hospital's put him under sedation for 48 hours but we're all going to see him when he's has a chance to settle down and his family have visited him.

"I have only known him for a couple of weeks.

"He was such a nice man and couldn't do enough for you.

Sean Cook, another colleague said: "I'd only known him a few weeks and he seemed a really nice chap.

"He was really easy to get along with and he knew his job inside out."