'I'm just happy to be alive' - Neighbours react to horrific carbon monoxide poisoning tragedy in Bloxwich

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, spoke to the Express & Star from his first floor flat window.

He said: "I am happy to be alive. I have not slept since. We have been told it is safe but I am scared."

Residents spoke of their shock seeing emergency services descend on the property on Friday night. 

Keith Fincott, 70, said: "There were people being treated on the pavement. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. I know a lady who lives next door and she said she has not been able to sleep since and I do not blame her.

"The Mossley estate is normally quiet and nothing happens. But in the last few months the bus stop was demolished by a car chasing a fella on a bike and round the corner an abandoned building blew up because people on drugs were fiddling with the gas."

Timmy's takeaway has yet to open and had recently been fitted out ready to start trading.

Sharon Stevenson, 33, said: "It was mad. This is a quiet estate so seeing so many blue lights and hearing sirens meant plenty of people came out to watch what was happening.

"They were carrying people out and some were staggering out. I did not want to stand too close in case the place blew up. They were doing CPR on people on the pavement. 

"One bloke died. I hope it wasn't the fella I was talking to from the takeaway the other day, he seemed really excited about opening up. It is so sad, he said the place was going to be goldmine and now he could be dead.

"There are still police here on a Sunday afternoon so it must be serious. But there are still people in the flats next to where it happened so they must have cut off the carbon monoxide."

One Stop Convenience Store is the neighbouring shop to the takeaway. Staff at the shop said they were forbidden from speaking to the press but confirmed they were open as usual on Saturday.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "We attended the scene at about 9.40pm on Friday. Other emergency services were also in attendance and a man in his 50s was sadly confirmed dead at the scene," they said.

"Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this devastating time. Seven other people - including emergency service workers - were treated at the scene for the suspected effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. Some were taken to hospital for further assessment."

The spokesman added: "A small number of nearby properties were temporarily evacuated but occupants have since been able to return."