Syosset explosion sends man to hospital

An explosion tore apart a Syosset home yesterday afternoon, injuring a man whom rescuers found dazed, badly hurt and speaking incoherently on the front lawn.

Rescuers flew resident Brian Welsh, 48, to Nassau University Medical Center soon after the blast, which officials said was likely caused by a gas leak shortly before 12:30 p.m.

A guidance counselor at Half Hollow Hills High School, Welsh had severe burns all over his body, and his home was wrecked after its walls caved in as its roof and floor collapsed, fire officials said.

"The house definitely exploded," Syosset Fire Chief Robert Kaplan said. He said he was unsure what caused the explosion. "We're assuming it's gas."

The explosion was so powerful that rattled homes blocks away.

Welsh was transported to the East Meadow hospital by Nassau police helicopter and was listed in stable condition after being admitted to the burn unit, said hospital spokeswoman Shelley Lotenberg.

Welsh was alone doing spring cleaning in the basement when the house blew up, Nassau police said.

When rescuers found him, it was unclear whether Welsh walked from the house on his own or was thrown onto the lawn by the explosion.

"He does have some serious burns to his body," Kaplan said.

Despina Tenedorio, who identified herself as Welsh's sister-in-law, said he lived at the house with his wife and three children, who were in school at the time. She added that the family also lived with two birds, both of which survived. Hours after the explosion, she said Welsh was improving at the hospital but would require skin grafts.

Curious and concerned neighbors came from blocks away to observe firefighters working on the ranch-style white-sided home, saying they were shocked by the loud sound.

"It was like a bomb," said Louise Lippmann, 86, a retired country club hostess. "My house. It shook. It shook. It did."

Part-time elementary teacher Cathy Moran, 46, said she thought her home was struck.

"We heard a big boom," she said. "I thought something fell on my house . . . It sounded like a tree fell on the house or a car accident."

Kaila Barker, 18, a college student, was sitting in her living room on adjacent Georgia Drive watching television. After the explosion she grew concerned for her grandmother upstairs.

"I could feel it in my chest," she said. "I was like, 'Grammy, are you OK?' "

About 65 firefighters responded to the scene, officials said. Syosset firefighters received mutual aid from Jericho and Bethpage fire departments.