Updated: Man killed in explosion is named (From Echo)

Updated: Man killed in explosion is named

2:52pm Friday 9th May 2008 in

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THE MAN who died in a fire after an electricity sub-station exploded has been named.

John Higgins, 59, was killed after the fire took hold in Bishop Hall Lane, close to the Rivermead campus of the Anglia Ruskin University, in Chelmsford, at about 12.15pm on Wednesday.

The fire left thousands of homes in Chelmsford without power and 8,000 university students had to be evacuated as a 200-metre exclusion zone was set up around the site.

A post-mortem carried out today showed he died of burns and an inhalation of toxic gases.

The family of Mr Higgins, who lived in Albany Road, West Bergholt, said in a joint statement that his death had been a "pointless loss of life".

They added: "We are devastated by the loss of John, a wonderful loving husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, and a good friend to so many.

"John has left a huge hole in our lives which will never be filled.

"He was looking forward to a well-deserved early retirement with his wife Sheila in six months time and had absolutely everything to live for."

The family thanked the Police for their support throughout the ordeal.

They added they would be "following the investigation very closely as we need to comprehend the circumstances that led to this horrific incident."