Cat found alive after explosion destroyed family home on New Year’s Day

Cat inside family home when it was destroyed in suspected gas explosion on New Year’s Day is found ALIVE five days later with just minor injuries

  • Gas explosion tore through the terraced home in Portsmouth on New Year’s Eve 
  • Michael McCormick, 52, wife Montse, 45, and son Mark, 19, were forced to flee
  • Their cat Vladimir had been in the living room at the time of the huge blast
  • He has been found alive on a neighbour’s roof after going missing for five days

A cat had a miraculous escape when his owner’s home was ripped apart in an explosion on New Year’s Day.

Vladimir had been missing for five days after the blast destroyed the McCormick family’s Portsmouth home hours into 2021.

But despite being in the living room at the time of the suspected gas explosion, the nine year old cat has now been found alive on a neighbour’s roof.

The family say he escaped with nothing worse than scorched paws and a bit of singed fur.

Vladimir the cat had a miraculous escape when his owner’s Portsmouth home was ripped apart in an explosion on New Year’s Day

Despite being in the living room at the time of the suspected gas explosion, the nine year old cat has now been found alive on a neighbour's roof

Despite being in the living room at the time of the suspected gas explosion, the nine year old cat has now been found alive on a neighbour’s roof

Dad Michael McCormick, 52, said the family were overjoyed at the discovery and Vladimir is expected to make a full recovery.

Mr McCormick, his wife Montse, 45, and son Mark, 19, were forced to flee when the blast tore through their terraced home in Portsmouth, Hants.

Such was the force of the blast that a rear window was sent flying into a next door neighbour’s back garden, and a secure gun cabinet was propelled halfway down the back garden.

One of family members had to be treated for minor injuries by paramedics. 

David McCormick, his wife Montse, 45, and son Mark, 19, were forced to flee when the blast tore through their terraced home in Portsmouth, Hants

David McCormick, his wife Montse, 45, and son Mark, 19, were forced to flee when the blast tore through their terraced home in Portsmouth, Hants

Such was the force of the blast that a rear window was sent flying into a next door neighbour's back garden, and a secure gun cabinet was propelled halfway down the back garden

Such was the force of the blast that a rear window was sent flying into a next door neighbour’s back garden, and a secure gun cabinet was propelled halfway down the back garden

Neighbours initially thought the area, a stone’s throw from HM Naval Base Portsmouth, was under some sort of attack.

Up to nine explosions were heard at the home, starting at around midday.

Much of the house has been destroyed and the family-of-three are starting 2021 in a Travelodge hotel.

Neighbours initially thought the area, a stone's throw from HM Naval Base Portsmouth, was under some sort of attack

Neighbours initially thought the area, a stone’s throw from HM Naval Base Portsmouth, was under some sort of attack

Mr McCormick, whose family had been frantically searching for their pet, said: ‘We can’t even start to describe how happy we are to find Vladimir.

‘His fur is scorched and he has lost his whiskers and some injuries to his gums and tongue and his paws are burnt.

‘But the vet says he should make a full recovery. We need to keep an eye on him for possible lung problems but when they checked he looked okay.’

More than £3,000 has been raised for the family since the explosion.