Debris Rained Down on Photographer After Huge Explosion in Essex

A giant explosion rocked an industrial estate near Rettendon, Essex, on Friday, sending debris flying through the air. The blast was caused by a fire that reached a unit storing fertiliser, which made the explosion even bigger and more dangerous. More than 100 firefighters were called to the scene, and the fire service declared it a major incident.

Wedding photographer Scott Johnson was just outside his studio at Highlands Farm when the explosion struck. The force of the blast threw him against a door, and debris came raining down on top of him. He said the experience was like watching something from a movie, and he still cannot fully believe he survived.

Johnson had spotted the fire while driving to his studio for a meeting. He quickly cancelled the meeting and began moving his expensive camera equipment to his van to keep it safe. He was loading the van when the explosion happened, and he believes that going back inside for one last item may have actually saved his life by keeping him out of a more dangerous spot.

After the blast, Johnson drove to a safe distance and pulled over, shaking from shock. Paramedics checked him over and confirmed he had no serious injuries. However, he was left with bad tinnitus, which is a ringing or buzzing in the ears that can be caused by extremely loud sounds.

Twenty firefighters were injured and taken to hospital, though all of them were later released. Rick Hylton, the county's chief fire officer, called it one of the most challenging incidents the Essex fire service had faced in recent years. Crews continued battling smaller fires in nearby fields through Saturday evening, with about 15 firefighters remaining overnight to watch for hotspots.

Despite the shock, Johnson showed up to photograph a wedding on Saturday, helped by his assistant James Musselwhite, who drove from Portsmouth to support him. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that the health risk from smoke and debris in the area was low. Authorities have now launched an investigation to find out what started the original fire.