Janice Harms fridge
Janice Harms fridge. An American woman’s fridge saved her from being crushed to death after her house exploded with her inside.Janice Harms, 65, from Clara City in Minnesota, was standing next to her fridge when the roof of her two-storey house caved in early Saturday morning, the Star Tribune reports. Ms Harms was standing in the kitchen and reaching to turn off a light switch when the blast occurred.
She told local station KARE 11 her fridge had protected her from falling debris.
"That's what kept me from getting flattened," Ms Harms said.
"If she had been 10 feet (3m) away from that ... she would have been dead," Chippewa County Sheriff Stacy Tufto said.
Fire crews said there was only a pile of rubble left when they arrived and called an excavator to help search for survivors despite not expecting to find anyone alive.
Despite losing her dog in the blast, Ms Harms only suffered a broken wrist, crushed thumb and some bruises, KSTP TV reports.
Dr Mark Ahrendt, a trauma surgeon who treated Ms Harms, told KARE 11 it was incredible she survived.
"We looked at her brain and neck and all of her internal organs and they all look good. It is amazing that she went through all this," Dr Ahrendt said.
Officials suspect a gas leak may have caused the explosion.
Ms Harms told reporters she is feeling "pretty good" despite being "a little traumatised" by the experience.
"I'm lucky to be alive. An angel was looking over me," she said.
She told local station KARE 11 her fridge had protected her from falling debris.
"That's what kept me from getting flattened," Ms Harms said.
"If she had been 10 feet (3m) away from that ... she would have been dead," Chippewa County Sheriff Stacy Tufto said.
Fire crews said there was only a pile of rubble left when they arrived and called an excavator to help search for survivors despite not expecting to find anyone alive.
Despite losing her dog in the blast, Ms Harms only suffered a broken wrist, crushed thumb and some bruises, KSTP TV reports.
Dr Mark Ahrendt, a trauma surgeon who treated Ms Harms, told KARE 11 it was incredible she survived.
"We looked at her brain and neck and all of her internal organs and they all look good. It is amazing that she went through all this," Dr Ahrendt said.
Officials suspect a gas leak may have caused the explosion.
Ms Harms told reporters she is feeling "pretty good" despite being "a little traumatised" by the experience.
"I'm lucky to be alive. An angel was looking over me," she said.
