Ambulance crews took the man to hospital at around 11:30. Police and fire crews remained on the scene at Les Camps for some time. They later confirmed a second person was also taken to the Emergency Department at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. The Co-op said three people in total were taken to hospital – two suffering from shock.
Pictured: An Express reporter attended the scene and spoke to the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service crew who were among the first responders to the incident.
Gary Van Der Linden, Station Officer for Operations at Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service, said the explosion was caused by a rupture in a utility.
“We responded to reports of an explosion with two pumps,” he said.
“A small piece of the suspended ceiling had fallen in because of a rupture in one of the utilities, and a member of the public has been taken away by the ambulance.
“Health & Safety are now condition a review and the store will remain closed until that is completed.”
Customers shopping at the Co-op and staff were evacuated following the explosion, and it was empty before the Fire Service arrived.
One woman who was inside the Co-op at the time said the shop staff immediately took control of the situation.
“I was in there doing my shopping when it happened. There was a huge bang, then what I thought was smoke but now I think it may have been dust etc from the ceiling. There was some screaming then the staff was quickly and calmly ushering everyone out. A chap was taken to A&E with a hurt shoulder. The services were quick on the scene. That’s all I know.”
Pictured: Customers and staff were evacuated following the explosion. While many of the customers left, the staff had to remain in the vicinity in a designated area.
Guernsey Police said the incident was not being treated as suspicious.
The Co-op said what had happened was linked with “routine maintenance.”
“I can confirm that at approximately 11:15, there was a small explosion at Grande Marché, St Martin,” a spokesperson said.
“During routine maintenance, an air conditioning pipe was fractured, causing ceiling tiles to become dislodged above the checkout area of the store. One customer has been taken to hospital with bruising along with two colleagues, who are suffering from shock.
“Immediately following the incident we closed the store so that health and safety inspectors could undertake further checks. The store re-opened at 1pm.”
Pictured: Blake Bates sent Express this image of the incident
A spokesperson for the St John Emergency Ambulance Service said a paramedic officer and emergency medical technician responded to the incident and dealt with the customer who had been injured.
“The store had been evacuated prior to the arrival of the ambulance service and a male patient who had been inside the shop at the time of the incident was being cared for by Co-op staff. He was able to walk to the ambulance where he was assessed and treated by the paramedic, before being transferred to the Emergency Department of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.”