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Scots tourist in hospital after Rome holiday explosion

Facebook Grant Paterson, who has balding shaved hair and is wearing a dark blue shirt with a navy blue woollen coat, stands at the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Facebook
Grant Paterson is understood to be in hospital being treated for severe burns

A Scottish tourist has been seriously injured in a suspected gas explosion that destroyed his holiday home in Rome.

Grant Paterson, 54, was rescued from the rubble of a three-storey building in the Monteverde area of the Italian capital on Saturday morning.

Mr Paterson, from East Kilbride in Lanarkshire, is understood to be receiving treatment for severe burns at Rome's Sant'Eugenio hospital.

Roberto Gualtieri, the Mayor of Rome, visited the scene and has ordered an investigation into the explosion.

It is understood that Mr Paterson, who works for Scottish ferry operator CalMac, arrived in Rome last week on a solo trip.

He was staying in the apartment with views over the city's Villa Pamphili park.

Polizia Roma Capitale Police and fire officers look at the remains of the apartment building after the explosion.Polizia Roma Capitale
The three-storey holiday home was destroyed in the explosion

In a post on social media he wrote: "Accommodation is beautiful. This should be a good week."

According to Italian news site Roma Today, Mr Paterson was pulled out of the ruins conscious and is thought to have suffered severe burns to 75% of his body.

Duncan Mackison, CEO of CalMac, said: "We were shocked and saddened to hear that our colleague, Grant, has been critically injured on holiday.

"We have reached out to offer our support to Grant's family, and our thoughts are with Grant and his family at this difficult time."

The UK foreign office said it was "in contact with the local authorities" and Mr Paterson's relatives were being supported.

Italian author

Speaking at the scene of the explosion, Mayor Gualtieri told reporters: "We don't know his exact condition, but he suffered burns, and this also suggests that it was an explosion caused by gas, which also causes flames.

"It was a very loud explosion, a building collapsed and the wall of Villa Pamphili was also damaged."

He added that investigations were "under way regarding the legality of the B&B".

Part of the destroyed property was the home of high-profile Italian author Roberto Saviano until very recently.

In an Instagram Stories post responding to people who were concerned for his safety, he said had not been living at the the house on Via Vitellia "for days" and added that he hoped "the injured person recovers soon".

He said: "It's heartbreaking to see in ruins a place where I loved to live."