A victim of the explosion in a ground floor flat is demanding answers after the incident endangered the lives of himself and his neighbours.

Curtis Bartley-Rae broke into tears as he explained that all he could think about was saying goodbye to his daughter as the flat in Catlyn Close, East Malling, blew out with a sudden crash of light.

The 19-year-old was visiting his neighbours and friends Megan and Lee Holland on Sunday evening to return some power tools he borrowed to fix his TV.

They were enjoying the evening when there was a sudden explosion, without any warning or indication.

He said: "All I felt was this big blast of energy and heat hit us.

"The only thing I remember was my hair was on fire, I couldn't see properly.

"In that moment all I was thinking was goodbye, goodbye my daughter, goodbye my partner.

"I want there to be an outcome where they understand I could've lost my life; someone needs to do something about that.

"Kids could've been injured. However it was caused, I want them to be in serious trouble for this because I saw my life flash before my eyes.

"I have experienced that feeling once before and I don't like it."

Curtis and his two neighbours were taken to hospital suffering burns and breathing difficulties.

Megan and Lee's children – four-year-old Rilee and two-year-old Sonny – escaped injury as they were in the bath at the time.

The 31-year-old mother and tenant of the flat said: “There was no indication or smell. We have an electric cooker and the boiler was intact.

“I think it was gas under the floor and the fire brigade told us it was probably the same thing when they got here.

"Luckily my kids were in the bath because a few minutes more and they’d have been in the front room.

“You would’ve been reporting about four dead bodies.”

After the explosion, Curtis took the two children into his home for safety, with the adults cooling down their burns in the shower.

All emergency services arrived promptly and ambulance crews took Curtis, Megan, and Lee to hospital where they were to stay for 48 hours.

But at 2.30am on Monday, Megan and Lee discharged themselves to be with their children. Curtis is still in and out of hospital as he is having his injuries checked further.

Along with the physical injuries, Curtis has been scarred mentally from the experience.

He said: "I can't go near a cooker or a kitchen.

"I can't cook food. I haven't eaten for four days.

"I don't sleep well. Every time there is a loud bang I wake up and can't get back to sleep and my partner has to comfort me.

"I work with gas tankers and things, and I said to my wife I can't go to work I'm scared.

"I'm scared of my house too. I have to stand behind the door to watch my partner turn things on in the kitchen."

Curtis says he has been left in the dark, with no one from housing association Clarion – which owns the properties – getting in contact.

He continued: "I have had no calls from them to ask if I'm doing ok or if my baby is ok, nothing. They haven't even tried to make us feel more comfortable.

"I did have a gas check after the incident but it was booked before. They just seemed to move it up after what happened.

'All I was thinking was goodbye, goodbye my daughter, goodbye my partner.'

"I guess they just want to move onto the next day – that's what it feels like to me.

"After all this, they haven't told us how it happened. I have a three-month-old and I don't want her in there. It's not safe anymore.

"We need answers because my partner and my baby could've been really hurt and that would've been my life ruined."

Curtis's wife and daughter are now staying at his in-law's house.

It is still not known what caused the explosion but Kent Fire and Rescue ruled it to be accidental.

A spokesman for Clarion said: "Our local team is working closely with the police and the fire brigade as they continue to investigate the incident, so we cannot comment until this has concluded.

"However, we have checked the gas supply and appliances and they were not the cause of the incident.

"We can confirm our staff were on site quickly to help and we have arranged temporary accommodation for the residents of the affected home.

“Our focus will now be on completing damage assessments and any necessary remedial work to allow our residents to move back into their home safely and as soon as possible.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money for Megan and Lee Holland.

So far more then £700 has been raised.