Musician Jimmy Brown is to return to Malmesbury today following last week's explosion which ripped the heart out of his attractive Horsefair home.
The 78-year-old miraculously escaped with cuts and some burning following the blast last Monday and has been recuperating at a hospital in Salisbury.
Now he has released a statement in support of all those who have helped deal with the aftermath.
It reads: "My dear family, friends, neighbours, and the good people of Malmesbury.
"I cannot thank you all enough for your help and support after that calamitous explosion in Malmesbury's Horsefair last week.
"I had a seemingly miraculous escape, sustaining only a relatively small number of cuts and burns, which are healing rapidly in the remarkable Burns Unit in Salisbury's District Hospital.
"I was very upset to learn that the blast had caused so much damage to vehicles, and to various properties in the square, and I trust that the appropriate insurance companies will shoulder their responsibilities promptly."
It continues: "I was dismayed and disappointed that the National Press made so many factual errors in their reporting, with one even saying that I had ventured into the inferno to look for Bessie, my dog.
"Apparently I came out for a second time with Bessie 'cradled in my arms'! The truth was more mundane, as I had been whisked away to have some first aid.
"Bessie had indeed been recovered, with her voracious appetite still intact. I gather that it is Bessie who is the only 'celebrity' in the whole affair 'as seen on TV!' - and I would like it to stay like this, please.
"I know that I am lucky to be alive, and it was my next-door neighbour, John Nichols who was calling my name loudly, who gave me the right direction to follow, which led to my successful escape.
"Only less than 10 minutes beforehand, I had been praising him for the recent choice of a new and now damaged car."
Mr Brown signed off his statement: "Yours very humbly."
It is feared the two 300-year-old neighbouring properties will also be demolished following the explosion.
