A Wisconsin man who was pulled from his home after it exploded has died, authorities said Wednesday.
The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Leland Holden in a post on its Facebook page.
Holden, 68, was found by emergency workers Tuesday afternoon in the basement of the home in Lafayette, a rural community about 45 miles southwest of Milwaukee. He was flown by helicopter to a local hospital trauma center, where he later died, the sheriff’s office said.
Calls to 911 reported the explosion around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. Sheriff’s deputies arrived about 15 minutes later and found the home completely destroyed, the sheriff’s office said.
According to Elkhorn Fire Chief Trent Eichmann, it took more than 30 minutes for emergency workers to reach Holden, who was trapped under the rubble.
“When the house exploded, it appears that most of it ended up in one side of the basement and the gentleman was found there,” Eichmann said.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated. Propane gas is being used in the area, Eichmann said.
