Couple escaped death when their Renault EXPLODED

A couple who pulled over when a warning light flashed on their car dashboard escaped death by just 30 seconds, when their car exploded.

David Lewis, 48, and Melanie Keeling, 51, thought it was just a minor technical problem when the 'electrical fault' light showed on the dashboard of their Renault Megane Scenic. 

But seconds after they stopped in a nearby car park, thick black smoke began pouring from the engine shortly before the car burst into flames and exploded, scattering broken glass.

The blaze also destroyed two neighbouring cars, and damaged a number of other vehicles nearby. 

A team of six firefighters took more than an hour to bring the blaze under control.

The couple said that they are lucky to be alive. 

Melanie, a holistic therapist from Stroud, Gloucestershire, said: 'It all happened so, so quickly.

'The light flashed up so we went into the nearest car park and luckily there was one space.

'We got out and I called the RAC. I was on the phone to them when I saw thick black smoke and the next thing I knew there were huge flames.

'If we were in that car for another 30 seconds we would have gone up in flames with it.'

Melanie, David and their seven-year-old Jack Russell, Pepsi, had been driving to a fish and chip shop five minutes from their home last Saturday when the warning light began to flash. 

Melanie and David bought the Megane from a private dealer just three months before the incident and were told it had been fully serviced.

'It is extremely worrying,' said Melanie. 

'It is unbelievable what happened and in such a short space of time. What was a pleasant evening turned into a nightmare experience.

'We were in complete shock. I was terrified the fire would spread to more vehicles.

'Pepsi handled the situation really well and took it all in her stride.

'We are just grateful we have got our lives. It so easily could have been a completely different story.'

A Renault spokesperson said: 'To date, Renault UK has not had any contact from either the customer or the insurance company regarding this incident with a 2004 Renault Scenic.

'Without having seen the car and without an understanding of the vehicle's condition and service history, we cannot say what may have caused this incident and therefore we cannot comment any further.' 

Culled