A man was left with second degree burns after a hot water tank burst through the ceiling in a block of flats in Kingston.

Oliver Thompson, 28, was walking up a stairwell to his partner's flat after returning home from the school run when "boiling water" and "rubble" rained down onto his back.

He said around 20 litres of hot water splashed down from the roof of the communal stairwell in Malden Manor.

Around 20 litres of hot water splashed down form the roof of the communal stairwell in Malden Manor in Kingston (Credit: George Mathias / SWNS)

Labourer Thompson was treated at Kingston Hospital for the burns which covered his back and shoulders and says he can't work until at least January.

Thompson, who is from Kingston, and his partner Chantelle Bedward, 31, claim they have complained to Kingston Council seven times this year about leaks, flooding and the water tank, before the accident on 30 November.

They claim council contactors say there is "nothing they can do" about the current fault in the home the couple share with her daughters, Emily, 6, and Charlotte, 3.

Thompson lives in the flat with his partner Charlotte Bedward and her two daughters (Credit: George Mathias / SWNS)

Thompson said: "It's gross negligence. If I'd been one step further back, my whole body would have been soaked in boiling water.

"I had just returned from the school run with my partner when it happened, when the fire engine arrived, they had to open all the flat windows just to let all the steam out.

"My partner was dropping her kids' scooters downstairs, and as I reached the top of the stairwell, the roof gave way and boiling water poured onto my back and neck - it was 20 litres of it.

"I'm in so much pain, and I've had to have my dressings changed regularly - it's completely stopped me from working".

Thompson suffered second degree burns (Credit: George Mathias / SWNS)

The young family has been living in the flat for a year and a half and feel let down by Kingston Council's handling of the situation. 

Thompson said: "There have been six or seven inches of water throughout the property at times and multiple tenants in the building have reported the same problems, but the council and their contractors keep doing botched jobs."

On the day of the accident, Thompson says, the emergency response was inadequate. 

"The fire brigade told us not to leave the house because it was unsafe, but the council's contractor, Axis, didn't arrive until 10pm," he said.

"When they did, they said there was nothing they could do. 

"Now there's a hole in the roof, and still, no one has come out to properly inspect the damage."

'Now there's a hole in the roof, and still, no one has come out to properly inspect the damage,' says Oliver Thompson (Credit: George Mathias / SWNS)

Bedward is particularly anxious about the impact on her children. 

Thompson said: "Her daughters have to walk past this unsafe area every day. 

"I can't let this go on - it's gross negligence.

"This is their property - their responsibility. They said they'd send emergency repairs, but they've done nothing. It feels like I'm screaming into an echo box."

Thompson plans to pursue a personal injury claim to hold the council accountable. 

"I can't stay silent about this," he said.

"It's a matter of safety for my family and everyone else living in this building."

A Kingston Council spokesperson said: "The safety of residents living in council homes is a priority. 

"The council carries out safety checks on appliances for heating and hot water each year to ensure they are safe and well maintained.

"Council tenants can report emergency, urgent and non-urgent repairs to the council's repairs contractor Breyer Group on the council website, or by emailing [email protected] or calling 0208 547 5003.

"An issue was reported at this property on 29 November. Repair contractors attended the same day to undertake immediate repairs. The remaining work is booked in to be completed this month."