Man in critical condition after backyard explosion in Leopold
A man has been flown to hospital after pouring alcohol onto a drum fire in Leopold.
A man is in a critical condition after pouring alcohol onto a backyard drum fire in Leopold.
It’s understood the 35-year-old poured 20 litres of pure alcohol onto the flames about 6.20pm on Saturday.
A Country Fire Authority spokesman said the alcohol caused the blaze to explode, seriously burning the man.
“One litre would’ve been ridiculous,” he said.
“It wasn’t scotch or anything.
“I believe it just exploded.”
Alcohol fumes are flammable and can travel to an ignition source, causing an explosion.
“We were told he sustained 70 per cent burns, including airway burns.”
He said there was no other fire to contain beyond the explosion.
Neighbours said they hadn’t heard an explosion, but saw two police cars, two ambulances and multiple fire trucks descend on the street just before 6.30pm, as a helicopter tried unsuccessfully to land in the park nearby.
In the end the helicopter landed at an oval nearby, witnesses said.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said paramedics were called to the explosion just before 6.30pm.
“They treated a man in his 30s who had suffered upper and lower body injuries,” he said.
“The patient was flown in a serious but stable condition to The Alfred hospital.
“We’re going into barbecue season and people need to be careful.”
Police confirmed the 35-year-old man was flown to hospital with serious injuries.
A spokeswoman from The Alfred said the man’s condition had deteriorated, and he remained in a critical condition on Monday morning.
Originally published as Man in critical condition after backyard explosion in Leopold
