Tim Wilson’s recovery after Buddina boat explosion on Sunshine Coast

A much-loved father has suffered extensive burns to his body when, during his last day on the job, he became trapped in a boat that exploded on the Sunshine Coast.

A hardworking and beloved father of three has suffered extensive burns to his entire body after a boat he was working on exploded from a suspected fuel leak on the Sunshine Coast.

Tim Wilson, 40, of Gympie, was working on a boat in the dry dock of Lawrie’s Boat Services with another mechanic, Campbell Andersen, when there was an explosion.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokeswoman said three crews were called to Orana St, in Buddina, about 10.35am Friday, February 2, following reports of a boat on fire.

A fire spokesman said the first crew arrived about 10.45am and there was “a lot” of smoke on arrival.

Fire investigators ruled it an “accidental” fire caused by something to do with the boat engine.

Firefighters battle a boat blaze on a dry dock in Buddina, on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Contributed

Mr Wilson was working on the boat when the engine exploded and the boat caught fire.

He was stuck in the boat following the explosion until firefighters were able to get him out.

He suffered severe third degree burns to his arms and legs.

His hand was shattered and he will need extensive skin grafts.

A close friend, Katrina Leanne Scotland, started a GoFundMe to support Mr Wilson and his partner Nicole Buckle.

“It isn’t good, and Tim has a very long and very painful recovery ahead of him,” she said.

“It was a miracle they survived really.

“But Tim is in a lot of pain.

“What makes the story even sadder than it already is Nicole and Tim work harder than anyone I know.

“They don’t ask for help or handouts and they just get it done.

“For as long as I have known them, they have each been working two jobs to get by.

Tim and Nicole. Picture – GoFundMe.

“Tim was working his last day in that job and was due to start an exciting new opportunity next week, that was going to go a long way to finally getting them ahead. It was going to take some pressure off, just like they deserve.

“Now he is obviously in no state to start that job and they don’t even know how long his recovery will be.

“But he will probably never be the same again.”

Nicole and Tim have three beautiful daughters from Nicole’s previous marriage.

“Tim has taken them on as his own and is an amazing father,” Ms Scotland said.

“Tim is a bloody tough amazing man, and based on how the whole story went down with the explosion and getting stuck I would say that is the only reason why he is still alive.”

Tim had a successful surgery on Monday, but remains in hospital “very drugged up” and with a long recovery ahead of him.

Tim in hospital after his surgery on Monday. Picture – GoFundMe.

Ms Scotland said she started the GoFundMe to help relieve some of the couple’s stress.

“I hate that I can’t take their physical and emotional pain away. But what if lots of us donated a little, and we could just take a bit of pressure off them,” she said.

“Where their main stress was Tim getting better. Not added stress of things like, will they be able to pay for petrol, or food.

“Or pay for the mortgage or bills. I also think this would make it easier for Tim to stay focused and positive with his recovery and hopefully get better quicker.”

The couple is hoping WorkCover will kick in at some point.