Gas bottle explosion in car injures driver

Emergency services, rescue helicopter called to fly man to hospital with injuries

Emergency services were called to a gas bottle explosion inside a car at Iluka.

A man is being flown to hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter after being injured in a freak explosion in front of a house in Iluka.

Coffs/Clarence police said the man was reversing down a driveway when he allegedly lit a cigarette.

The cigarette caused a gas bottle in the car to explode.

Emergency services including ambulance attended the scene, and the man was stabilised with as yet unknown injuries.

The car was believed to have burned from the explosion for a significant length of time.

He was taken to Iluka Sports Ground where the Westpac Rescue Helicopter had landed, and was stabilised before being flown out.

He is enroute to what appears to be a Brisbane hospital as a result of his injuries.