Man badly burnt in coffee shop explosion, fire in unit block

A MAN is clinging to life in hospital, and police have appealed for witnesses, after an early morning explosion and fire in Neutral Bay which threw the man on to a road with severe burns and cuts.

A MAN is clinging to life in hospital, and police have appealed for witnesses, after an early morning explosion and fire in Neutral Bay which threw the man on to a road with severe burns and cuts.

Streets near Waters Rd in Neutral Bay remain closed as police continue to investigate the incident today.

The man being treated by paramedics on the road. Picture: Steve Tyson

NSW Fire and Rescue at the apartment building which was evacuated due to a fire on the ground floor. Pictures: Steve Tyson

Damage to the ground floor of the building after the explosion and fire.

Emergency services were called to a North Sydney apartment block about 5.15am after reports of an explosion and fire.

Initial reports were that a man was caught in the explosion and flung into the middle of the road, with the blast also destroying a bus stop near the entrance of the coffee shop.

LATEST NEWS:

Massive gun stockpile uncovered in Western Sydney garden shed

Rabbit burrow set for Western Sydney shift

JT’s grand finale — the gift of a miracle baby

While paramedics treated the injured man where he lay on the road, NSW Police and NSW Fire and Emergency officers evacuated the apartment building and — with the help of a firefighter on an aerial platform — extinguished the fire, which was largely contained to the lower level.

Police said the injured man, 42, suffered burns to both his legs.

Paramedics treat the man for severe burns and cuts before he was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The man was stabilised and taken to Royal North Shore Hospital by ambulance.

Paramedics gave the injured man oxygen and stabilised him before taking him to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

There were no other injuries, however several people were treated for smoke inhalation.

Evacuated residents milled on the street trying to work out what had happened.

A large team of paramedics oversee the injured man’s transfer to hospital.

Residents said the explosion happened in a coffee shop which was being renovated.

“They say a coffee shop exploded — it was very scary,” evacuated resident Carlo Javier, 29, said.

“I was sleeping and then heard people screaming fire and I could smell the smoke — it was hard to breath — and I just ran.”

Warren Batten, 55, said he heard the explosion and saw a badly injured man lying in he middle of the road.

Firefighters at work at the early morning scene at Neutral Bay.

The place on Waters Rd where the injured man lay.

Damage caused by the explosion and fire.

“I was awake and I just heard a kaboom and came down and just saw a plume of gas coming out the front,” Mr Batten said.

“A guy was thrown out into the middle of the street conscious, saying he was in pain.”

“I thought with that much power flinging him out of he building that there was no way he would be conscious.”

Firefighters used breathing equipment to check out the building.

Police try to piece together what occurred.

Roads were closed off as emergency services worked.

Another neighbour said she thought an earthquake had occurred because her windows were shaking.

Ausgrid arrived on scene about 6am to inspect area.

This afternoon police sent out an appeal asking for witnesses to contact them as they continue to investigate the cause of the explosion and fire.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.