Lake Heights, New South Wales – A man in his 50s was airlifted to Royal North Hospital in critical condition after a fuel tank explosion inside his recreational boat. The incident, which occurred on Trevor Avenue in Lake Heights, left the man with lacerations and burns to his head and face.
Witnesses described hearing a loud noise, likened to “a bang,” coming from the home where the explosion took place around 10 am on Sunday morning. Emergency services, including police and paramedics, arrived at the scene to find the man lying near a damaged vessel in the front yard.
Neighbors and bystanders rushed to the injured man’s aid, attempting to help by hosing down his burns before paramedics treated him on-site. The man was later airlifted to the hospital for further medical attention.
The New South Wales Police indicated that the explosion was caused by a combination of fuel vapors and an open flame, with Fire and Rescue NSW confirming the use of a power tool at the time of the incident. Despite minor damage to the home and significant damage to the boat, authorities have ruled the event as misadventure and will not launch an investigation.
Residents in the area, including neighbor Toby Alexander, recounted feeling the impact of the explosion, with Alexander expressing shock over the intensity of the noise. Approximately 20 people gathered outside, observing the aftermath of the incident, which left the boat trailer visibly damaged.
According to Alexander, the victim, who is also the owner of the boat and residence, appeared to be in shock, while his wife was visibly distressed. The man had reportedly filled up his boat that morning and was performing maintenance work before planning to go fishing, leaving debris scattered around the property in the aftermath of the explosion.