A man refuelling his boat at the Gull Petrol Station in Paengaroa is in serious condition after being caught in an explosion.
The 45-year-old was fuelling his boat at the station around 4.30pm when the fuel ignited, resulting in an explosion.
This boat caught fire when a man was refuelling at Gull in Paengaroa. Photos: Erina Crichton. See more photos of the boat on fire below.
The boat was completely gutted by the fire. Photo: Supplied.
'The man received serious burns to legs, arms and abdomen and was treated at the scene before being flown to Waikato hospital for further treatment,” says Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter spokesperson Todd Dunham.
'The boat was towed from the forecourt to a safe area where it was totally destroyed by the fire.”
Maketu Fire Brigade responded to control the fire and secured a landing area for the helicopter.
Todd says the helicopter was called due to the nature of the man's injuries.
How the fuel ignited is still under investigation.
5 comments
How?
Posted on 31-01-2015 08:13 | By freedomkiwis
How does that happen? Was he smoking or what? I didn't think fuel could just explode like that?
.
Posted on 31-01-2015 08:16 | By whatsinaname
I didn't think your allowed to fill directly from the pumps to your boat. .
dur
Posted on 31-01-2015 17:33 | By usandthem
how else are you supposed to fill your boat.
//
Posted on 31-01-2015 23:46 | By alot in a name
reading else were the boat had a under floor fuel tank, how else do you suggest they fill the tank but from the pump? bilge pump or float switch ignition?
Maybe....
Posted on 01-02-2015 00:52 | By GreertonBoy
Boats with inbuilt fuel tanks would benefit from an aviation style 'earth wire/clip) so the boat and the pump are the same polarity? Not all boats have removable petrol tanks, whatsinaname, so they can only be filled directly. It only takes one static spark to ignite fuel vapour, especially when the vapour is hanging in the floor of the boat. This is a terrible outcome for the boaty, I hope he recovers quickly, my best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.
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