VIC:Man dies after van explosion=2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2011
VIC:Man dies after van explosion=2

Paramedic team manager Robert Jaske said the van was still smoking when the ambulance
arrived where the man, a refrigeration mechanic, was already being treated by emergency
workers.

"A Victoria Police officer and two firemen were by the patient, who was unconscious
and critically injured. His injuries were quite extensive and quite severe," Mr Jaske
told reporters at the scene.

"From the waist up there were various penetrating and lacerating injuries to his torso
and head from the blast and flying debris as well as flash burns.

"The burns themselves were not too severe because of the nature of the explosion as
we understand it, but the internal injuries were quite significant.

"He was breathing by himself, but soon after ambulances arrived his heart stopped beating
and it was re-started several times prior to being transported by road to The Alfred hospital."

Mr Jaske said it was lucky nobody else was injured.

"It happened at about 6.50am. If it was later, around school time, there certainly
would have been more people on the streets and the results could have been catastrophic."

He added that paramedics treated members of the man's family at the scene for emotional distress.

Neighbour Bill Cai said the explosion was so violent his house shook.

"We heard a big bang. The house was shaking, it sounded like an explosion. It only
lasted for a second, then we heard helicopters overhead."

Rebecca, who works at the Last Piece Cafe just 200 metres from the scene, said neighbours
poured out into the street.

"There were cops and ambulances and fire brigade and people everywhere and helicopters overhead.

"There were so many people around. It was just such a shock. It's so sad he died."

Emergency crews were called to the scene in Stadium Circuit in Mulgrave just after
6.45am (AEDT) where they discovered debris strewn for hundreds of metres and houses with
their roofs and windows broken by flying metal.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade Commander Andrew O'Connell said the force of the explosion
has been so powerful that it damaged about 15 or 20 homes.

Firefighters found the vehicle's driver suffering from massive injuries and lying in
a nearby garden, Mr O'Connell said.

The explosion appears to have been caused by a leaking gas cylinder in the rear of the van.

"What caused it to explode is still under investigation, but it appears a gas cylinder
of some description leaked into the rear compartment of the vehicle and it ignited when
the gentleman has gone off to work.

"When the vehicle has exploded, debris has been thrown probably about 300 metres away
front the site of the explosion and ... debris appears to have gone through people's front
windows or pierced their roofing.

"It's going to take us a number of hours to find out the full extent of the damage,
at least 150 metres in either direction.

AAP lh/gfr/afr

KEYWORD: VAN 2ND UPDATE 2 MELBOURNE

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