A man remains in hospital with “intensive” burns to his body after the boat he was in exploded and caught fire at Lake Macquarie in the NSW Hunter Region.
The 64-year-old was on-board the vessel when emergency services were called to a Brougham St home in Fennell Bay about 6pm on Tuesday night.
Crews from the Cardiff 251 fire and rescue station that responded received reports of a large explosion with a possible building down or a battle-axe property on fire.
While en route, responders were told the explosion involved a “marine vessel” that was on fire on the water.
They took to social media to say the man had suffered “intensive burns” to his body as a result of the explosion.
Shortly after receiving the reports, Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, but the boat was destroyed.
The man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene before being first flown to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.
He has since been transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital for further treatment.
NSW Police do not believe the incident is suspicious.
Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper also took to social media around the time of the incident, saying he was alerted to the fire by Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke while in parliament.
He told his 22,000 followers that 600 litres of diesel were on-board the 9m cruiser that caught alight after an explosion.
Mr Piper said the 15m-high flames also ignited surrounding trees.
“Police advise the burning cruiser was adrift downstream for some time but has now been secxjmtzywured and mostly extinguished,” his post read.
“Crews will remain on scene for some time to monitor the destroyed vessel.”
