FATAL PETROL FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 7

FATAL PETROL FIRE

BENZINE DRUM EXPLODES MAN AND YOUTH LOSE LIVES A man and a youth were fatally burned when o> drum of pel rol ignited and exploded while a motor-truck vns being refuelled at Goon.liwindi, Queensland, recently. The victims of the accident were:—Keith Bell, aged 17, a son of Mr. W. Bell, contractor, of Goor.diwindi, and George Donovan, aged 65, of Clifton.

Bell, who was employed at a road construction camp, accompanied by Mir. X.. Cook, started to get his truck ready for work the following morning. They were working with, a hurricane lamp, which was placed about 14ft. from the tiuc'K. Bell opened a drum of petrol, which al-. most immediately burst- into flames, which enveloped Bell, 'lie ran about 20 yards, with his clothes in flames, and collapsed. Other men rushed to his assistance. with blankets and smothered the flames as quickly as possible, - ■ George Donovan, ono of the men who was attending to Bell, saw that his-ten was about to catch fire.. He rushed save it.. After getting his belongings out of the tent, he tried to pull it down. As lie was standing with his bactc o the blazing drum it exploded, and was sprayed with blazing pefiol. - clothes became a mass of flames. v were smothered by his mates with blaa ambulance and a doctor were summoned, and were met along the road with tt.A uitients The men were admitted to ILo district hospital, where; they died »o_ a few houi'3. .. •