CLOTHES ABLAZE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22424, 21 May 1936, Page 10

CLOTHES ABLAZE

SPRAYED WITH PETBOI ■■ ■ I !■ TANK OF LORRY EXPLODES RESULT OF ENGINE BACKFIRE TWO INJURED. ONE SEVERELY [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT! Hastings, Wedne»d», An explosion caused by the backfiring of the engine of a lorry Wa j responsible for very serious injuries to Mr. Thomas Smith, aged 23, mar. ried, of Murdoch Road, Hastings, and less serious injuries to Mr. David Tay. lor, aged 23, of Fitzroy Avenue* Hastings, yesterday afternoon. ' The lorry, owned by Mr. P. Lowe of Hastings, was engaged in carting metal from a pit, and the engine back, fired, with the result that the vehicle burst into flames. At the same moment another lorry, driven by Mr. Smith arrived at the pit and, seeing the flames, Mr. Smith, in company with Mr. Taylor, at onco secured some dirt with the idea of throwing it on to the flames. When Mr. Smith reached the burn, ing lorry, however, there was an ex. plosion in the petrol tank, which had about nine gallons of petrol in it. An end of the tank was blown out and the whole of the blazing contents sprayed over Mr. Smith, who was lifted several feet into the air by the force of the explosion. His clothing caught fire and Mr. Taylor was also badly burned. Assistance was at once given, but Mr. Smith was in a very serious state, being burned from the hips upward. After receiving first-aid he was wrapped in a tent-fly and both men were quickly brought into the Memorial Hospital at Hastings. Mr. Smith's condition is still very serious, but Mr. Taylor was not so severely injured.