Man injured in Tardebigge explosion

A MAN had a lucky escape this morning (Friday) when he was caught up in an explosion on a canal boat he was working on in Tardebigge.

He suffered just a suspected fractured leg in the incident, which happened while he was carrying out some welding work on the vessell.

It happened at around 11.30am in a dry dock area of the Worcester and Birmingham canal off the Alcester Road, Tardebigge.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeperson confirmed two ambulances and an incident support officer attended the scene and took the man, who was in his 20s, to the Alexandra Hospital.

Fire fighters, who were originally told it was a fire on a narrowboat, made the scene safe, ensuring the welding equipment had been switched off.

Station Commander Ian Jallands from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It would seem that fumes from the boat’s diesel tank ignited as the man was welding, causing the explosion.”

He reminded anyone using welding or cutting equipment to be vigilant, and to avoid using the equipment anywhere near flammable substances.