Fuel explosion at Greenpeace in Auckland burns man

A man working at a Greenpeace workshop in Auckland has been taken to hospital with severe burns after sparks from an angle grinder caused fuel to explode on a boat he was working on today.

The man, understood to be a contractor, was working on the rigid-hull inflatable boat at a workshop in the Greenpeace offices in Mt Eden, central Auckland, when residual fuel at the bottom of the vessel ignited and exploded on him, Gary Lane, senior station officer at Auckland Central Fire Station, told NZPA.

The man suffered burns to his hands, legs and face and was put under a cold shower by his co-workers to relieve the considerable pain before an ambulance arrived, Mr Lane said.

The explosion had also started a fire on the boat, but this was extinguished by the time fire officers arrived about 3.30pm.

"Petrol's very volatile and the slightest spark can cause what can be like an explosion," Mr Lane said.

"Whenever you work around fuel you've got to be so careful that you keep sparks away from any kind of fuel, especially petrol because it's so volatile."

- NZPA