Man ‘critically injured’ in boat explosion on River Thames near Faringdon

A man was ‘critically injured’ in a boat explosion near Faringdon on Saturday (10 June).

There was a major emergency services response to the incident in Buckland Marsh, four miles from Faringdon, following reports of numerous casualties in the River Thames.

It’s understood the engine of a small boat (pictured) exploded and as a result, three people were thrown from the vessel – which was situated about 500 metres downstream of Tadpole Bridge.

Thames Valley Air Ambulance, four ambulance crews, an incident commander and a paramedic team leader were sent to the scene by South Central Ambulance Service.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue crews from Faringdon, Witney, Kidlington, Burford, Bampton and Abingdon also attended – using specialist equipment to remove the wounded people from the water.

Urgent treatment was provided to the causalities – who all sustained injuries. One man sustained severe burns to his body and is currently being treated in intensive care.

The man was initially taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford but later transferred to the internationally-renowned St Andrews Burns Centre in Essex for specialist care.

Another man sustained serious burns to his hands, whilst another person suffered minor burns.

After firefighters extinguished the boat blaze, it sunk and hazmat and environmental protection officers provided support in relation to minimising the impact on the waterway.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by specialist fire investigators.