A PAKENHAM man had a lucky escape when a gas bottle blew up in his face on Australia Day. The 58-year-old man was leaning over the nine-kilogram bottle when it unexpectedly exploded.
Advanced life support and intensive care paramedics were called to the scene just before 12.30pm.
Paramedic Jo Algie said they found the man soothing his burns in a cool shower. "He had about 8 per cent superficial burns to his arms and face, including his eyelids.
"Obviously he was in a severe amount of pain and because of the burns he was having difficulty moving his arms."
"Despite having burns he had become quite cold after being in a cool shower for about 20 minutes, so we had to warm him up again with a blanket."
The man was taken to Dandenong Hospital in a stable condition.
"This man was incredibly lucky not to have suffered more serious burns or other injuries in the blast," Ms Algie said.
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