Child and two adults burnt after gas explosion on boat near Willow Walk in Ely

A child and two adults have been taken to hospital with burns to their hands and faces after a gas explosion on a boat in Ely.

Fire crews and paramedics arrived on the scene near Willow Walk at around 8.49am today to find that a gas cylinder had exploded on a boat which was on the River Great Ouse. A woman, man and child have since been taken to hospital.

“Three casualties required treatment for burns and were taken to hospital by ambulance,” said a Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service spokesman.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We got a call at 8.45am to reports of a female, male and child being burned in Willow Walk, Ely, on the River Ouse.

“They’re all alive. They have burnt their hands and faces. We are not sure about the extent of the injuries.

“We dispatched an ambulance crew, officer, rapid response vehicles, and a hazard area response team - as well as our East Anglian Air Ambulance to the scene.

“The patients are now on their way to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for further treatment.”

Paul Separovic, who works for Environment Agency Anglia as part of the Waterways Team, tweeted: “Ongoing incident on the #RiverGreatOuse #ElyOuse on the #ElyWaterfront at present.

“There has been an explosion and resulting fire on board a river cruiser.

“All emergency services and air ambulance are on scene and we are liaising with them, area is sealed off, please avoid at present.”

One fire crew from Ely, three from Cambridge and one from Newmarket were called to the incident.

After ensuring the area was safe, the crews returned to their stations by 10.30am.