ONE PERSON has been airlifted to hospital and two others injured after an explosion and a fire on a pleasure boat on Upton-upon-Severn.
The incident happened at 12.19pm and six fire crews in engines and two in rescue boats from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and Gloucestershire FRS were sent to the scene.
The blaze started in one boat and spread to four others and the HWFRS drone was deployed to provide vital information on the fire because of concerns about gas cylinders on the vessels going up.
Two ambulances, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Stresham, the Hazardous Area Response Team and three paramedic officers were sent to the scene.
Patients suffered burns following the blaze which began on one boat and spread to two others.
Picture courtesy of Malvern Police. s
A woman in her 60s was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in a serious condition.
A man in his 30s was taken by ambulance to the same hospital with less serious injuries.
A second woman in her 60s was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further treatment.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “On arrival ambulance staff found three patients who had come off one boat and who had been injured.”
He added the Hazardous Area Response Team are remaining at the site until the fire service have got the fires under control.”
Local residents were asked to close doors and windows while the fire was at its height, although this advice had now lifted.
HWFRS is working with partner agencies to minimise any pollution in the water of the marina.
Fire officers are now investigating the cause of the fire.
Group Commander Mick Cadman of HWFRS has reminded boat owners that during hot weather fuel needed to be handled with extra care as fuel vapours were highly flammable.
By 4pm the crews were still in attendance, but activity was being scaled down.
