Burn victim speaks out
Appeal for boaters to be aware of fire hazardsTransport Safety Victoria (TSV) and burns victim Leah Ryan are appealing to all boaters to fire proof their vessels before they head out.
Leah received second-degree burns to 15 per cent of her body and spent three days in hospital last November following a flash fire on a boat that was being restarted on Lake Eppalock, Victoria. Her pregnant friend did not require hospitalisation, however she did suffer burns to her upper arm and lips.
Leah is the human face behind TSV's incident statistics that show there have been four boat explosions and two boat fires on Lake Eppalock since January 2009.
"The motor wouldn't start and we tried quite a few times. We flooded the engine and a fire ball, caused by fuel vapours in the hull igniting, came out and I was right in its path.
"The experience was very traumatic. I went into shock and was just screaming -- I was unable to calm down for a while after it happened.
"We now have an air blower to prevent vapour build up and I insist the engine bay is checked before each trip to look for anything unusual, such as loose connections, and check for fumes.
"I know vibrations can cause fuel leaks so it is also important to check before restarting your boat for the return trip to shore," Leah said.
Meanwhile in NSW, two people were recently injured after an explosion in the Lake Macquarie area.
About 10.30am on Saturday February 15, police were called to reports of an explosion on a boat at a yacht club in Toronto.
Police were told an explosion occurred on a 30ft boat, injuring two people.
A 38-year-old woman suffered burns and two fractured ankles, while a 40-year-old man suffered burns and a possible fractured ankle.
TSV spokesperson Paul Corkill said that all boaters should learn from these and other frightening experiences and take simple precautions to avoid encountering similar issues.
"Most vessel fires start from electrical problems or immediately after re-fuelling," he said.
Mr Corkill said there were some simple precautions that boaters could take to reduce the risk of fire on a boat:
>> Have your fuel and electrical systems checked regularly by qualified people
>> Make sure that there are no passengers on board when refuelling or restarting after refuelling
>> Keep your fire extinguisher in good order and place it in a conspicuous and easily accessible location on the vessel."
For more information about fire safety, visit the Fire Safety section of the TSV website: http://www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety/recreational-maritime/fire-safety
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