Irish patient dies after ambulance explodes outside hospital (photos)

An Irish patient lost his life yesterday after an ambulance he was in exploded outside a General hospital.

The man, believed to be about 70, was in the back of the ambulance when the explosion happened at about 1.30pm outside Naas General Hospital. Two paramedics were also burned in the fireball, which may have ignited after an oxygen tank exploded in the back of the ambulance.

An eyewitness told how she heard a ‘big, loud bang’ and saw bits of debris flying in the air from the explosion:

‘I just heard a bang, a big loud bang and when I looked outside there was a big plume of smoke billowing in the air.

‘The whole ambulance burst into flames from what I could see. The bits were flying all over the place and breaking off. For everyone inside A&E it was very scary because the flames from the ambulance were blowing towards the front door entrance.’

‘The doors on the ambulance were open and facing the A&E doors, so it looks as if they were about to take him (patient) out but unfortunately this didn’t happen.

‘I’m very shaken from the incident because that bang just rang out and then the smell of the flames. God love him and the ambulance crew injured.’