SERIOUS burns were suffered by two men after a van fuel tank exploded.

A 57-year-old man suffered flash burns to his torso and legs whilst a 21-year-old man sustained burns to his hands and arms as well as other superficial burns to his body.

The fuel tank exploded and then caught fire in Gerrards Road, Shipston shortly after 8pm on Thursday (July 28).

A local volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) was approached by the two injured men.

Whilst the CFR provided initial burns care to the two men, the trust’s control room responded two ambulances, a community paramedic and the critical care car from The Air Ambulance Service.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “A 57-year-old man suffered serious flash burns to his torso and legs whilst a 21-year-old man sustained burns to his hands and arms as well as other superficial burns to his body.

"The men’s wounds were carefully covered with cooling burns dressings and were given pain relief to help ease their extreme discomfort.

"Both men were taken by land ambulance on blue lights to the specialist burns centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for onward emergency care.”