Eyewitness to Upton Marina boats fire says 'It is lucky no one died'

A WOMAN who was just feet away from a gas tank explosion at Upton Marina has said it is lucky that no-one died.

People were thrown from a boat by the explosion and a woman was later airlifted to hospital and two others were treated for injuries after the blaze.

“I live on one of the boats, and I could not believe it when I saw the thick, black smoke,” the eyewitness said.

“It was toxic smoke, intense heat. The first boat was on fire and after freeing from its moorings, it drifted and crashed into another boat that caught fire.

“Then suddenly the wind changed, and there was four on fire.

“It was scary, I was worried gas canisters would be going off all over the place. I knew we had to get out of there, and we were evacuated.”

The woman, who did not want to be named, was on a nearby boat and filmed the unfolding drama.

“I have heard the woman was selling the boat, when the explosion happened and she was thrown off the boat,” she said.

“We are a tight knit community here, it has come as a big shock. It could have been a lot worse, someone could have died - it is lucky really. Lessons will be learned from this.

“The emergency services were brilliant - but it shows the importance of fire safety. We definitely need some kind of emergency water pump.”

In total the Worcester News understands three boats were completely destroyed, and another two sank.

Her videos capture the dramatic moments as alarms go off, there are shouts before the fire spreads and emergency service arrive. The video also shows people running as there are loud explosions, before it turns into a fire ball.

Another woman in her 60s was taken to hospital for less serious injuries.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We were called to reports of patients who had suffered burns after a fire and an explosion.

“On arrival ambulance staff found three patients who had come off one boat and who had been injured.”

An Upton Marina spokesman was unavailable for comment.