SOURCE: Pattaya City News: March 6th 2007

American in critical condition after gas cylinder explodes as he cooks food in his kitchen.

Fire and rescue workers were called to house number 99/333 in Engmonkol Village 4 in Soi Kow Tha Low in the early hours of Tuesday Morning after reports of a gas explosion were reported. At the scene, rescuers dealt with a seriously injured resident of the house, Mr. Radllant Chadwick aged 44 from America who sustained serious burns and is now fighting for his life in the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital.

Fire fighters quickly identified the source of the fire. A Gas cylinder appeared to have exploded in the kitchen. At the time of the explosion, Mr. Chadwick was cooking whilst his 40 year old Wife was sitting in the living room, watching TV. She sustained no injuries.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Tadkum from Banglamung Police Station was called in to investigate the incident and quickly confirmed that the explosion was not considered suspicious in any way. He reported that a faulty gas line was to blame for the explosion which caused an estimated 200,000 Baht’s worth of damage.

its always surprised me that there are so few of these explosions , what with these cylinders and their rubber tubing gas lines being used everywhere and subjected to rough treatment.

hope the poor guy makes a decent recovery.