Father critical in ICU after gas explosion

Doctors said Mr Josef van Rooyen would have a 50/50 chance at recovering from the explosion that scorched his skin and burnt his lungs.

A Sunday lunch turned into a horror scene when the prime of a gas cylinder blew off at the Van Rooyen’s home in Tasbet Park Extension 2.

“My son heard the explosion and was one of many neighbours that called the ambulance, fearing the worst,” said Ms Sisra Botha, a neighbour and friend to the Van Rooyens.

On Sunday, March 26 Van Rooyen had just started the potjie on a larger gas cylinder and wanted to cook on the smaller cylinder which was just filled on Friday March 25.

Mr Josef van Rooyen suffered severe burns after the gas cylinder head came off.

“I told him we should clean the primer head first before starting on the smaller one, he closed the tap and started unscrewing the primer and that’s when it happened,” said Mr Phillip van Rooyen, his father-in-law.

Van Rooyen slowly undid the primer unaware of what was about to unfold.

A loud explosion was heard as the cylinder prime shot off, the gas had caught flame from the nearby gas bottle already alight from the potjie. The primer ricocheted around the outside stoep coming to a standstill as everything in close proximity was scorched and the windows to the outside room shattered, and Van Rooyen was set alight.

“He ran to the front yard and started rolling around trying to put out the flames,” recalled his wife, Hannelie, still traumatised over what had happened.

Neighbours called for ambulances to tend to Van Rooyen who suffered severe burns to his entire upper body. He was soon taken to Witbank Hospital where his wounds were tended to.

The prime shot off from the gas cylinder.

On Monday March 27, his wife visited him in hospital to check on his condition.

“We visited in the morning and afternoon and gave consent that the doctors may operate on Tuesday. He has a tube down his throat and is heavily sedated,” said his wife.

She added that the doctor said his lungs were badly damaged and due to him being a smoker his chances of recovery are a lot worse.

“We filled that gas bottle on Friday, its only the second time it has been filled, the previous time was about three months ago,” said his wife.

The family now seeks answers as to why the gas bottle’s primer shot off if it had been properly sealed on refilling.

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https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/20140/mini-substation-explodes/

https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/85847/life-cosmos-hospital-is-adding-a-new-icu/