18 Months Old Child Injured in River Thames Boat Explosion

Nine people including of which an eighteen month toddler were injured as a classic cabin cruiser exploded near the town of Lechlade, on the edge of Wiltshire, River Thames on mid-day of Saturday 31 May.  The boat exploded first and then went ablaze as Thames Valley and Hampshire and Isle of Wight repsonded with two air ambulances and six road ambulances, with fire engines from Gloucestershire constabulary, Thames Valley police, Wiltshire police and the Ministry of Defence police were also called to the scene, in a huge emergency response.  The eighteen month toddler which was reported to have life changing injuries was flown to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children for urgent medical care.  The other eight persons were taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, with two of them still under observation.  The Police also mentioned the heroics of two passers-by from Wales who jumped in the water to save the lives of those who could not swim.  The cause of the explosion is not reported, with the boat reported to be a liveaboard of a family.

The boat in this explosion and fire is a Marine Projects Pilgrim 30 as produced from 1968 to 1970.  The Pilgrim 30 came out as a replacement to the Project 31, and was replaced by the Princess 32, which debuted the famous name of the British boat builder in 1969.