Investigation into blast may take weeks

From the Echo, first published Thursday 12th May 2005.

THE INVESTIGATION into an explosion on a Poole industrial estate could take weeks.

Police, the government's Health and Safety Executive and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service are looking into whether the company Reliance scrap metal merchants in Nuffield Road, Nuffield Estate, is to be prosecuted for the blast on Monday.

A 64-year-old man from Poole died from his injuries following the explosion and a 50-year-old man remains in a life-threatening condition at the burns unit of Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, Sussex.

Both were working on the two oxygen cylinders when they exploded at about 8.45am.

About 150 people from 10 surrounding businesses were evacuated in the morning and a 200m no-entry zone was placed around the scrap yard until about 2.30pm on Monday.

It is believed the 50-year-old is a partner in the recycled scrap metal business. The identity of the 64-year-old has still not been released.

First published: May 12

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