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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Bill Bowkett

Nine injured and rushed to hospital, including baby, after residential boat on River Thames ‘explodes’

Nine people, including a baby, have been injured after a boat "exploded" and burst into flames on the River Thames.

Police said the blaze near Lechlade, a town at the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, occurred just before 12pm on Saturday.

A section of the river was closed and inquiries were ongoing. The severity of the injuries is not yet known.

Witnesses reported hearing a “loud bang” followed by plumes of smoke engulfing the boat.

Wiltshire 999s claimed that a baby was among the injured and admitted to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Another victim was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, while two people are understood to have been discharged.

Several fire engines rushed to help put out the fire, which was reportedly caused by an “explosion”.

Officers from several units, including Gloucestershire Constabulary, Thames Valley Police, Wiltshire Police and the Ministry of Defence Police, were also at the scene.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “We responded to a reported fire on a residential boat in the River Thames near Lechlade just before midday on Saturday (May 31).

“Nine people sustained injuries and were transported to hospital.

“A section of the river was closed and enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing.”

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