A TORREVIEJA Hospital patient suffered second and third degree burns after going for an illegal cigarette with sparks from lighter causing his oxygen cylinder to explode.
The blast- shortly after noon on Friday- led to a precautionary evacuation of the facility’s second floor,
Another patient was taken to the hospital’s ICU to be treated for smoke inhalation.
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A dozen hospital staff including cleaners and security workers also suffered as a result of the smoke.
Around 90 patients had to be relocated as a result of the incident
The blast and resultant fire happened in room 277 of the hospital on the second floor.
A man with a portable oxygen cylinder wanted to smoke a cigarette and left his cubicle to go into another room.
A spark from his lighter caused the explosion.
The seriousness of the 40 per cent burns across his body meant that he taken by helicopter to Valencia’s La Fe Hospital which has a specialist burns unit.
Six fire crews from Torrevieja and Orihuela attended the scene.
The blaze was brought under control at 1.20pm and the incident was declared to be over at 7pm.
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