- Gas canister exploded on dredging boat south of Dodman Point in Cornwall
- Royal Navy, RNLI and Coastguard scrambled to deal with incident this afternoon
- Injured pair evacuated to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon; their condition is not yet known
Two people have been injured after a gas canister exploded on a dredging boat two miles off the south-west coast.
The Royal Navy, RNLI and coastguard were scrambled to deal with the incident south of Dodman Point in Cornwall.
The RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched at around 1pm this afternoon and is at the scene.
Two people have been injured after a gas canister exploded on a dredging boat (pictured) two miles off the south-west coast today. Above, the Coastguard at the scene, south of Dodman Point in Cornwall
The two casualties are being evacuated to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon. The condition of the injured pair is not yet known
The Royal Navy and RNLI were also scrambled to deal with the incident this afternoon
It is evacuating the casualties to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon, with the assistance of the coastguard helicopter.
The condition of the injured pair is not yet known.
A compressed air cylinder is believed to have been responsible for the blast.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said: ‘UK Coastguard is currently responding to reports of a vessel explosion two nautical miles south of Dodman Point, Cornwall.
A compressed air cylinder is believed to have been responsible for the blast
Dodman’s Point lies near Mevagissey, between the Polperro and Roseland Heritage Coast areas in Cornwall. Above, the Coastguard at the scene
‘Just before 1pm today, UK Coastguard received a call from a dredging vessel reporting that they’d had an explosion on board.
‘The Newquay Coastguard helicopter and the Falmouth RNLI Lifeboat are currently on the scene evacuating the casualties to Derriford Hospital.
‘A Royal Navy Fleet Auxiliary ship and a Fishery Protection vessel are also on scene assisting.’
Dodman’s Point lies near Mevagissey, between the Polperro and Roseland Heritage Coast areas in Cornwall.