Australian Peter Carman caught up in Paris gas explosion now fighting for life in a coma 

An Australian man is fighting for life in France after a huge explosion tore through the fashion school he works at.

Peter Carman is the president of the Paris American Academy and was responding to a suspected gas leak at the renowned rue Saint-Jacques street on June 21. 

He was trying to shut off the power at the small arts school after staff had noticed a strange smell spreading through the building. 

The Perth-born man, originally from Cottesloe, was one of the worst injured in the accident and is now in a medically induced coma with severe and extensive burns. 

The explosion injured an estimated 58 people and killed at least one. 

Mr Carman was trying to shut off the power at the small fashion and arts school before the explosion injured an estimated 58 people and killed at least one (pictured Paris American Academy June 21)

‘Peter is the true soul of the Paris American Academy,’ Colleague Marcello Fantoni told the West Australian.

‘The school is his life and his family. His kind touch transpires in everything that he does.

‘I wholeheartedly wish he will soon be back leading the school and continuing the beautiful projects he developed.’

Kent State University in the US, which had students studying in the academy at the time, also released a statement regarding Mr Carmen’s devastating situation.

‘Many among us are taking the news about Peter very, very hard. He has been an exemplary partner and invaluable Kent State supporter for many years,’ the statement read.

‘He embodies our values of kindness and respect. In fact, everyone associated with Kent State’s activities in Paris with whom I’ve spoken over the past week has noted that Peter is one of the kindest and most considerate people they know.’

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in France has confirmed that they are working to provide consular assistance to Mr Carman’s family during the ordeal. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in France has confirmed that they are working to provide consular assistance to Mr Carman’s family during the ordeal

Flames emerged from the destruction and rubble in the immediate aftermath of an explosion in a building on Rue Saint-Jacques

The explosion in Paris wrought havoc throughout the city and left four people critically injured.

An initial fire was ignited near Paris’ Left Bank, which sent smoke soaring over the city and prompted evacuations.

Buildings throughout the rue Saint-Jacques had partially collapsed as emergency workers rushed in and tried to save anyone who was caught in the wreckage.

The fire was contained within hours and pedestrian traffic has returned to parts of the street.

The building that housed the Paris American Academy, which is a private school, was hardest hit in the explosion.

The school was founded in 1965 and offers teaching in fashion design, interior design, fine arts and creative writing.

Mr Carman began working at the academy in Paris in the 1970s as a registrar after meeting the then-director.

In a throwback social media post, Mr Carman had said that he had loved his job ever since.

‘The excitement of this multimedia arts involvement has never failed to be a constant source of inspiration to the participants of this school as well as myself,’ he wrote.