Father narrowly escapes death after oil refinery explosion

A Western Australian father of two narrowly escaped death on Saturday night after a frightening workplace explosion.

Jeffery Ponio, 44, was working at an oil refinery near Bunbury, south of Perth, when a piece of machinery exploded in front of him, 7 News reported. 

The blast was so powerful he was thrown into the air, and his injuries so severe he has no recollection of the blast. 

A Western Australian father-of-two is lucky to be alive following a powerful blast at the oil refinery where he works

A Western Australian father-of-two is lucky to be alive following a powerful blast at the oil refinery where he works

Jeffery Ponio, 44, was trying to start a thermal heater when it exploded, sending him flying

Jeffery Ponio, 44, was trying to start a thermal heater when it exploded, sending him flying

Mr Ponio was trying to start a thermal heater at work when the machine exploded. 

‘We tried to start it, and that’s the last thing I remember,’ he said.

‘I’m lucky to be alive.’ 

The man’s life was saved only by the fact he was wearing a safety helmet at the time. 

His injuries are severe, and had he not been wearing a safety helmet, it's likely he would have died

His injuries are severe, and had he not been wearing a safety helmet, it’s likely he would have died

Dr Dieter Weber, a trauma surgeon at the Royal Perth Hospital, said his patient had ‘considerable injuries’.

These included fractures to his ankle, spine and shoulder blades.

The Western Australian man will now need to undergo months of rehabilitation before he is able to return to work.   

Mr Ponio will require months of rehabilitation before he is able to return to work

Mr Ponio will require months of rehabilitation before he is able to return to work



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk