HONOLULU — A patient died and a paramedic was seriously injured when the ambulance they were in caught fire after a possible explosion in Hawaii.
The 91-year-old patient and one EMT were in the back of the ambulance when an apparent explosion tore through it, Hawaii News Now reported. It happened as the ambulance was arriving at Adventist Castle Health hospital.
“We had an ambulance tonight for reasons we don’t understand catch on fire, possibly explode, prior to entering the hospital,” Dr. Jim Ireland, Honolulu’s emergency services director, told The Associated Press.
The paramedic who was in the back of the ambulance with the patient was identified only as an 8-year veteran of the city, HNN reported.
The paramedic was initially treated at the hospital before being transferred to another emergency room at the Straub Burn Unit, the AP reported.
“We ask for everyone’s prayers and thoughts for the family of the patient that’s deceased and for the paramedic that’s been injured in the line of duty,” Chris Sloman, acting chief of emergency medical services, told HNN.
The Honolulu Fire Department is investigating what started the fire, the AP reported.
Witness video shared with HNN showed thick smoke pouring out of the ambulance as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.
“All our paramedics, EMTs and dispatchers are all treasured members of our staff or family, they save lives every day, and it’s just very hard to be in a situation where our team is the ones who are injured. I’ll leave it at that,” Ireland told the AP. “Please pray for him.”