By Bridget Brady
A CRANBOURNE mother feared the worst when her son was left with lacerations to his face after an explosion at his Devon Meadows property.
Nigel Ellis, 50, was thrown several feet across his barn on 27 December when fumes from a drum caused an explosion when he was welding.
His mother, Margaret Ellis, said she received a call from his wife to come to their home in the middle of the day because Mr Ellis had an accident.
“I got the shock of my life,” Mrs Ellis said.
“I got the message to say, ‘come over, Nigel has had an accident, we need you to look after the children’.
“I immediately thought of his eyes with welding and the sparks but never in a million years would I have thought it would be anything like this.
“I got there and saw the ambulance and that was a shock. Of course, my mind went to the worst.”
Mrs Ellis said it was distressing for her grandchildren at the time because Mr Ellis’s six-year-old daughter ran out when she heard the explosion and found her father.
“She ran out the door and he was covered in blood so it was shocking for her. They’re fine now.”
The father of three received lacerations to his forehead and nose, and fractures to his face.
Mrs Ellis said her son had just completed his work and put his welder down when the explosion occurred.
“He had just finished (welding) and put it down and the upside down drum had a residue of paint on it or something like that. The heat had built up and caused a vacuum while he was welding.
“He was welding the floor of a horse float and it hit him in the face.”
Devon Meadows Fire Brigade captain Andrew Swain attended the scene on the day and said Mr Ellis used the empty 44-gallon drums as a stand for his work.
“Even though they are empty, the drums can still have residue or vapours in there.
“He (Mr Ellis) had the presence of mind to roll the drum out and it was extinguished by the time we got there.”
Two Devon Meadows units attended the property at 12.36pm, along with ambulance and police.
Mrs Ellis, who described her son as “very, very careful”, said neighbours heard the explosion.
“He was wearing all the safety gear but he was very lucky that he was let off so lightly, we just cannot believe it. He has some nice black eyes, but shocking headaches.”
Mrs Ellis said she wanted to thank the emergency crews who helped her son on the day for their promptness and attention. “Especially JJ of Devon Meadows fire unit…we cannot fault them.”
He is expected to make a full recovery, Mrs Ellis said.
A plastic surgeon and eye specialist have treated Mr Ellis for his injuries.
Right: Nigel Ellis received stitches from the tip of his nose and across his forehead after a welding explosion.
