A MAN seriously injured in an explosion on a Poole industrial estate, which killed his good friend, has recovered enough to speak to his family.

David Matthews, 53, from Poole, is still in the high dependency unit of Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, recovering from the blast.

He was transferred there with serious burns when a gas cylinder he and his colleague Tomas Mooney, 60, were working on at Reliance scrap yard, on the Nuffield Estate, burst into flames and flew into the air on the morning of May 9.

Mr Mooney died in Poole Hospital less than six hours after the explosion, from 93 per cent burns. Mr Matthews' 52-year-old wife, Ros, said: "David is confused and upset but is now able to talk with members of the family.

"He is saddened by the death of Tommy, who was more like a family member than a colleague.

"I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the many well-wishers who have contacted us with their support, and to thank all of the staff on the ITU at the Queen Victoria Hospital," Mrs Matthews added.

Around 150 people had to be evacuated from businesses on the Nuffield Estate due to the explosion.

Inspector Adrian King, of Dorset Police, told the Daily Echo at the time that the fire, which resulted in a four-foot segment of an oxygen cylinder flying into the air and landing around 50 metres away, started during a metal recycling process.

Police, the government's health and safety executive and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service are investigating the blast to decide whether Reliance scrap metal is to be prosecuted.

First published: May 20