2 people injured at Camp Bestival in gas stove explosion

Warnings about the dangers of cooking inside your tent were highlighted last weekend when two people suffered serious injuries after a fireball engulfed their tent at Dorset's Camp Bestival.

The explosion happened when a gas stove leaked and was ignited by another stove nearby. A crew of firefighters was sent to the scene but it had already been extinguished by the on-site fire service. A woman was airlifted to a specialist burns unit with injuries described as 'life-changing' according to the BBC, and a man was taken to hospital by ambulance.

A spokesperson for Dorset Fire and Rescue repeated that festival goers should "never take a cooking set into a tent. Not only is there a huge fire risk also potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Be safe and keep cooking well away from tents."

A spokesperson for Camp Bestival stated to the BBC that following this incident further safety messages and briefings had been put into place to reinforce fire safety practices, and everyone at Camp Bestival wished both persons a speedy recovery.

eFestivals reminds all festival goers that you should never take a portable barbecue, lit charcoal, or gas stove whilst in use into an enclosed space like a tent or caravan for risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and that you should always cook outside your tent. 

Those using generators should ensure the fumes are properly vented away from occupied areas. 

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, highly poisonous gas that can kill in minutes. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be caused by ANY fuel that burns or smoulders.

The symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning to look out for are a mild headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and drowsiness.

The sixth Camp Bestival was headlined by Richard Hawley, Levellers, and Labrinth and also featured Ash, The Proclaimers, Billy Bragg, I Am Kloot, DJ Yoda, Mark Owen, Gabrielle Aplin, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, The Cuban Brothers, Musical Youth, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Fresh (Live), Heaven 17, The Polyphonic Spree, Nik Kershaw, dan le sac v Scroobius Pip, Beardyman, The Wurzels and many more. 

eFestivals was at last weekend's Camp Bestival and will be bringing you our review and photos of the event later this week.