Burns victim may need grafts

Don Bayliss strives to put out his ute fire.

Popular Te Puke identity Don Bayliss, who suffered serious burns after a petrol can exploded in his ute, will be transferred to the Waikato Hospital burns unit this week.

The Papamoa man, 63, suffered moderate burns to his arms, face and neck during the Saturday morning explosion.

Mr Bayliss told the Bay of Plenty Times last night he expected to be transferred so specialists could assess whether he required skin grafts.

He had been working in his Te Puke-based Don Bayliss Clothing store for several hours when he left to take the petrol to the family orchard. The can exploded when he started the ute.

"I had no warning and the blast blew the back window out first," he said.

Mr Bayliss' hair caught fire but he managed to retrieve a fire extinguisher from his store.

"But because of the burns on my neck I did not have the strength to start it," he said.

He then reversed the vehicle away from the building and urged the owner of a neighbouring car to move it and tried to use a hose to put the fire out, but it was too fierce. A group of about 60 people soon formed. Some went to his aid and "lots of people ran away", fearing further blasts.

Mr Bayliss had been inundated with cards, flowers, and texts from well-wishers. His wife, Cushla, said Tauranga Hospital nurses and doctors had been "absolutely amazing".

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.