A MAN setting fire to a bonfire was engulfed in flames and had to be rushed to hospital with serious burns by the air ambulance last week.

The clothes of John Riley, 38, of Tebay, caught fire when fuel exploded and flashed back at him a Lakeland Trucks, Lodge Quarry, Carnforth.

The HGV fitter was engulfed in flames and two work colleagues ran to his aid rolling him to the ground and wrapping him in a wet towel.

Part-time firefighters from Carnforth fire station were first on the scene and treated Mr Riley before the air ambulance arrived.

He was stabilised before being flown to the burns unit at Royal Preston Hospital where he is said to be in a serious condition. North West Air Ambulance was already in the air having been to a road traffic accident when they got a call to go to a petrol explosion at Carnforth. They arrived at the scene within 11 minutes.

A spokesman said: "The patient received treatment from the air ambulance paramedic crew and a land ambulance paramedic crew. The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were also on scene when the air ambulance arrived. Quick thinking paramedics stabilised the patient at the scene, and then airlifted the patient to Royal Preston Hospital, which has a burns unit. The journey from the scene to the hospital took just 15 minutes."

Operations Manager for the Air Ambulance, Wayne Ashton, added: "This incident is just one of many missions that demonstrate the great benefits of the Air Ambulance service. The compact size of the Bolkow 105 Helicopter enabled the pilot to land outside the workshop were the patient was located and this help reduce the time it took to get the patient to hospital. It's so important that we raise the funds to ensure the service is not reduced to five days."