A boat engine explosion near the Victoria-New South Wales border has left a man in his 30s and five children injured, with a young girl airlifted to hospital. The incident occurred at Robinvale Riverside Caravan Park, approximately 470km northwest of Melbourne, shortly before 10:30am on Wednesday.
Police and paramedics responded to reports of a fire on a boat carrying the man and five children aged between eight and 13. All six sustained burns, with one girl suffering upper body injuries. She was flown to Melbourne by air ambulance in a stable condition.
The remaining five patients—the man, two other girls, and two boys—were taken by ambulance to Mildura Base Hospital with burns to their hands, arms, and legs. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening, and all patients are in a stable condition.
An investigation into the explosion is underway by officers from the Barrier police district. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the blast.
