In what emergency services are calling nothing short of a miracle, a young Sydney woman has survived a catastrophic house explosion that obliterated her rural New South Wales home in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Holly Clarke, 22, was sleeping when her rental property in Cobar, approximately 700 kilometres west of Sydney, suddenly erupted in a massive explosion that reduced the structure to rubble.
Emergency services received the desperate call at approximately 3:15am, with reports of a devastating blast that could be heard across the quiet outback town.
A Desperate Crawl to Safety
Despite suffering severe burns to her arms, back, and legs, Ms Clarke displayed incredible presence of mind and determination. In an act that likely saved her life, she managed to crawl approximately 100 metres from the wreckage of her destroyed home to a neighbour's property to raise the alarm.
'For someone to sustain those sorts of injuries and then have the presence of mind to crawl that distance to get help is nothing short of remarkable,' said NSW Ambulance Inspector David Jones.
Emergency Response and Medical Care
Paramedics arriving at the scene found Ms Clarke in critical condition. They immediately administered advanced pain relief and burn treatment before transporting her to Cobar Hospital.
Due to the severity of her injuries, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to airlift her to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, which houses one of Australia's leading burn units.
Medical professionals confirmed she is currently in a stable condition and receiving specialist care for her extensive burns.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the explosion. While the exact trigger remains unknown, initial assessments suggest a possible gas leak may be responsible for the devastating blast.
Fire and Rescue NSW, along with other emergency services, remain at the scene conducting safety assessments and gathering evidence to determine what caused the tragic incident.
The community of Cobar has rallied around the Clarke family, with local residents expressing shock and offering support following the terrifying incident that has left the small outback town reeling.
