Jack Berry remained in hospital Monday, recovering from an explosion that burned his hands and back and killed his 27-year-old son.
The father was in fair condition, according to a relative, but will need skin grafts to help him mend from the explosion.
The tragedy happened May 23 at a vacant farmhouse near Reston, Man. Jack, 46, and his son Shaune were in the basement, where two-thirds of a metre of water had accumulated.
Just as Shaune went to plug in a sump pump, his father noticed an empty gas jug floating on the water. A spark from the pump triggered the explosion, which propelled Shaune up the basement stairs and out the door.
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Shaune’s fiance, 20-year-old Amelia More, was also struck by the blast. She suffered burns to 10 percent of her body and was cut by shrapnel from the explosion, said provincial fire inspector Ron Denslow.
“After the explosion, all three of them were able to get in the truck and rode two miles into town to the Reston hospital,” said Denslow.
“They walked into the hospital on their own power.”
Shaune died three days later at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. More has since been released from hospital.
The explosion blew shards of glass and other shrapnel 21 metres across the yard. Jack Berry managed to cover his head after the explosion, but suffered burns to 20 percent of his body, Denslow said.
