Campervan trip comes to a fiery end
The driver of a campervan had to make a rapid dive to safety after his home burst into flames while he was driving it.
The man did not want to be named but told Stuff he was driving up Rapids Road in Taupo¯ when the campervan exploded, blowing the windows out and sparking an inferno.
He managed to pull to the side of the road and get out without injury, but could only watch as all his possessions went up in flames.
‘‘He was left standing on the side of the road in nothing but shorts, a singlet and crocs,’’ the man’s friend, Matt Yardley, said.
‘‘There was nothing salvageable. Even the engine melted.’’
The suspected cause of the fire, which happened on September 30, was a gas leak behind the fridge.
Yardley, who owns Smashed As Contracting, said when he heard about the event, he swung into action.
‘‘We went and picked up the campervan and ended up taking it to the dump,’’ he said. But, that’s not all he did.
One post on a public Facebook page generated so much traffic, Yardley’s friend was fully equipped with another campervan and household items by the Wednesday after the fire.
‘‘Colin and Nat Porter from Rainbows Septic Tanks, along with myself, cashed in every favour that was owed,’’ he said. ‘‘Colin and Nat found another campervan, the Salvation Army helped, and lots of people donated stuff.’’
Another man, who lives in Taranaki, even donated his campervan which is going to be auctioned off on Trade Me as a fundraiser and all proceeds made will go to Yardley’s friend.
‘‘That campervan is worth $12,500,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s just amazing.’’
Even the push bike that was on the back of the campervan has been fully rebuilt thanks to Mark Gibson at Top Gear Cycles.
A Give-a-Little page has been set up, to try and help soften the blow the fire has caused.