FIRE VICTIM CRITICAL
A GOLD Coast man is fighting for life after he was trapped in a ferocious fire that tore through his Hope Island home on Saturday night.
Matthew Grimberg was inside the ageing, single-level house on Crescent Ave when it exploded into flames about 7.15pm. Mr Grimberg, aged in his 40s, suffered burns to his neck, face and chest.
He remains in critical condition at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
A GOLD Coast man is fighting for life after he was trapped in a ferocious fire that tore through his Hope Island home on Saturday night.
Matthew Grimberg was inside the ageing, single-level house on Crescent Ave when it exploded into flames about 7.15pm.
Neighbours reported hearing loud explosions and said the house was completely ablaze within minutes.
Warren, a neighbour who would not give his last name, said he dragged Mr Grimberg from the house as it was engulfed in flames.
“As soon as I heard it – it was like a crash, sounded like a car crash more or less – I ran over,” he said.
“I ran over because he’s my mate, I went to see if he was OK and he was in there and it was pretty well alight.
“So I grabbed him and took him back to my house and put him in the shower, I could see he was burned.
“He seemed to be in shock and before I got him away he did try to run back into the house ... I don’t know for what.”
Mr Grimberg, aged in his 40s, was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital with severe burns to his neck, face and chest.
During the night his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where last night he was listed as “critical, but stable”.
Neighbours said Mr Grimberg had lived in the house, which is owned by his father, for some time.
Another neighbour, who also would not provide his name, said there were often people coming and going from the home.
The smouldering remains of the house became a crime scene, police guarded the site overnight and fire investigators arrived early yesterday.
During thorough internal searches several gas bottles were removed from the rubble.
Fire investigator Marcus Barrett said due to the structural damage, further searches would be “impossible”.
“The end result is no persons were found, which we were fairly sure of anyway, but we had to tick the boxes,” he said. “With regards to the investigation, it’s going to be impossible to do an internal search again, just due to the nature of the destruction, there’s still a large potential for roof collapse and there is asbestos present.
“From the accounts last night and from what we’ve seen this morning, there’s been an explosion within the property ... we did find some 9kg gas cylinders and investigations continue.”
Southport Fire Station officer Rodney Hall told the Bulletin his crews were forced to take special precautions due to the explosions and the age of the house.
“When we turned up, the house was fully involved. Side to side, end to end, including the roof.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.