A mother was airlifted to hospital with severe burns all over her body after a deep fryer exploded while she was working at a fish and chip shop.
Emergency services received numerous reports of a gas explosion at KI Fish and Chips in Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island at around 5pm on Saturday.
The force of the explosion blew off much of the store’s facade and started a fire inside.
Sheena Childs was found at the scene with burns to her face, hands and thighs.
She was rushed to a local hospital before being flown to Adelaide for further treatment, where she remains in hospital.
Although the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, it is known that Ms. Childs had turned on the deep fryer moments earlier.
Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly described the scene as a war zone.
Images from the scene showed the store’s front windows shattered and the front door torn off its hinges.
Sheena Childs (pictured) is in hospital with burns to her face, hands and thighs after a horrific incident while working at her local fish and chip shop.
The blast was so powerful that it shattered the front window of KI Fish and Chips on Kangaroo Island and ripped the front door off its hinges (pictured)
“It was absolutely confrontational but we are grateful there were no fatalities,” Cr Pengilly told Seven News.
‘The building can be repaired, but lives cannot… if they are lost.’
He hopes Ms. Childs makes a full recovery.
“The family is highly respected in the community,” Cr Pengilly said.
The fish and chip shop owner, who has other businesses on Kangaroo Island, was devastated by the fiery explosion.
He pledged to support Ms Childs and her young family.
The windows at the front of the store were shattered and the front door was torn off its hinges.
About 25 firefighters were called to the scene to extinguish the blaze.
Initial estimates put the damage bill at more than $40,000.
“That number could increase once fire investigators arrive at the property and also determine the exact cause of the explosion,” CFS said in a statement.