EDrum blast kills pensioner, 72

May 5 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

A 72-YEAR-OLD man has died in an explosion as he was cutting open an industrial drum.

The accident happened at 1pm on Saturday at a shed manufacturing business in Hoghton Road, St Helens.

It is thought the victim, who had not been named late last night, was cutting into a pressurised metal drum when it exploded and he was hit by flying metal.

He was taken to Whiston hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two other men escaped injury in the accident.

Merseyside Police officers will now carry out a joint investigation with officials from the Health and Safety Executive.