A 47-YEAR-OLD man is fighting for his life in hospital after his shed exploded. It is believed the victim had gone to put something in the shed in London Road, Deal, when it burst into flames.

He managed to make his way back to his house, where he collapsed just inside the back door. Firefighter Paul Fullbrook said luckily a passer-by, 21-year-old Alex Hinkins, heard the explosion and went to investigate.

The emergency services were alerted and two fire crews from Deal went to the scene at 6.26pm on Tuesday. The man was treated by a paramedic and a doctor at the house and then taken to the Queen Mother Hospital at Margate with 40 per cent burns to his upper body.

He was later transferred to a specialist burns unit at Chelmsford Hospital where his condition was described by police as "life threatening".

Mr Fullbrook said they believe the explosion was caused by petrol vapours igniting when a light was switched on in the shed. He added that the shed was also full of aerosol paint canisters, which caused further explosions.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated by the police and the fire service.