A man has been airlifted to hospital after he suffered serious burns in a workplace accident in South Clare this afternoon.

The alarm was raised shortly before 3pm when a fire was reported a premises in Drumquin between Ennis and Ballynacally.

It’s understood the injured man in his 60s, a motor mechanic who operates his own business, sustained severe burns and smoke inhalation as he attempted to extinguish the fire himself.

Three units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station along with additional crews from Shannon responded to the emergency call. An ambulance and rapid response paramedic unit were also dispatched to the scene along with Gardaí.

It’s understood the man managed to extinguish part of the fire himself while fire crews quicky dealt with a small fire when they arrived. Paramedics treated the injured man at the scene but it was decided that the man should be airlifted to hospital rather than travel by road.

The Athlone based Emergency Aeromedical Service air ambulance was requested to responded. The helicopter, operated jointly by the Irish Air Corps and National Ambulance Service, was able to land in a green area in a local housing estate.

The injured man was transported by road ambulance the short distance to the waiting helicopter and airlifted to University Hospital Galway for treatment.