Ravenshoe grieving after second cafe death

A second person has died as a result of a shocking gas explosion in the far north Queensland town of Ravenshoe.

An emergency ward at a hospital in Brisbane

(AAP) Source: AAP

The ravaged community of Ravenshoe is grieving again after the eldest victim of last week's cafe explosion died in hospital.

Margaret Clark was in Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital's intensive care burns unit when she passed away at about 9pm (AEST) on Sunday.

The 82-year-old grandmother is the second person to die from the blast, set off when a four-wheel-drive utility ploughed into the back of the Serves You Right Cafe last Tuesday and triggered a gas explosion.

Ms Clark's death was confirmed by a notice in the window of the far north Queensland town's post office on Monday morning.

She had been in a critical condition since the freak explosion tore through the cafe.

"She was the type of person who would do anything for anybody," townsperson Wayne Bowden told ABC Radio.

"She was a very popular lady."

Ms Clark had been involved in the local Progress Association and Rural Fire Brigade, and was well-known for her generous and community-minded nature, he said.

Her loss has again devastated the township, which has been mourning the death on Friday of 37-year-old Nicole Nyholt who had been managing the cafe for her holidaying parents Vicki and Hans.

Ken Jack, who is co-ordinating fundraising efforts for the burns victims, said the Ravenshoe community was struggling to comprehend the tragedy.

"The town has gone into shock again," he told AAP on Monday.

Four women and three men remain critically injured in the RBWH after the explosion, while a man and woman are in a stable condition.

The driver of the utility remains in a serious condition in Cairns Hospital. Police are investigating whether a medical condition caused him to lose control.

The small community of about 900 people continues to rally around the burns victims and has helped raise $50,000, Mr Jack said.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world