WA Police Commissioner Carl O'Callaghan's son hurt in 'drug lab'...

WA Police Commissioner Carl O'Callaghan's son hurt in 'drug lab' blast

* By Phil Hickey
* From: PerthNow
* March 21, 2011 12:32PM

WESTERN AUstralia's Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan's son was one of five people who suffered serious burns in an alleged drug lab explosion in Carlisle yesterday.

Mr O'Callaghan said his son Russell, 29, received head, shoulder and arm injuries in the explosion, PerthNow said.

Mr O'Callaghan said he had not yet visited his son in Royal Perth Hospital. He said he would be working as normal and would not be taking time off over the incident.

Mr O?Callaghan said he had attempted to contact his son yesterday.

?I am not at this stage able to speak to him (Russell),? Mr O?Callaghan told a packed media conference this morning.

?These matters are obviously very distressing for the families involved but I have a duty to come here and talk about this issue publically this morning.

?At this stage there is an inquiry being conducted into the matter and that inquiry is being overseen by a senior police officer to avoid any suggestion that the inquiry will not be attended to properly.

?I have not asked for the details of the inquiry ? and I will remain at some distance from the (inquiry) process.?

Mr O?Callaghan said he had only ?occasional? contact with his son.

?His life has taken a bit of a tragic path unfortunately ? I understand from speaking to other family members last night that he has recently been suffering from a depressive illness and he was due to seek assistance from a doctor this week for that illness,? he said.

Mr O?Callaghan said he does not know why his son was at the house at the time of the explosion as he does not live at the property.

Police said the explosion happened just after 5pm (WST) in Bishopsgate St.

It was allegedly caused by an illegal drug lab.

Police Inspector Trevor Davis said five adults were taken to hospital with serious burns.

"One man is in a critical condition, while one woman and three other men are in stable conditions," he said.

"Although initial reports indicated that children were injured, this was not the case. A three-year-old and a four-year-old were near the explosion but were not hurt."

Police said this morning that a 26-year-old man injured in the explosion was in a critical condition.

A 26-year-old woman, a 29-year-old man and two 28-year-old men were all in a stable condition in hospital.

A FESA spokesman said the explosion caused about $300,000 damage to the home.

For a picture and local updates, visit PerthNow.