THE MANAGER OF Ireland’s Aga Khan show jumping team, Robert Splaine, escaped unhurt in the early hours of this morning, despite a fridge exploding in his Dublin hotel room.
Splaine and his son were asleep in the Burlington Hotel when they were woken by the explosion at 5am.
“It was a bit of a shock to hear such a loud sound so close but when we switched on the light we could see no signs of what might have caused the explosion,” says Splaine. “The room, however, was soon filled by a very pungent odour and at that point the staff of the hotel came to the door and told us the hotel was being evacuated.
“Fire brigades and ambulances had arrived by this stage and all the hotel guests were assembled outside. The emergency services were very good, I have to say, and looked after the situation marvellously.
“We were then allowed to return to the hotel and given another room, of course. I was told later that the cause of the explosion was a gas canister, that was one of the components at the back of the empty fridge in our room. No-one was hurt and by the time it was all over it was time to get up anyway, so we didn’t get any more sleep. It’s lucky that both my son and I are early risers.”
Ireland’s Aga Khan team will bid to repeat their 2012 victory when they compete on Friday under Splaine at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show at Ballsbridge.
