A 16-year-old boy is fighting for life in Sydney's Royal North Shore hospital after an explosion in a fire pit during a family function at Corlette.
Police say methylated spirit was poured onto the fire pit while five people huddled around it for warmth on the patio of a home in Sandy Point Road just after 5.00pm yesterday.
The 16-year-old suffered burns to his face, arms and torso - a man and woman in their 40's were also flown to Sydney with serious burns to their legs and torso.
Two others, a man and woman in their 40's, were taken to the John Hunter Hospital with burns to their face and torso.
The teenager is expected to undergo surgery this morning.
Officers from the Port Stephens/Hunter Police District have set up a crime scene as investigations continue.
