A PATIENT has died and two paramedics have been injured after an ambulance burst into flames at a hospital in Ireland.

Emergency services said the fire broke out in the vehicle at about 2pm as the man was being brought to the emergency unit at Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare.

The casualty department was shut down following the incident.

It is understood the man who died was around 70 and had been in the back of the ambulance when the fire broke out.

One of the paramedics, in his 30s, was initially treated at the scene before being taken to the specialist burns unit in St James' Hospital in Dublin for treatment to severe injuries.

The second paramedic, also believed to be in his 30s, was treated in Naas but his injuries are believed to be minor.

Witness Rob Moore was inside the hospital when the fire alarm sounded and rushed out after hearing a bang.

"I don't know what actually happened, but the whole thing just went up," he said.

"As I came out of the door of the hospital I could see two paramedics at the back (of the ambulance), one of them was really severely burnt.

"I think there was a fireman there, who was off-duty, he started to get things under control.

"Everyone was pulled away from it then."

Mr Moore said he did not hear an explosion but believed he heard a bang or a thud.

He also saw who he believed to be one of the paramedics being taken to an area outside the hospital, where medics stripped him down to treat his wounds.

A number of investigations were launched into the cause of the blaze including by the Garda and Health and Safety Authority.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said patients were diverted away from Naas for several hours after the incident and the National Ambulance Service put appropriate diversion protocols in place.

"The hospital has advised any member of the public seeking access to medical care to visit their GP in the first instance and if necessary to access another emergency department in an alternative hospital," the HSE said.

"The hospital has also requested that members of the public refrain from visiting at this time."

A number of fire crews from Naas attended the scene.

The Health Service Executive had 7.5 million euro (£6.4 million) to buy 47 new emergency ambulances last year and it is understood the National Ambulance Service fleet replacement scheme had more than 18m euro (£15.5m) to invest this year on 50 new vehicles.

Rules require any ambulance over seven years old to be replaced for safety reasons.

Michael Dixon, chair of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA), offered condolences to those caught up in the incident.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the man who lost his life in the back of the ambulance," he said.

"But we are also concerned for the two paramedics injured as well."

Union representatives at Siptu called for an immediate examination of the ambulance fleet following the patient's death.

Organiser Paul Bell said: "Firstly, we would like to express our deepest sympathy with the family of the patient who died and our grave concern for the two paramedics who tried in vain to save his life.

"This tragedy should never have happened."

Ambulances normally carry up to six sealed cylinders of different types of potentially flammable gas to treat patients at a scene and while transporting them.

They carry oxygen and also an analgesic gas and air mix for pain relief.

Louise O'Reilly, Sinn Fein spokeswoman on health, said the fire was "an unfortunate demonstration of the abdication of responsibility by the Health Minister and the Department (of Health) in ensuring that these services have the support and resources they need".

Union representatives at Siptu called for an immediate examination of the ambulance fleet following the patient's death.

Organiser Paul Bell said: "Firstly, we would like to express our deepest sympathy with the family of the patient who died and our grave concern for the two paramedics who tried in vain to save his life. This tragedy should never have happened."