A FAMILY who escaped virtually unscathed when their car and caravan erupted in flames on a remote highway in the Northern Territory has thanked the good Samaritans who helped after the drama.

The Lee family's caravan burns on the Stuart Highway. Picture: Sen Sgt Trevor Howie.

Caravanner Lee Barnett, 76, and his 75-year-old wife Peggy, daughter Melissa, 33, and partner Wendell Herbert, 34, together with their two-year-old son Connor, were on the twelfth day of a two-month holiday in the Territory when disaster struck about 70km south of Tennant Creek.

It happened when Mr Barnett switched his Mitsubishi Pajero from LPG to petrol.  "There was a loud bang," he told media afterwards. "The car slowed down and suddenly smoke and flames were pouring from under the bonnet."

The family scrambled to safety as their 4WD and caravan containing their belongings were destroyed.

But there was more bad luck to come for the hapless Mr Barnett ... he burned his feet on the hot bitumen after gallantly giving his shoes to Peggy, who had left her own in the burning car.

Both were taken to hospital with blistered feet but released after treatment.

Mr Barnett has now vowed never to return to the Northern Territory which, he says, is gunning for him. Apparently his car was written off four years ago after a camel dashed into the roadway.
 

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