Fire At Sea

The story of the HMAS Westralia engine room fire of 5 May 1998, and the families' fight for the truth

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On the morning of 5 May 1998, HMAS Westralia proceeded to sea off the coast of Western Australia. As the engines were brought to full power, fuel hoses burst. Flames erupted and thick black smoke filled the engine room. The crew fought bravely to save their ship, but were unable to save Midshipman Megan Pelly, Petty Officer Shaun Smith, Leading Seaman Bradley Meek and Able Seaman Phillip Carroll. The human cost was lost in the battle and blame game between government departments and private contractors. The families wanted the truth and genuine compassion, but their hard-fought campaign for justice instead revealed a labyrinth of innuendo, fraud, nepotism, dishonesty and incompetence. Drawing on the meticulous research of naval historian Dr Kathryn Spurling, Fire at Sea tells the story the Royal Australian Navy and successive governments would rather have buried.