Oxygen generator blamed for HMS Tireless blast

22 Mar, 2007 05:06 / Updated 17 years ago

An explosion which killed two British sailors on board a submarine in the Arctic Ocean has been blamed on an oxygen generator. The blast happened off the coast of Alaska, as the HMS Tireless took part in joint exercises with the U.S.

A third sailor is in a stable condition in hospital.The nuclear-powered submarine from the British Royal Navy was submerged under an ice-cap, when the explosion occurred. The submarine's nuclear reactor was unaffected.The HMS Tireless doesn’t carry nuclear missiles and experts say there is no risk of nuclear contamination.