Man admits manslaughter over bushland explosion

A man has admitted lighting a bushland fire that caused an explosion, killing a bystander. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

A man has admitted lighting a fire in rural bushland that caused an explosion, killing an innocent bystander who had been four-wheel-driving with friends.

Jack Kinneen, 23, died from injuries sustained in the blast in September last year.

He and six friends were driving two vehicles when they came across the fire near a bush track in Pinjar, north of Perth.

Mr Kinneen had approached the blaze after getting out of his car when the explosion happened.

His friends provided first aid and called an ambulance, but Mr Kinneen could not be saved.

Christopher Keith Fox, 38, was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

In Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Fox pleaded guilty to the charge.

Police previously indicated they would allege Fox placed a gas cylinder on the deliberately lit fire to cause an explosion, and that a fragment of the bottle had struck Mr Kinneen.

The men were not known to each other, police said.

Fox is due to be sentenced in October.

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