24 Jun 2011

Man injured in gas explosion remains in hospital

11:21 am on 24 June 2011

A man who was seriously injured in a gas explosion in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Ian Winson, an employee of the council run water firm Watercare lost both his legs in the explosion that killed his colleague, 48-year-old Canadian engineer Philomen Gulland.

The explosion occurred on 4 June during work to connect two sections of a water mains pipe, and Watercare chief exective Mark Ford has said he believes reticulated methane gas was the source of the blast.

Three other people injured in the blast have since been discharged from hospital.

Mr Ford said on Thursday the company was reviewing its processes and will pass on the findings to the Coroner or the Department of Labour if requested.

He says work at the site remains on schedule and should be completed around 7 July.