Tauranga explosion 'like gunshots'

Ambulance staff treat Mangatapu man with burns to his eyes and face after a swimming pool chemical reaction. Photo/George Novak

A 75-year-old Maungatapu man received facial injuries when swimming pool chlorine powder started exploding in a bucket.

One of the first on the scene of the Taipari St incident was Windermere cable layer Vinnie Thompson who was alerted by what sounded like gunshots.

He hurried towards the source of the explosions and knocked on the door of the house where woman was on the phone calling for assistance. She said her husband was in the backyard.

I just heard this pop, pop, like gunshots

Neighbour

Mr Thompson said that when he reached the man, he was spraying water onto his face using a hose, with the chlorine still popping and exploding in the bucket beside him.
The man's face looked a bit swollen and red. "I said, are you all right mate. He was still talking and seemed physically all right."

He picked up the bucket and put it out of harm's way around the back of the property and then supported the man until the arrival of St John paramedics.

A nearby neighbour who was also first to the scene said she heard loud bangs come from the property and a man yelling, "Ring the ambulance!"

"I just heard this pop, pop, like gunshots." she said.

"So I ran over to the back of his house and he was covering his face. I just grabbed the hose and tried to rinse his face"

EARLIER: A person has been injured while mixing pool chemicals in Maungatapu.

Emergency services have been called to chemical explosion at a property in Taipari Street, Maungatapu

A Northern Fire Service communications centre spokesperson said the initial report which came from ambulance staff was that someone was working with swimming pool chemicals when the substance exploded.

There are reports of burns to an occupant's face.