College reopens two days after killer blast

The flowers have been left near the boiler room where Rick Nel suffered fatal burns to 90 per cent of his body. Photo / Dean Purcell

Orewa College is reopening its doors to students today, two days after the accident that caused the death of school caretaker Rick Nel.

Mr Nel, a 59-year-old Zimbabwean who suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body and serious head injuries, died at Middlemore Hospital yesterday.

The school's maintenance manager was one of two men initially flown to Auckland City Hospital after a boiler-room explosion sent burning liquid and debris metres into the air and made classrooms shake about 2.45pm on Wednesday.

The other man - a contractor for Tubman Heating Services - was last night in a critical but stable condition.

Yesterday, flowers were laid outside the emergency cordon as fire staff concluded their inquiry - satisfied that fire did not play a part.

Department of Labour specialists will today continue their investigation into the cause of the explosion and say this may take up to six months. The department has three inspectors interviewing students and gathering information while a boiler operations expert examines the faulty machine.

Meanwhile, students have been asked to wrap up warmly for school as the heaters are still out of order. A school assembly will be held to brief students on the situation and offer them counselling support.

Members of the Nel family were yesterday too devastated to talk, but friends, former colleagues and school pupils spoke of a man who kept to himself but was always ready and willing to lend a hand.

"He was a thoroughly nice man, a real gentleman, an exceptionally good worker and extremely respected by everyone at the school," principal Kate Shevland said.

She said he would be sorely missed. "He was quiet, but very friendly."

Mr Nel's neighbour - who did not wish to be identified - was still in shock at news of the "most horrible, horrible death".

"Good God, this time yesterday he was still around. We still can't believe that it's true. It's not reality," she said.

The woman said Mr Nel was often to be seen tending to his property.

She and her partner had been just getting to know Mr Nel after he moved in to take up the caretaker role last November.

The woman understood he had a strong circle of Zimbabwean friends and said he was staunchly proud of his heritage, and thick accent.

Although school was closed yesterday, Year 8 students Molly Billington, 13, Sophie Thacker, 12, and Aaron Goodstone, 12, went down to the site to pay their respects.

Aaron was on the school field about to start PE when the explosion occurred and saw the whole thing.

"I was facing it, I just saw smoke, big clouds and stuff and then saw a guy run in and grab another guy out. I saw the nurse run out and then the ambulance came."

Sophie was in maths class less than 100 metres away when the whole room started shaking.

"At first I thought a bird had hit the window because all I could hear was a bang, but then I knew it was bigger than that."

She said Mr Nel was "pretty cool".