Garage explosion man may be charged

A Nelson man may face charges after a garage explosion which police say was caused by a gas cooker being used in illegal drug consumption.

The 36-year-old man remains in Nelson Hospital's intensive care unit with serious burns and has yet to be interviewed by police.

Police initially thought the explosion at the Mount St home on Monday night was linked to a methamphetamine lab but now believe LPG caused the fireball.

Evidence suggested that the man was using an LPG cooker for illegal drug consumption when a pool of gas at floor level ignited, said Sergeant Blair Hall, of Nelson police.

The explosion blew the door off the garage and badly burned the victim who was "quite simply lucky to be alive", he told the Nelson Mail.

The man has 30 per cent burns of various thickness across his body and face.

Police said no decision had yet may been on whether to lay charges against the man.

- NZPA