Man hurt after blast in bush house

An elderly man was in critical condition last night after an explosion at his home in bush west of Auckland.

The man suffered burns to his upper body in the fire at Waimauku. He was flown to Middlemore Hospital by the Westpac rescue helicopter.

Waitakere City deputy chief fire officer Peter Wilding said local residents and a truck driver saw smoke rising from the bush on Hinau Rd and arrived before emergency services.

They made a "brilliant effort" of dragging the man, aged in his 70s, from the fire, said Mr Wilding.