Power worker injured in explosion in induced coma

A spokeswoman for Vector confirmed an incident happened on the company's northern network and briefly cut power to 10,000 homes. Photo / Thinkstock

An experienced power line worker was last night fighting for his life after being flung from a live transformer in Auckland.

Michael Van De Ruyt was working at a Vector substation in Bayswater when he was exposed to a 33,000 volt live transformer.

A family friend, who did not want to be named, told the Herald on Sunday he was conscious and shouting for help after the accident.

He was taken by St John Ambulance to Middlemore Hospital's burns unit in a critical condition.

Last night, he remained in a medically induced coma and it is understood he has burns to 35 per cent of his body. "[His] internal organs seem to be good," the friend said.

She described Van De Ruyt as an "experienced power line worker" who was "extremely meticulous and very detail oriented".

"He's an amazing guy that would give you the shirt off his back and we are just so devastated this has happened to him," the friend said.

His brother, Richard Van De Ruyt, said family and friends had spent the day at his bedside.

He was hopeful his brother would make a full recovery. "He is doing all right. He's not talking or anything," he said.

Van De Ruyt was an experienced powerline worker for Electrix for "a number of years".

The company's general manager Rob Ferris said they were supporting his family. "It's awful. It affects us all. Lots of employees are ringing up and asking after him," he said.

"He's a qualified, experienced person who has been with us for some time."

A man who lives on Bayswater Ave said the explosion caused a "hellish bang" and he saw a big sheet of smoke rise from the substation.

"It rocked the house," he said.

A spokeswoman for Vector confirmed an incident happened on the company's northern network and briefly cut power to 10,000 homes.

"Our thoughts are with him [Van De Ruyt], his family and his co-workers," she said.

Other members of the crew who were working at the substation at the time of the accident are being offered counselling.