Ramon Milner slept through his alarm yesterday morning - and the lie-in could have saved his life.

A woman was killed and six men left with injuries similar to those sustained by "landmine" victims while inspecting work on a water pipe in Auckland's Onehunga yesterday.

Images from the scene of a fatal explosion on a construction site near Mt Smart and Victoria Roads, Onehunga.

The country's biggest union has accused drilling companies of putting workers' lives at risk by cutting corners to save money.