A coroner was told today that a hose from a compressor became detached and struck a Dunedin driller in the head while he was working to clear a landslip on Milford Road in October 2012.
Dunedin coroner David Crerar has been holding an inquest in Invercargill into the death of Graham Robert Brown, 67, and was told he and fellow Downer worker Kevin Watson were drilling holes in large rocks so explosives could be inserted and the rocks could be cleared.
Problems with the original compressor forced them to change machines, but the new compressor was more powerful than the first and the tail of a hose came loose, striking Mr Brown in the head and Mr Watson in the leg.
Mr Brown, who was wearing a safety helmet, suffered unsurvivable head injuries.
The inquest is expected to finish this afternoon.
