Contractor in school blast still serious but stable

A contractor injured in a fatal school boiler explosion remains in a serious but stable condition, an Auckland City Hospital spokeswoman said today.

Robin Tubman, from North Shore-based Tubman Heating Services, sustained extensive facial injuries in the incident at Orewa College on Wednesday afternoon.

The explosion claimed the life of school caretaker Richard Nel, who suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body and died later in Middlemore Hospital.

Mr Nel, 59, who was married with children, had been at Orewa College since late last year.

The school reopened for classes this morning after a one-day closure yesterday and principal Kate Shevland said the start to the day had been "pretty sobering".

There were a series of assemblies for students in the different year levels to explain what had happened and what had been put in place in response.

Ms Shevland said counselling was available for students and staff, some of whom had been involved in giving first aid to the two men before the St John Ambulance arrived.

"We are trying to get into a normal classroom routine," Ms Shevland said.

"Rick was a very practical, common sense man and he would have wanted the school to get into working order as soon as possible."

Ms Shevland described Mr Nel as "an excellent employee and a wonderful maintenance manager".

"The school were all very fond of him," she said.

The boiler explosion has meant the loss of heating at the college, which has a roll of about 1700.

Board of trustees chairman Phil Pickford uniform rules had been relaxed to allow students to wrap up in warmer clothing.

Other short-term measures were being considered for next week, the final week of the second term.

Mr Pickford said the college's boiler was like those in most secondary schools.

"It's not a new boiler and there have been issues with it, but it has been constantly maintained," he said.

"It had a really good maintenance record but there was a malfunction on Tuesday. That is why the contractor was there and he was working through that."

- NZPA