KEY POINTS:
A blast that killed a youth may have occurred after one of five teenagers sniffing from an LPG bottle in a car apparently lit a cigarette, police believe.
Thomas Kelson Hillman, 18, of Picton was killed after the gas explosion in Blenheim at 9.30pm last night. The other four remain in stable condition in Wairau Hospital.
Senior Sergeant Tony Sampson of the Blenheim police said initial inquiries failed to find any fault with the portable gas bottle which had been handled by members of the group at the time of the explosion.
Some members of the group were involved in inhaling flammable gases, he said.
It appeared that some had been sniffing LPG from the bottle minutes before the explosion, he said.
"It appears that an attempt to light a cigarette in the vehicle a short time later may have caused the explosion."
Mr Sampson said Mr Hillman had only been with the group for a short-time before the explosion but it was unknown if he had been inhaling the gas.
He survived the blast and was taken to Wairau Hospital, where staff spent "quite some time" in an unsuccessful effort to save his life.
Mr Sampson said police and fire service investigators were warning that substance abuse involving flammable gases was an extremely dangerous practice and "one which can have tragic consequences".
Mr Hillman's death has been reported to the coroner and police inquiries were continuing.
- NZPA
