Gas blast victim an 'inspiration'

Philomen Gulland. Photo / Supplied

The Watercare worker killed in the watermain gas explosion has been remembered by family as an "inspirational" person who never gave up.

Philomen Gulland, a maintenance planner and mother-of-two, died on Saturday when the water pipe she was in exploded in Onehunga, Auckland.

Family remembered the 48-year-old in a funeral notice as an "incredible and inspirational friend and aunty" who they said was "irreplaceable".

"We treasure your example that no problem is too big, no mountain too high, there's always a solution. Knowing you was a blessing."

A colleague of Ms Gulland's, Ian Winson, is in a serious but stable condition at Auckland Hospital. He was in the tunnel with Ms Gulland during the blast and has lost part of both of his legs.

Watercare was yesterday continuing to clean the pipes and put gas monitoring and ventilation equipment in place before HEB Construction could complete the connection of a new pipe for one of the city's major watermains.

There were no reports of gas at the site or near the site yesterday. The site was closed from about midnight on Sunday until about 11.30am on Monday after gas was smelled about 500m away in Mays Rd.

HEB Construction chief executive Derrick Adams said it would take about 12 hours to complete the connection.

Mr Adams and Watercare chief executive Mark Ford said if gas was detected, work would stop immediately.

Mr Adams added: "We will have a period of that being completely clear before we go anywhere near it with our workers."