KEY POINTS:
Brian Halford is still nursing the scars from the explosion that ripped apart a coolstore in Tamahere nearly three weeks ago.
But despite being trapped under burning rubble and losing his friend and boss, Derek Lovell, Mr Halford is eager to get back to work as a Hamilton firefighter.
The 36-year-old was yesterday among a group of the injured firefighters who expressed their gratitude to the public, emergency and hospital staff for their supportduring the ordeal.
Flanked by his colleagues Cameron Grylls, Alvan Walker, Adrian Brown and Dennis Wells, Mr Halford said his memories of what happened immediately after the explosion were still hazy.
"I've got a recollection that there was a building on top of me. I was injured quite badly, my breathing was raspy and gurgly. I was losing my airway and going unconscious and at that point it was like 'calm down, sort your crap out and get on top of this thing'."
He was pulled free by two men, who have asked to remain anonymous.
His colleague Mr Walker, who suffered facial scarring, five broken ribs, bruised lungs and had "quite a large chunk out of my head" was also saved by the pair.
"I do remember coming to a few times while being rescued ... when I meet those two guys, we need to get together and definitely buy them a beer," he said.
Mr Brown, who was on his first day on the job in Hamilton when he was called out to Tamahere, yesterday wore gloves because of the skin grafts he received. He said the public response to the firefighters' plight had been overwhelming.
Mr Wells, a 34-year fire service veteran, said he could not remembered anything between driving to the coolstore and waking up in hospital the following Saturday night.
He said it was fortunate the local school was holding a gala that day and that several surgeons and medical specialists were at it.
"If it was any other day, I'd say there would be at least another three people gone."
All the firefighters said their love of helping people had spurred them to return to the job, although for some that could be a few weeks away.
Their colleague, Mervyn Wells, remains in Middlemore Hospital in a serious but stable condition. He has burns to 71 per cent of his body.
Mr Grylls was back on the job this week but admitted returning had presented "hurdles".
"One of the hardest things I found was leaving my family."
