Man dies in Otago power cut

Photo / Thinkstock.

The death of a 28-year-old man, whose breathing apparatus stopped during a 90-minute power cut, has been referred to a coroner.

The man was Wayne Haaima, who lived at Palmerston, about 60kms north of Dunedin.

A fault cut power to about 1000 customers from 3am on Thursday until power was restored at 4.28am.

PowerNet chief executive Martin Walton said yesterday the company had no indication of anyone with any medical condition in the area.

"We're obviously very sorry something like this has happened," Mr Walton said.

He was not aware of the circumstances of the man's death.

Police had advised the contractors that someone had died during the night and inquired about the possible cause of the power loss, which remained uncertain.

A man who services medical equipment said breathing apparatus that ran on electricity, including oxygen machines or the more crucial ventilators, should fall automatically to battery back-up if the power supply was cut.

An alarm would immediately sound loudly and the battery should last two to four hours, said the man, who declined to be named.

When the electricity supply was restored, the ventilator would automatically resume using electricity as its power source.

Because they were crucial pieces of equipment, ventilators were required to be tested regularly.

In May 2007, Folole Muliaga, 44, died after the electricity to her Mangere home was cut off because of unpaid power bills. Mrs Muliaga used an oxygen machine.

- Otago Daily Times