Woman rushed to hospital with facial burns

File Photo / NZ Herald

A woman rushed to hospital this morning with facial burns was trying to light a gas bottle when it blew up in her face.

The driver was making food deliveries in Christchurch this morning when she failed to light a gas cylinder bottle properly, causing it to backfire.

She was rushed to hospital but is due to be discharged this afternoon with minor injuries, even vowing to return to work tomorrow.

"She kept saying to me, 'I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry,"' said the woman's boss at Munchie Express in Christchurch.

The woman, in her late 30s, was making deliveries to a Foodstuffs distribution centre in Hornby, when the accident happened about 8.45am.

St John sent an ambulance and a rapid response team to the scene and took her to Christchurch Hospital emergency department with facial injuries.

The Fire Service attended but only provided medical assistance until the ambulance arrived.

A spokeswoman for Munchie Express said while the unnamed worker was shaken up by the incident, she was more embarrassed than anything.

"She just didn't light it properly. It was a simple mistake," she said.

"I'm about to go pick her up from hospital. She's got minor, superficial burns but she's ok.

"She says she'll be back in tomorrow, even though I said to take the day off. She's a tough cookie."

Foodstuffs declined to comment.

The Government's labour service is investigating.