Plumber strikes gas line, burns body

A PLUMBER was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital with burns to 12 per cent of his body after striking a gas line at Kanwal on the Central Coast this morning.

Brett Wall, 40, was digging a trench to install an overflow stormwater pipe when he inadvertently hit an 18mm natural gas service line running to the house he was working on.

His father, who was labouring for him, said they called the gas company to alert them of the leak.

The man, who declined to give his name, said staff from the gas company told Mr Wall "to make the hole bigger" so they could repair the gas line.

"All I heard from 20m away was 'poof' and I looked around and saw Brett on fire," his father said.

It is believed a spark from the electric jackhammer Mr Wall was using may have ignited some escaped gas.

Paramedics were called to Sara Jane Cl at 8:39am and took Mr Wall to Wyong Hospital where he was then airlifted to Sydney by the Ambulance Rescue Helicopter.

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Plumber strikes gas line, burns body