Chris Tuck posted on September 07, 2011 10:50
The man who died following a severe electric shock more than a week ago has been described as a devoted family man and a "hell of a nice guy".
Jason Webb, 42, died in Middlemore Hospital on Saturday.
He was injured when a crane on the back of his work truck tipped slightly, touching an 11,000 volt power line, which setting him alight, on August 12.
Webb's brother and workmate Dwayne Webb said Jason had been conscious as recently as Thursday when, though drowsy and drugged and with a tube down his throat, he had communicated with his wife and asked how his son and mother were doing.
Dwayne, who was driving the truck when the incident happened, said his brother had also acknowledged him that night and looked like he wanted to tell him something.
The family was struggling with the news.
"There's just too much going on to think about much else. Life goes on, you know. It can't get much worse so it's just tough times," Dwayne said.
The pair were close and had working together for their dad's Kumeu-based business, Yachtspars, for about 20 years.
"It's not very often you get two brothers work together as closely as we did. Never had a day where we didn't speak to each other. We always had our brotherly arguments but that's as bad as it got."
The "devoted family man" had left behind a wife and two kids - a daughter aged two and a nine-year-old son who had become "very quiet".
"It's hard to tell a nine-year-old boy his father has gone and whether he fully understands, I'm not too sure."
Jason had recently been coaching his son's soccer team while the pair were often out on the waters of Snells Beach where they lived, in their inflatable boat.
"He loved the sea and that will be a big part of his burial I think, will be the sea, somehow."
Dwayne said his brother was "just a hell of a nice guy and talking to everyone that's what everyone reiterates... too nice to be a good businessman".
The death had even taken doctors by surprise.
"They didn't expect him to die."
An autopsy was to be carried out, although Dwayne said he thought an infection was to blame.
The third worker, Brett Mills, was also injured in the accident in Mt Eden and was devastated by the news, Dwayne said.
Mills had part of a toe surgically removed, where Dwayne said he thought the power from the shock had exited.
"He's actually pretty good apart from the little toe. He's a very, very, very lucky man. I was there and I witnessed it all... very lucky."
The Department of Labour is investigating the incident which Dwayne said he thought was the result of a misunderstanding.