Advertisement

Incredible footage shows man survive steam pipe explosion

WATCH ABOVE: At least one colleague screams following the blast, fearing the worst.

Santa Clara County officials in California have released incredible footage showing a construction worker stuck in the middle of a jaw-dropping steam pipe explosion — the latest in a battle with the contractor of a local hospital renovation.

Turner Construction is being accused by the county of safety lapses and delays in the expansion of the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

In the video recorded nearly a year ago, a worker is climbing his way out while someone else can be heard declaring you couldn’t pay him enough “to be in that vault right now.” That’s when a sudden blast sends steam reaching 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius) flying skyward out of the pipe and workers scrambling.

The unidentified man suffered no injuries but the county’s director of facilities says it could have been much worse.

Story continues below advertisement
“If he’d still been in the vault, there would have been blunt trauma when the flex connection blew and sent shrapnel throughout the vault,” Jeff Draper told the San Jose Mercury News. “The hot steam would have burned him. He would have had serious injuries or worse.”

The medical centre is approximately a year away from completion.

Sponsored content

AdChoices