Cheers to the man who saved my life

PHIL REID/ The Dominion Post

BOND FORGED IN FIRE: Burns survivor Rick Smith, left, celebrates with his rescuer Terry Hood. The two meet every year on the anniversary of Mr Smith's accident.

SURVIVOR: Mr Smith after the explosion, on July 4, 1989, as pictured in The Dominion.

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Twenty years ago today an electricity substation explosion in central Wellington nearly took Rick Smith's life.

Today, reluctant hero Terry Hood, the security guard who dragged Mr Smith to safety, will be guest of honour at a 20th anniversary lunch in the city.

Every year, the two friends catch up over a dram or two of Glenfiddich whisky a tradition started by Mr Smith when he found out the security guard had sipped from a glass of it to calm his nerves after the accident.

Mr Smith was a 31-year-old electrician in 1989. He had been doing routine checks at the Stout St substation when a faulty circuit breaker exploded, leaving him with third-degree burns to his hands and legs and a charred face.

The two men met only the night of the accident but have since forged a special friendship, Mr Hood said. "It's made us close. I'm a quiet sort of guy but when we get together we just talk about all sorts of things."

Mr Smith said his friend was a reluctant hero and wonders if he would have survived without him. "He didn't think he did anything brave. He went a long way towards, if not saving my life ... he certainly made my life a little better by getting me out of that place. We've got a kind of bond that not many people have."

Nola Smith said many people helped in her son's recovery, but she was in no doubt who saved his life. "Terry's just the loveliest guy. I feel I owe him so much. I really feel he's my hero because he saved my son. He went into the burning room and helped him get out instead of just running for help."

Mrs Smith said helping her son recover helped her "heal" after the death of her late husband, Bob, who had died just eight months before.

Wellington Free Ambulance officer Lance Anderson said that when he reached Mr Smith, skin was falling from his face and his overalls had melted. Though his blackened and swollen face eventually recovered, his hands and legs bear permanent scars.

"If his hands had not been up near his face that's what his face would have looked like. He was a very lucky man," Mr Anderson said. Ambulance officer Ross Weddell, who counselled Mr Smith during his recovery, was looking forward to today's lunch. "It's really cool that Rick's making a big thing of his 20th. It's good to see he's moved on."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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