Person dies after crane tire explodes at construction yard in Harewood, Christchurch

A nearby worker said she saw rescue workers gathering at the scene.

“There are a lot of sirens.”

A police spokesman said police would investigate on behalf of the coroner.

Hato Hone St John was called to the scene at 9.14am and dispatched an ambulance, rapid response vehicle and incident commander.

The media was asked to refer any questions to the police.

WorkSafe was also recommended.

A WorkSafe spokesman said an investigation had been launched into the death.

“Our investigators are heading to the scene to collect evidence to understand the circumstances.

“WorkSafe extends its condolences to the worker’s whanau, friends and colleagues.”

A former tire fitter who worked in the industry for a decade said large tires, like those found on cranes, were known to overturn fleet trucks with the force of their explosions when the tires burst.

The man, who did not want to be named, said the volume in the tire was the main concern and the force of the compressed air was only one danger. There was also a risk that rings could be thrown away from the assembly into which the tire was installed.

He was aware of an incident at a former workplace in which such a ring was powered by a tire explosion, which sent the ring flying through a wall and bursting a nearby water pipe.

People were known to have been thrown off their feet by tire explosions, he said.