AN electrician who suffered severe burns in an explosion at a petrochemical plant died from multiple organ failure after his wounds became infected, an inquest heard.

Electrical supervisor Graham Hiles, 52, died almost three weeks after the “arc flash” incident at the ConocoPhillips terminal, at Seal Sands, on Teesside.

He sustained first degree burns to 20 per cent of his body, including his head, face, chest and arms and was taken to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, after the incident on July 19, 2006.

He also suffered extensive lung damage and, despite intensive medical care, the father-of-two, from Yarm, died on August 6, 2006, after doctors turned off his life support machine.

Dr Simon Baudouin, who treated Mr Hiles, told the inquest at Newcastle Coroners’ Court: “It would have been wrong to continue treatment any further.

“It was a medical decision, but it was one that we had talked through with his family first.”

The explosion at a faulty electricity substation occurred after a test switch was incorrectly changed. Mr Hiles’ colleague, senior electrical technician Chris Emery, who did the work, was also injured and spent a month in hospital and was off work for eight months.

The inquest had heard earlier how two connections in the test switch were crosswired, which, on its own, would not be enough to cause the explosion.

But an investigation revealed there was damage to a control cable laid underground 30 years ago, which led to an earth fault, causing the blast.

Yesterday an inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death on Mr Hiles.

Paul Newton, from the Health and Safety Executive, said: “A thorough investigation with specialist electrical system investigators showed that an unforeseen combination of events led to this tragic accident.”

Coroner David Mitford, and Anthony Barton, who represented ConocoPhillips during the hearing, expressed their sympathy to Mr Hiles’ family for their loss.

Andrew McDonald, who represented Mr Hiles’ wife Pamela and children Lauren and Adam, said: “This has been a very tough time for the family, having to relive so much of what happened.

“They have prepared themselves for the verdict and note that this is a correct verdict.

“He was a vibrant, energetic man in the prime of life and that is why it is difficult for the family to take in what has happened.

“He is sadly missed.”